HOW TO PLAN A MINIMALIST WEDDING
To nail the art of living a perfect minimalist lifestyle, is to de-clutter and condense life’s necessities to the absolute essential. Planning a wedding in the true spirit of minimalism, means exactly that – eliminating the unnecessary details in celebrating the unity of two, and highlighting the more important aspects, ignoring all forms of pomp and pageantry. This does not mean having to forego fun and details. Instead it is to elevate and enhance the individuality of the couple tying the knot. Whether the pair is looking at a wedding that embodies Elegant-minimalism or Industrial-minimalism where urban meets rustic, here are a few pointers on how to get about planning one.
Keep it simple
The whole point of having a minimalist wedding is to be aesthetically simple than typical weddings. Couples looking to have minimalist weddings can first start off by deciding on simple themes that would still a make statement. This includes deciding on easy to match neutral, monochrome or single-toned colour palettes, and embracing simple forms and classic or geometrical patterns. Once this is done couples can then focus on out of the box wedding venues such as scenic villas, lush gardens or industrial and rustic warehouses. When deciding on décor, couples may consider single blooms as table centerpieces, if it’s an outdoor wedding, simply maximize the already available greenery, and if it’s a rustic setting, work on merely adding chic natural accents such as candles or green arches.
Attention grabbers must go!
Minimalists who plan weddings essentially want their ceremonies to personify love, romance and beauty. To do this, couples should ensure that they cut off anything that would have their guests distracted. Instead of hopping on the band-wagon of expensive over-the-top weddings, you and your partner get to highlight the things that mean to you the most. For example, instead of having massive and imposing table centre-pieces that are cumbersome for conversation-making at tables, you may opt for candles or strewn flower petals to still have that classy yet stylish touch. Needless to say, this means that the seven tiered wedding cake is a definite no-no.
Appeal to your senses.
What makes a wedding truly memorable is not how many items were on the buffet or how well-known the designer of your dress is – what makes a wedding day memorable is what you FEEL when you think of it once the festivities are done and dusted with. It is recommended that couples plan their wedding to evoke sensory feelings when going down memory lane – to remember the fresh smell of the flowers at the venue, the taste of the food served – and by no means its quantity – to hear the tuneful songs from your reception, to picture the sight of your elated partner and to remember the warm embraces of your loved ones. Keeping these in check would guarantee your minimalist wedding would be on point.
Cut out unnecessary specifics.
Contrary to popular belief, having a minimalist wedding doesn’t mean you eliminate all details and spend less – instead it means you do what you like and not to merely impress or keep-up with others. For instance, while it is nice to thank guests for their time spent with you, you don’t need to show your appreciation with thank you cards or gifts that will make a sure trip to the bin. Instead, consider giving away useful gifts such as seeds, plants or even herbs. Customized dance floors with projected lighting may be all the rage, but if done right, guests will be tapping their toes and swaying away no matter what the dance floor may look like.
Going green
A fun and interesting way to ensure that you keep your wedding minimalistic, is to go green. By doing so, not only do you get to keep things simple, but also play your part in line with green living practices by keeping the event eco-friendly. Pursue interesting ideas such as using invitation cards made of bio-degradable seed paper that are plantable, and choose paper cake wrappers over single-use boxes that no one would want to keep. Couples can also opt for re-usable cutlery and crockery. As for thinking green in terms of décor – make sure that you opt for more fauna and less flora.
DIY all the way.
A lot of minimalist styling has to do with each individual’s preferences, and what better way to add a personal touch at your wedding than by doing it yourself? Whether it’s doing your own seating chart, your own photo backdrop, or even other details like any signage and place cards, DIY options will enhance personal style and preferences and be wallet-friendly at the same time. Furthermore, décor rental companies are no longer hard to come by and by renting out embellishments such as jars and fairly lights, couples can easily elevate their minimalist weddings.
There you have it – the breakdown on how to plan a minimalist wedding. Remember always, simplicity is key.