Weddings are like fingerprints, no two are alike. They are all different. You may have one that is extravagant and elaborate to celebrate with the whole town, or you may have one that is more laid back and romantically private. It all depends on you and your personality. The only thing that matters is that you will have one of the best days of your life with your fiancé.

The absolute ideal dream is to host your ceremony and reception at the same venue. You can take a look at my list of favorite Cape Cod Wedding Venues. This makes for so much convenience and ease, not just for you, but also for your guests.

Of course during times like we are experiencing in the early 2020s, microweddings are becoming more and more like the wave of the future so to speak. What do you get when you cross a traditional wedding with an elopement? A microwedding! I know you thought I'd make a joke, maybe later. Microweddings are for sure a way to be budget conscious and a quick way to get going especially if you are looking for a shorter engagement, but they also can make the wedding experience more meaningful and intimate.

If this sounds like where your head is at, here are some considerations to take into count when planning an intimate wedding on Cape Cod:

© McSweeney-01-August 03, 2019-1244303.jpg

Cut down on the guest list

This can be a tough thing to do, especially if you have a large extended family. Even if you don't, this has been know to be one of the more stressful parts of planning a wedding. With a wedding that is going to be more intimate you will NEED to cut down your invite list. One key thing to consider is sending the invites to only close members of your family and close friends. You are the only person who knows who is close with you and your fiancé. If you feel obligated to invite someone for any reason, there's a good chance they shouldn't get an invite to an intimate microwedding. Obviously, this may butt some heads with those who didn't make the even shorter list, but there are a few ways to celebrate with those who weren't invited if you feel so obliged. You can always host a cocktail party or some sort of event that will welcome them into your new family after your honeymoon.

Put your money where it matters most

You don't need to trim the fat just because you trimmed your guest list by any means. It's all about shifting money where it matters to you. Make a list of everything you want by ordering the most important to you to the least important. If that amazing wedding dress that you saw when you were "just browsing" is something that is important to you - send it. If you really just need those beautiful floral designs - send it. Photographer? Send it (shameless plug). Food? - send it. Indulge on those wedding necessities that matter to you most, but know because you want that beautiful wedding dress, you may need to shop a little more for cheaper flowers. It depends on your needs.

© McSweeney-10-August 15, 2020-01331.jpg

Just because you want less, doesn't mean it's easier

Again, it's your wedding day. Take a second before you continue to read this...

IT'S YOUR WEDDING DAY!

Now that that's sunk in a bit, know that on your wedding day, you don't want to worry about anything. That's why event coordinators and day-of coordinators are there to help. Hire someone that can take that stress off of your plate. Choose a coordinator that has planned weddings at your venue of choice. The last thing you want to do with your fiancé or bridal party is worrying about the details. Weddings can be overwhelming if you have to worry about that kind of stuff.

© McSweeney-11-October 17, 2020-09135.jpg

Trust in your vendors

Like I said above, you hired your vendors for a reason. It's as simple as that. In the case of a wedding photographer, Imma do me so you don't have to do me. Maybe that came out a little odd, but you get the gist. You are hiring a photographer, or a coordinator, or a catering company because you didn't want to do it yourself. I mean, when you go to a restaurant, they don't bring you the ingredients to your table for you to put together. You went because you wanted some bomb a$$ food prepared for you. They are the professionals. Trust the process. Trust that the photographs that I take are stunning (because they will be). That leaves you to be able to chillax and do what matters to you.

Not to get all Shia LeBoeuf on you, but:

If you want to get ready at home because that’s what is meaningful to you, DO IT!
If you decide to not have a creative session and go see your grandma at the nursing home instead, DO IT!
If you and your fiancé met at a tiny little ice cream shop and it means the world to you two and you want to go there, then yes, DO IT!

(told you I would make a joke)

It's about you, your story, and the memories of the day that tell that story.

© McSweeney-03-June 29, 2019-1377609.jpg

Wedding planning, and sometimes even the wedding day, can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. All of the tips that I’ve shared are based on the experience that I have gained from shooting weddings myself. The commitment that I give all of my couples starts from the first meeting. I listen, invest in you and your story, plan with you how to tell that story, shoot intentionally, and preserve your story as a legacy. All of this so you don't have to worry about it on your wedding day. This process gets to know YOU. It is going to be authentic because you deserve that. Your experience will be human. It will have emotion. And it’ll just be plain dope. You deserve to relive that feeling over and over again. And then some more after that.

If you’d like to talk to me more about your wedding day, or hear about some of my favorite local locations for engagement shoots, please give me a call or send over an email. I’d love to hear you!

I hope that you found my tips for planning a wedding on Cape Cod helpful!