While other people love the idea of big events and more or less 200 guests, it’s not the same for everyone. If you have a relatively small circle or you just want your special day to be more private and a little less crowded, intimate celebrations are the way to go. It’s a perfect opportunity to give your guests a more personalized experience, which they’ve been missing out on because of the pandemic.
Weddings, for example, have evolved. You could see how much has changed since COVID has affected how everyone interacts and celebrates with one another. You’d also see these wedding trends that are gaining popularity these days. Time is indeed shaping the way people celebrate and share special moments with those who matter the most to them.
The Nearest And The Dearest
An intimate reception can only be rightfully called so if you have a guest list that’s as small as you can make it. This should consist of the people who matter most to you but not necessarily those you’ve known the longest. To have an idea of who to include in your guest list, you can look through your phone and check whom you’ve interacted with (through calls or texts) within the last three months. These people are most likely your dearest.
The nearest, on the other hand, are the people who can make it to the event without having to go the distance. However, you’d still need to consider if they’re as close to your heart as their location is to yours. Make sure you’re comfortable around them and they’re the right kind of people to be celebrating with.
Whether it’s a dinner reception or gathering at any time of the day, here are some of the best ideas to consider when planning for an intimate event:
- Get Personal When Sending Invites
Since you’d likely be having fewer people over, it’s easier to make your invitations extra special and personal. You can make handwritten cards that include all the details of the event. Guests would instantly know it’s an intimate affair because of the extra touch the cards would convey, especially if they know you enough to immediately recognize your beautiful handwriting.
If you want to make it more personalized, you can opt to individually call your guests instead. They’d feel extra special this way, and it’s a straightaway approach to get their confirmation.
- Invite Guests To Your Home
There’s nothing more intimate than having people over for a dinner reception. You don’t have to go the extra mile to impress the guests since they’re all from your circle and they probably already have an idea what to expect. If you want to impose a dress code especially for the event, don’t forget to notify all your guests to give them enough time to prepare for it. Intimate dinner celebrations could be more formal compared to gatherings held at other times of the day. Just the same, the decision is yours if you want them to come as they are.
You can decorate your backyard or garden and accommodate your guests in this area of your home. Set up some tables and chairs and add alluring flowers and elegant centerpieces to match the occasion. As your guest list is only small, you can go all out on tableware and personalization. You can even have the table napkins embroidered or printed with each of the guests’ names to impress them more.
- Prepare A Welcome Box
Whether you’ve decided to hold the reception at home or in another intimate venue, you need to think of what to give out to your guests when they start arriving. Perhaps a customized welcome box would do the trick. You can think of items to put inside that would mean a lot to those who’d receive them. If you have any particular theme or motif, you may consider that as well. Should you go for a celebration away from home, there are local products that could be included in your welcome box, depending on the location you picked for the event.
- Splurge On Appetizing Meals
Receptions can never be out of good food. Having a smaller crowd could benefit you in a way that you’d have more room to plan an extra detailed menu. Dinner events can involve seven-course gourmet meals complete with elaborate tablescapes and carvings. Don’t forget to include expert wine pairings, mini food trucks, and dessert bars to die for. The options are endless when it comes to feeding a small guest list.
- Ditch The Traditional Round Tables
For events to feel intimate, every single guest must feel included. To achieve this goal, you can make use of long tables instead of the usual round ones. That way, everyone can sit together, share fun stories, and capture great memories. Toasts and cheers will be even more memorable.
Intimately Beautiful
It’s not always merrier when the guest list is bigger. Sometimes celebrations need a touch of intimacy to make them more private and memorable. So the next time you’re in the mood for a festivity, try consider the ideas and tips mentioned above. A small celebration might just be what you want your event to be without you realizing it.
