So, 2020 threw you some curve balls, but you got married anyway. Congrats. What a brilliant way to mark the weirdest year in recent history.
In years to come, there is no doubt that couples just like you, will tell their children and grandchildren about this surreal time in our lives – a time when large weddings were put on ice.
Whilst COVID has not cancelled love, it has changed how lovers can celebrate. And minimonies have become a THING.
Many of you have celebrated or plan to celebrate your love in an understated way, with a super small wedding ceremony and celebration, including, at most, just a handful of guests.
And you might be wondering how you can share those loved up moments with all the other special people in your life later in 2021. Well, with a good old wedding party – that’s how.
Here’s 12 ways you can recreate all the feels of your 2020 minimony, elopement or intimate nuptials celebration, with your tribe in 2021 and beyond, once restrictions ease in your hometown.
Whether you are slinging back shots at your local or throwing a black tie shing dig for a huge group of family and friends, these tips will make your wedding party guests swoon, cry and party like it’s…well…any year other than 2020!
Hey Lovers Top Tips:
TIP 1 | Start your wedding party with the pre-recorded video of you both saying your vows – still walk into your venue in your wedding threads, take a seat at the front of the room and watch the ceremony…with your guests
TIP 2 | Have video rolling of your wedding day throughout your party. Or place your wedding day photos somewhere in your party space to create those just married vibes
TIP 3 | Incorporate honeymoon photos on a table or display – your guests will be super excited to see how you celebrated and this will spark awesome conversations to boot
TIP 4 | Create a photo gallery of sorts in your wedding party space so your guests can wander around looking at them, seeing just how special the day was for you both
TIP 5 | Invite your celebrant or officiant along to your wedding party and ask them to deliver a super short and sweet vow renewal – you get to experience all the feels again and your family and friends will witness that special moment of commitment with you both IRL
TIP 6 | Have guests arrive before you at the party so you and your lover can make a grand entrance – just as you would have done at your reception pre COVID
TIP 7 | After you’ve been announced, get the formalities out of the way with speeches straight away – then launch into your wedding party (word up your besties to head to the dancefloor immediately after formalities to get the party started)
TIP 8 | Consider walking into the room and cutting your wedding cake straight away to re-create that just married mood – serve the cake as dessert or a roaming sweet treat if you’re not having a sit down meal
TIP 9 | Use this crazy time as a positive – get your guests to write in your wedding party guest book with messages about what COVID has taught them about life and love – the marriage tips you get are likely to be SUPER meaningful
TIP 10 | Create a large picture frame with your favourite photo from your minimony or elopement in it. Have guests sign the board around the photo for a lasting memento of your wedding party in place of a “guest book”
TIP 11 | If you’ve blown your budget on wedding photography at your minimony or elopement, ask family and friends to take pics across the night. Upload them to your social media platform of choice, tagged with a personalised hashtag, so you’ll remember your wedding party forever
TIP 12 | Worried about getting a party atmosphere up and running? Hire a high energy, super capable MC to help get the party started and then dance, sing and PAR-TAY
Need a checklist to get your micro wedding sorted? Click on the link below for an easy to follow checklist to create an intimate wedding you will remember forever.
Hey Lovers Micro Wedding Checklist
Ready to smash your wedding planning goals? Head to the Hey Lovers Etsy store to get your hands on wedding planning printables that will keep you on track, on task and on budget to create your dream wedding day.