This year promises to be unique and intimate, 2021 we are ready for you! We won’t sugar coat it, 2020 definitely shook the events industry as a whole and 2021 is still adapting to the new environment we are in. The good news is we have had a whole year to come up with creative ideas for gatherings that are still fun, impactful and meaningful.
From purely online to hybrid events to creative social distancing, there are many options this year for how you want your special day to look. Outdoor weddings were already on the rise but having the entire event outdoors is starting to become more popular as people are keeping social distancing guidelines in mind, this leads to planning for warm weather and holding your wedding during the day or hosting a brunch wedding when it is still bright out. Some couples are moving their evening reception online where they can share slideshows about their love story or embarrassing baby photos with loved ones. This also means more people can participate in our special day if you have family or friends that are not comfortable with coming to the in-person portion or who live far away and cannot fly in. If you decide to elope this year, a great way to include your loved ones is to livestream the event and then send them a gift basket with some wedding cake, champagne and party favors!
While elopements have gained popularity, if you still want your loved ones around, you have other options. Along with having day events, micro-weddings are how it is done this year! With a guest count under 50, a micro-wedding allows for more of your budget to go toward personalizing and tailoring your event for you and your guests. Having intentionality in choosing vendors and your own décor instead of just going through the motions of your venue’s in-house vendor options gives your wedding a unique and special quality. It also allows you to include your values in your wedding whether that is being mindful about sustainability and the environmental impact of your event or making sure to support small, local, BIPOC and LGBT+ businesses. Not to toot our own horn but wedding planners are a great resource for making sure your values are represented at your wedding and can do all the negotiating and leg work for you!
If you aren’t sold on small weddings, take a look at these venues from HereComesTheGuide and see if you can picture your wedding in these gorgeous, cozy and affordable spaces! Many of them are also bed and breakfasts where your wedding party (or just you and your partner) can stay the night and get pampered in the morning.