After seven years together, Brittany and Ryan decided to tie the knot with a small wedding brimming with personal touches and gorgeous details. Rather than hosting a reception following their “I do’s”, Brittany and Ryan opted for a pre-ceremony reception at their home featuring tasty treats for all to enjoy.
“Having a reception before the ceremony was great because it was short and sweet with delicious pastry and Irish coffee” says Brittany.
Brittany offers this advice for brides-to-be: “Enjoy the day and make sure you find a few minutes to spend with just your spouse. Even small weddings go by quickly.”
Their deliciously simple wedding day was captured by Lane Baldwin Photography .
Brittany, 25 & Ryan, 31
Bay Village, Ohio
March 17, 2013
Number of Guests: 17
Wedding Cost: $2,500.00 (this includes photographer, officiant, license, rings, attire, food, beverages, flowers and gifts to each other).
Wedding Ceremony Location: The Irene Fuller House
Wedding Reception Location: Couple’s house, BEFORE the ceremony
Why did you have an intimate wedding?
Honestly, I have never considered anything else. We both have very large families so it was either keep it incredibly simple, or have an enormous wedding that simply wasn’t us.
What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?
The guest list! Originally it was going to be just the two of us. Then we made the mistake of telling our parents our intentions. One thing lead to another and our guest list grew to 17 people! Still small, but WAY larger than originally planned.
Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?
YES! Once you invite one person, it really means you’re inviting five people. We decided to stick with our parents, our siblings and their families, as well as 2 grandparents.
Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?
Yes and no. Aside from our immediate families, very few people even knew we were getting married (We were never officially engaged!). With that said, we definitely had family members upset that they had not been included. Once they realized how small we had kept the guest list was, and that it absolutely did not extend past our immediate families (i.e. no friends), they came around. As for our friends, they were all insanely happy that we finally did it (after nearly 7 years)!
What were the highlights of the ceremony?
Our vows. We picked traditional Celtic vows and I just loved them. They were very heartfelt, and truly emphasized the fact that marriage is about the two people getting married and that it is a journey we shall take together.
What were the highlights of the reception?
The BEFORE the ceremony reception was great because it was short and sweet with delicious pastry and Irish coffee! After the ceremony Ryan and I went out to dinner alone, to our favorite local joint, and they went way above and beyond for us. They had set up a little table by the window with a white table cloth, candles all along the window sill, a mason jar with flowers and bottle of champagne. It was very Lady and the Tramp:)
What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?
The fact that it was truly all about us. We didn’t fret over a lot of the typical wedding day planning. We planned this about 5 weeks before we said I do, so there really wasn’t much time to over analyze anything.
What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?
Do EXACTLY what YOU want. Everyone will have their opinion, and everyone will tell you what you should be doing. But remember that at the end of the day you will be married, and that is what is truly important. Enjoy the day and make sure you find a few minutes to spend with just your spouse. Even small weddings go by quickly.
Vendors:
Photographer: Lane Baldwin Photography
Officiant: Celebrations by Shari
Food: Black Bird Baking Company and Deagan’s Bar and Grill
Flowers: Brennan’s in Lakewood
Rings: Etsy
