How to do a Family-Only Wedding

Knottie1442878187

Hello! I need advice..
My fiancé and I are having a family only wedding. Neither of us have never wanted a large wedding. We both get really nervous and embarrassed in front of people and get overwhelmed just at the idea of having a large wedding. So we've just decided to have only our immediate family plus grandparents. (About 18-20 people)
Any suggestions on the following:

1. What do we write on the wedding announcements that we send after the wedding?
3. What are some low key things we can do during our "reception" time to make the time feel special? (slide show, etc?)
4. Do we still do a wedding website? 
5. Should we do a bigger wedding favor? Any ideas?

artbyallie

Knottie1442878187 said:

Hello! I need advice..
My fiancé and I are having a family only wedding. Neither of us have never wanted a large wedding. We both get really nervous and embarrassed in front of people and get overwhelmed just at the idea of having a large wedding. So we've just decided to have only our immediate family plus grandparents. (About 18-20 people)
Any suggestions on the following:

1. What do we write on the wedding announcements that we send after the wedding?

Couple's Names
have the honor of announcing their marriage
on Date
in Place

3. What are some low key things we can do during our "reception" time to make the time feel special? (slide show, etc?)

Did you forget to type a number 2 or just get off kilter in the numbering? Anyway, slide shows are terrible and boring and should never happen any time ever. Only slightly acceptable if they are silent and looping in the background, but do not sit people down and force them to watch. Play some music (you don't need a dance floor) for background ambiance and let people chat and mingle. Good food is way more important than planning crappy activities.

4. Do we still do a wedding website? 

Always optional.

5. Should we do a bigger wedding favor? Any ideas?

Also always optional. Edible trumps any other trinkets every time. We did home bottled sparkling grape juice (would've been wine b/c one of my mom's uncles made it, but we had to change our reception to the church and no alcohol was allowed) and a buffet of retro candy.

CMGragain

Small weddings like you describe were the normal weddings, 100 years ago.

It is not an honor to announce your own marriage.  This is the wording for a marriage announcement:

Bride's Full Maiden Name

and

Groom's Full Name

announce their marriage

Date of ceremony

                                                            City, State



A reception is simply a time after the ceremony where the couple thanks their guests for coming to see them married, and offers them food and drink.  That is all.  Keep it simple.

I would not do a wedding website for an intimate family wedding.  It is overkill.

Favors are completely optional.  Chocolate is always a good idea.

Jen4948

Knottie1442878187 said:

Hello! I need advice..
My fiancé and I are having a family only wedding. Neither of us have never wanted a large wedding. We both get really nervous and embarrassed in front of people and get overwhelmed just at the idea of having a large wedding. So we've just decided to have only our immediate family plus grandparents. (About 18-20 people)
Any suggestions on the following:

1. What do we write on the wedding announcements that we send after the wedding?

They are worded like invitations but the "request the honor of your presence/pleasure of your company/at the marriage of" lines are replaced with "have the honor of announcing/the marriage of"  if someone other than yourselves, like your parents, are sending them. If you are sending them, then I'd use @CMGragain 's wording above.

3. What are some low key things we can do during our "reception" time to make the time feel special? (slide show, etc?)

I don't recommend slide shows unless you put them on a loop in the background.  I've never appreciated being treated like a captive audience for slide shows at weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and other family get-togethers.  If you have plenty of good food and conversation, the time should feel special without being programmed.

4. Do we still do a wedding website?

If you want to.  It's up to you.  But if your wedding is that small, I'd probably not bother because there won't be that many people who'd need the information and you can email it or send it out by snail mail.
 
5. Should we do a bigger wedding favor? Any ideas?

Also optional.  Edible favors, if you decide to do them, tend to go over the best with guests.

MrsMack10612

artbyallie said:

Knottie1442878187 said:

Hello! I need advice..
My fiancé and I are having a family only wedding. Neither of us have never wanted a large wedding. We both get really nervous and embarrassed in front of people and get overwhelmed just at the idea of having a large wedding. So we've just decided to have only our immediate family plus grandparents. (About 18-20 people)
Any suggestions on the following:

1. What do we write on the wedding announcements that we send after the wedding?

Couple's Names
have the honor of announcing their marriage
on Date
in Place

3. What are some low key things we can do during our "reception" time to make the time feel special? (slide show, etc?)

Did you forget to type a number 2 or just get off kilter in the numbering? Anyway, slide shows are terrible and boring and should never happen any time ever. Only slightly acceptable if they are silent and looping in the background, but do not sit people down and force them to watch. Play some music (you don't need a dance floor) for background ambiance and let people chat and mingle. Good food is way more important than planning crappy activities.

4. Do we still do a wedding website? 

Always optional.

5. Should we do a bigger wedding favor? Any ideas?

Also always optional. Edible trumps any other trinkets every time. We did home bottled sparkling grape juice (would've been wine b/c one of my mom's uncles made it, but we had to change our reception to the church and no alcohol was allowed) and a buffet of retro candy.

@artbyallie - they wouldn't even allow it unopened on the premises as the favor? 

artbyallie

@MrsMack10612  lol, no, Baptist church. It's in the bylaws.

MrsMack10612

artbyallie said:

@MrsMack10612  lol, no, Baptist church. It's in the bylaws.

That makes sense.  I had a suspicion that might have been the case.

CMGragain

Methodists don't allow it, either.  They are strict about alcohol and gambling, but they allow dancing, now.

holyguacamole79

It's fair game for Catholics!!!  

KnottieBobbi

Who are you sending announcements to? 

I plan on having the same size wedding, immediate family only (we don't have any grandparents living anymore). But my mom and dad are each one of five kids. I have 20 first cousins, some I'm close with and others I haven't seen in 25 years. I was thinking just aunts and uncles and a few friends, maybe the cousins who invited me to their weddings? 

Maybe I'll just have it printed in the paper, let my dad take a photo of it and post it on his facebook LOL! 

CMGragain

@Knottie1446252419, I don't understand your comment.  What is your question? 
It is proper to print a marriage announcement in the newspaper.  It is also proper to personally mail marriage announcements to people who were not invited to your wedding.  It is not proper to post one on Facebook.