How to Stay Out of the Spotlight on Your Wedding Day
Though some people revel in the attention of the wedding day, others prefer to keep their time in the spotlight to a minimum. If you’d rather not be ‘on’ all day long, here are some ways to help cool off the heat that comes from hosting a wedding party.
Get Ready Together
You don’t need a big reveal with one another in your wedding attire. I find couples that get ready for the wedding together generally have lower stress levels and a calmer energy throughout the day. Plus, you get to spend even more time together on your wedding day until waiting for hours before you begin photos. I’ve even had couples still do a low-key, private first look together after getting hair and make-up and pre-prep done together and then just putting on their attire in separate but adjoining rooms.
Greet Guests Together Before the Ceremony
Instead of hiding away until the music is cued up for your walk down the aisle, grab a glass of champagne and welcome your guests as they arrive. It makes the celebration feel a bit more dinner party and less formal production.
Do a City Hall Ceremony or an Elopement Together Before the Wedding Day
Feel like saying your vows in front of 100 guests is a bit overwhelming? Why not do your real ceremony ahead of time with just the two of your or with only your very closest loved ones? You can pick a location you really love, say exactly what you want, and not worry about pleasing family members with their idea of a proper ceremony. Then for the wedding party day you can skip the ceremony or do a shortened version.
Skip Formalities:
Just because something is done at other weddings doesn’t mean you have to include it in your own day. Skip the cake cutting (or do a private, non-announced version to the side). Cut the formal introductions into the reception—just join your guests as they are invited in to sit down. Invite everyone to join you on the dance floor together for your first dance or do your first dance with just the two of you before your guests are invited into the reception space.
Walk Down the Aisle Together.
Or skip the formal processional altogether and make your way into the ceremony space right alongside your guests when it is time to begin the formalities.
No Head/Sweetheart Table
Join your loved ones at one of the regular tables in the room. Or you can even make a plan to rotate to different seats at different tables throughout the night to have more time with all of your guests.
Make Sure Vendor Team is On Board
Communicate your wish to keep things low-key to your vendors: especially the venue coordinator, photographer, DJ, and planner, who are the folks that tend to organize and execute the formalities and orchestrated moments on a wedding day. If they don’t know they may draw unwanted attention to you in an attempt to run things in the manner of other events they have worked.
Share the Full Breakdown Timeline of the Day with the Photographer
I always find the easiest way for me to allow a couple to be fully present and in the moment together on their wedding day is to have a very thorough plan and timeline before the day begins. When I know how you want to approach each portion of the day I can be prepared and ready to capture all of the awesome connections and moments. I can easily flow from point to point without you feeling completely in the spotlight all day.
I love hearing how folks really make their wedding days their own. Comment below and tell me ways you helped avoid the spotlight and made your wedding feel a little more low-key!