Weddings are ever-changing—trends come and go, etiquette shifts, and the norms we’ve all come to know and love can fall out of fashion faster than you can say “I do,” but that’s exactly what keeps them so interesting.
In a world where weddings are being made to be so grand, the idea of a wedding without a reception may look so controversial or might look unconventional. But as love should be spoken of, and as love should be, a lot of couples are beginning to see love as it should be—–as it should be seen, more quietly. More intentional about the marriage in itself rather than the whole wedding.
This is not to say that you can’t have a grand wedding as you want to but like i said, people are beginning to see weddings as Love is, soft.
For some, the decision is financial. Weddings can be breathtakingly expensive, and the reception often takes the biggest bite. From catering, to decoration, to getting a hall, to entertainment, you will realize that couples could spend more on the party than on their future. Also, some see the need to put the money into their future and have a simpler wedding.
For others, it is about bond, about intimacy. They would prefer to have a small celebration, and after the joining, they choose to just be with close family and loved ones. A small gathering of 10, 20, 50 people, just them and that’s it. There’s beauty in simplicity—two people committing to each other without distractions, surrounded only by those who truly matter.
And sometimes, it’s about preference, personality, and purpose. There are couples who don’t like the idea of a grand wedding and would choose to do just this. To them, this kind of wedding expresses who they truly are, their nature. Not everyone’s dream is to dance the night away or to have a first dance. So many people don’t like to be the center of attention. There is indeed beauty in simplicity —two people committing to each other without distractions, surrounded only by those who truly matter.
Would it still be considered a wedding?
Yes, Absolutely! It’s still gonna be called a wedding, irrespective of whatever way you plan to do your wedding. It’s gonna be your own unique wedding. It is the commitment to be together, the vow, the joy and happiness in your hearts, the exchange of rings, all done in the sight of the Lord, that is what matters most. That is what a wedding is. Every other thing is optional.
What can be done in place of a reception?
Not doing a reception doesn’t mean skipping the celebration in itself. Here are fun ideas that could serve as an alternative.
- A Private Dinner: You can have your vow somewhere, where you get a priest or a minister to officiate your wedding, and after that, get a reservation in one of your favourite restaurants or even a home-cooked dinner with you and a few close family and friends.
- Have an Outdoor Movie Night: This can be so special if planned well. You can decide to plan your wedding towards the evening, after the whole celebration, put on a beautiful movie where you watch while sipping wine and popcorn, and before you know it, it becomes so magical.
- A Beach wedding: The Beach is one place you can have all the fun. After the vow has taken place, take beautiful pictures with the sunset. Let friends and family dance and be merry as well.
- One Single venue: You can have your planner set up in a garden for 50 guests, where you have your vow and all, after the vow, while signing your certificate, let the planner do a 20-minute set up same venue, and turn it into a karaoke bar. Perfect.
Finally, a wedding without a reception is not a loss. In fact, it is a gain for the future. It is a reminder of how you chose to start your marriage. Love doesn’t need a crowd to be real. Love doesn’t have to be like that of your neighbor to be perfect. You can choose to redefine the definition by what it means to you alone. Whether it’s whispered vows in a quiet chapel or an impromptu “I do” under the sky, every love story deserves to be honored in a way that feels right for the couple living it.
After all, the best weddings aren’t always the biggest. They’re the ones that feel like home.