BLOG ARCHIVES

• March 2014
• February 2014
• January 2014
• December 2013
• November 2013
• October 2013
• September 2013
• August 2013
• July 2013
• June 2013
• May 2013
• April 2013
• March 2013
• February 2013
• January 2013
• December 2012
• November 2012
• October 2012
• September 2012
• August 2012
• July 2012
• June 2012
• May 2012
• April 2012
• March 2012
• February 2012
• January 2012
• December 2011
• November 2011
• October 2011
• September 2011
• August 2011
• July 2011
• June 2011
• May 2011
• April 2011
• March 2011
• February 2011
• January 2011
• December 2010
• November 2010
• October 2010
• September 2010
• August 2010
• July 2010
• June 2010
• May 2010
• April 2010
• March 2010
• February 2010
• January 2010
• December 2009
• November 2009
• October 2009
• September 2009
• August 2009
• July 2009
• June 2009
• May 2009
• April 2009
• March 2009
• February 2009
• January 2009
• December 2008
• November 2008
• October 2008
• September 2008
• August 2008
• July 2008
• June 2008
• May 2008
• April 2008
• March 2008
• February 2008
• January 2008
• December 2007
• November 2007
• October 2007
• September 2007
• August 2007
• July 2007
• June 2007
• May 2007
• April 2007
• March 2007
• February 2007
• January 2007
• December 2006
• November 2006
• October 2006
• September 2006
• August 2006
• July 2006
• June 2006
• May 2006
• April 2006
• March 2006
• February 2006
• January 2006
• December 2005
• November 2005
• October 2005
• September 2005
• August 2005
• July 2005
• June 2005
• May 2005
• April 2005
• March 2005
• February 2005
• January 2005
• December 2004
• November 2004

Couples decide to have small weddings for a variety of reasons that may include: a heartfelt desire for small and intimate, a need to marry quickly, or perhaps because of financial reasons. But, outside the exceptions of driving to the courthouse or going to Las Vegas, small wedding ceremonies will still require planning.

I have been to two small wedding ceremonies recently. One was a beautiful garden wedding in the backyard of my friend Carolyn's home. Their vows were taken under a hand-crafted pergola, draped with flowers on every side with approximately 20 in attendance. And most recently, I had the honor of being an MOH for my friend Cheryl in a beach ceremony in which there was only 7 of us. Mother Nature lavished us with a warm morning sun; it was an extraordinary celebration, seemingly effortless to pull off.

Naturally, you might be tempted to think that small weddings would be the simplest way to get married~ certainly with so few in attendance. But, in the above cases, there was much planning and organization that went into these small and intimate ceremonies. The 'to do' list was just as long, only the numbers were smaller. For instance, Cheryl and Lon still had to coordinate the date, location, attire, attendants, minister, photographer, flowers, unity sand ceremony, cake, miscellaneous supplies, transportation and much more!

Of course, everything depends on the preferences of the bride and groom regarding the extent tradition will play in the ceremony~ as well as any extras. You can certainly have the wedding of your dreams no matter how many are in attendance.

Allowing your small wedding the same planning considerations as for a large wedding will empower and encourage you. The following are some lessons that Cheryl and Lon learned while preparing for their small wedding ceremony.

5 tips to assist you in planning your small and intimate wedding:

1. Announce carefully: some will understand your desire for a small wedding while others may have hurt feelings. State your intentions up-front and confidently; at the same time, be sensitive to those who aren't invited.

2. Start early: even though you might have a small guest list and opt out of certain traditions, deciding what you want and why takes time. Allow as much time as is practical for you.

3. Get help: enlist the help of those involved to help you carry out the details. They will be honored to be included and you will need their help!

4. Communicate clearly: tactfully and clearly assign tasks to those involved so that no one is wondering what you are expecting.

5. Relax and focus: don't get so wrapped up in all the details and work and forget that love, celebration, happiness and the blessings are what it's all about.

Enjoy your perfect, small and intimate wedding!

No matter what kind of wedding you are planning, feel free to stop by www.MagnetStreetWeddings.com for ideas, inspiration and to see the latest creations. We are adding brand-new designs to our Save the Date magnets, Wedding Invitations, Wedding Favors and Thank You note cards product gallery all the time ~ ranging from traditional to contemporary.

We encourage you to take advantage of a 15% Brides Club member discount on Save the Dates and Wedding Invitations when you place your order online.

Enter WBC15 in promotional code 1 on the billing page.

Kindest Regards,
Heidi Markgraf

Bridal Shows

Get a list of upcoming bridal shows in cities near you. Shopping at a bridal expo beats driving all over town so take advantage of this opportunity.

Wedding Magazines

A wedding magazine is the perfect start to planning your wedding; browse for ideas, pick styles and colors, and get in touch with the reality of planning.

Planning Your Wedding

• Receive exclusive special offers
• Create your budget & notes
• Share with family & friends
• Announce your wedding
• Favorites: Articles, Photos, Vendors, etc.
• Shop through hundreds of websites