7 steps to pulling off “The Easy Wedding”

Guest post by SparksinKY
after this hell should be easy alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
Sometimes wedding planning can feel very VERY hard… (mug available here)

My husband and I got married at a cozy Irish pub in downtown Louisville. The only time I was even stressed out and nervous was the hour or so before the rehearsal on Friday. After that, it was smooth sailing all the way through.

Here’s why…

1. We majorly cut the fat

This was such a basic wedding to throw. We assembled a few decorations, didn’t fret over tiny details at all, and laid out from the beginning what we cared about most.

2. We didn't use a typical wedding venue

We got our venue for super-cheap because it wasn’t a typical wedding venue. This place had three rental floors. We chose the two non-wedding floors and avoided the wedding penthouse. The cost of the two floors was still cheaper than the one wedding floor. The number one wedding planning rule: once you add “wedding” in the name, it doubles or triples in price.

3. We got a venue that already looked gorgeous

This really contributed to my only spending $130 on decor (including flowers, which were dried from grandma’s garden). The venue had fabulous lighting, cool exposed brick, and looked great on its own.

4. We combined vendor services

The venue was also in charge of the catering and drinks, so there was only one person to contact for all of that stuff. We also used a company that provides DJ, video, photo, and photo booth services. We used three of their four services, and got a huge discount.

5. We let the guests be grown-ups

Something I think a lot of us get worried about is having to take care of our guests and making sure they can figure out what’s happening at every moment. OMG, we didn’t make a sign pointing to the bathroom! We forgot to make dessert labels! We put the coat rack in the back of the venue instead of the front! These little things that can take up so much head space really don’t matter. They’ll figure it out. They’re adults. They can tell which one is the chess pie and which one is the blackberry. It’s all okay.

6. We surrounded ourselves with drama-free people

My bridesmaids are chill as hell. I could never imagine any of them having a dramatic freak-out or doing something to ruin my plans. Sure, I know people who are like that, but I didn't ask them to be in my bridal party. I also made sure that only my mom was around during the getting-ready process. I had so many offers of help from other relatives, but it would have been way too hectic to have them all hanging around all day.

7. We had a cocktail hour before the ceremony

This last one was partially out of our control, but it put me at ease for the rest of the night. I wanted us to greet everyone at the door — I’m hosting a party, I wanted to greet my guests! That alone took off a lot of the pressure of being “presented.” Everyone had about one drink (some probably had two). We departed around back for the ceremony.

When my husband walked out with the officiant, the whole crowd cheered and shouted like they were at a sporting event. It was completely spontaneous. It just kind of happened. When I walked out last, same thing. That set the fun, light mood for the rest of the ceremony.

This could easily be recreated if you want that at a ceremony to kind of stifle the somber, quiet tone that a lot of people feel they have to bring to a wedding. Make a couple of applause signs for people to hold up. Seriously, just getting to make some noise releases so much tension.

In the end, there was nothing I would change about our wedding. Everyone had a blast.

It was special to us. It was offbeat just to our liking, and downright fun.

And that was the number one thing we wanted from the beginning.

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Comments on 7 steps to pulling off “The Easy Wedding”

  1. Hi Tribe. I’m an OBB advertiser–full disclosure–but if you’re in the San Diego area, my company can seriously hook you up when it comes to Tip #4. We do everything from dresses to DJing!

  2. For my wedding I made my number one priority (after getting married of course) that I not feel stressed out. Because I’m a person who is ALWAYS stressed about something. And because I didn’t want to feel that way that day. And I told everybody that was my plan – and they helped me with it.

    It was as easy as deciding it would be easy, and telling people I wanted it to be easy. That’s it. It sounds too simple to work, but it worked!

    SparksinKY your wedding sounds fun, and beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

  3. Amen girl! I totally agree! I’m doing a few weddings this year with the cocktail hour before the ceremony – such a gem of an idea!

  4. So wonderful to read this. My partner proposed this week and we want to get married this fall, so the wedding planning is in full force. It’s been my goal to have a wedding like what you describe, and I’m so glad to see it can be done. Can’t wait to see more about it!

  5. Your wedding and my wedding would have had fun together I think. In other news, I love the shoes! I have a really similar pair that I inherited from my Mum, except black. I have been obsessed with them for most of my life (seriously, one of my first memories is *those shoes* and she eventually just got fed up of me ‘borrowing’ them all the time and just gave them to me.

  6. Where did you get those shoes!? Exactly what I’m looking for.

    Also, I’m so glad you went off the beaten course and were happy with the results. I love your line, “They are adults, they can figure it out!”

    Exactly what I need to remind myself.

  7. Great article! My favorite is: Let the adults be grown-ups. YES! Guests will find the restrooms! haha!

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