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Getting engaged is a magical moment in your life. However, what follows can seem pretty intense. Planning a wedding is often considered one of life’s most stressful tasks. After all, there is so much to do and so many different variables to consider. Trying to plan the best day of your life is certainly a lot of pressure, especially when you are also faced with well-meaning input from your guests. It’s easy to get swept away with wedding preparations and to find yourself becoming increasingly stressed as you try to make your day one to remember while also keeping all your guests happy. Taking a step back and reminding yourself of the true meaning of getting married and the point of this special day is essential.
Rather than putting pressure on yourself to plan the perfect wedding day, why not plan one that you will actually enjoy? A traditional, big white wedding isn’t for everyone. If you don’t feel that a lavish, formal wedding is the right choice for you, planning a more relaxed celebration could be the ideal alternative.
A relaxed wedding means that you can let go of piling yourself under pressure in order to create the ‘perfect day.’ Instead, focus on creating a wedding that is enjoyable and meaningful to you and your partner. As an aside, it’s far more likely that your guests will enjoy a more relaxed wedding that allows them to let their hair down and truly enjoy themselves. If a relaxed wedding seems like the perfect solution for your big day, the following tips should provide you with plenty of inspiration:
Consider Alternative Entertainment
Many people feel that they need to follow the usual entertainment protocol for weddings, by having a disco or live band for the evening do. Having music is always a great way to get people having fun and in the mood for partying, but you can also introduce other ways to keep you and your guests entertained. Thinking about the type of entertainment you really enjoy is a great place to start. You could organise some outdoor games, hire a magician, a firework display, or even fairground rides; there are so many ways to keep everyone entertained when you make your wedding less formal and more fun.
Skip Formal Photography
Some people love to be the star of the show and to have their photograph taken. However, for others, being photographed can leave them feeling awkward and uncomfortable. Taking the formal wedding photos can be a long process, and if you’re not comfortable having your picture taken, you may be concerned about this part of your special day.
Skipping the formal photography, and instead opting for a documentary wedding photographer is an excellent alternative. Documentary-style wedding photos are a far more relaxed way to capture images of your big day. This photography style captures natural pictures of you and your guests enjoying yourselves, chatting, laughing, and having fun. So, it’s the perfect way to get a wedding album that’s full of memories and special moments, rather than staged pictures.
Avoid Seating Plans
Organising seating plans has long been a task that brides and grooms-to-be have dreaded. Trying to figure out who should sit where, trying to navigate family feuds and fallings out, and making sure everyone is seated next someone they actually want to talk to can be the stuff of nightmares. The problem with seating plans is that you are always likely to offend someone. Whether it’s a friend or relative, there will no doubt be someone who is unhappy about where they are seated.
If you’re planning a relaxed wedding, you can make formal seating plans one less thing to worry about by simply letting people sit where they like. Avoiding sitting the bries family one side and the grooms on the other in the church is a good starting point, but you can also extend this sentiment to the wedding reception, and simply let people choose to sit where they like. So long as you have another space for everyone, this arrangement can work really well.
Final Thoughts
Making your wedding a relaxed occasion is the ideal solution if the idea of planning a formal wedding leaves you feeling stressed and uncomfortable. Remember that your wedding day is about celebrating the love between you and your partner. So, planning a wedding that feels authentic and meaningful to you both and enables you to celebrate with the people you care about should always be the main priority.
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