‘Slow weddings’ an exploration - the venue
The venue is the most expensive, biggest decision for a couple. There are now soooo many stunning venues available and many couples explore their options worldwide not just on their doorstep. I understand that often local to your home but maybe local to your wider family makes more sense to reduce the numbers travelling so when I refer to local I’m going to mean local in relation to the least amount of people having to travel.
Eloping away from home.
Can we ever really say going away from home on a plane is a slow or sustainable wedding option?
I think it actually could be! I wonder (and I wonder with zero research done here!) if you set off to get married out of your home country as just the two of you, going via train or coach to a destination wedding where you will be consuming less of all the usual ‘wedding stuff’ would that actually be less of a carbon footprint than a local wedding venue with say 50-100 guests, even a sustainable one? Just think of all the things you wouldn’t or maybe wouldn’t buy … cake, table decorations, flowers, button holes, wedding party outfits, drinks for others, meals for others, canapés, favours, dj/band, car hire and much more. I personally would still want something special to wear that was new to me, would you?
2. Use a venue that existed before the concept of a ‘wedding venue’.
I’m thinking before all the hype of weddings and spending loads of cash, people used local halls, cafes, restaurants, theirs or a friends homes and gardens. When in time did it suddenly become so important to have a fancy wedding venue dedicated to just weddings? Somewhere in the late 90’s I’m thinking? Did the movies change things? My parents used our church hall in 1992 (I’m not that young! They married after having babies. It was, for both, a second marriage) for theirs and then that was nothing out of the ordinary. Although my mum did the catering to save money and she always says she wishes she hadn’t, so you will never hear me suggest doing your own catering!
A slow wedding might use a village hall, or fantastic local restaurant or cafe. If you are lucky you might have yourself or a friend might a garden big enough to host. I know of a friend of a friend recently using their finished but not yet furnished with the kitchen and furniture extension as a big empty space to host in. Great idea! What a great way to warm the new space and save pennies.
3. Get married in nature
I know in England and Wales you can’t legally marry at any local beauty spot or home garden but you can in Scotland! Oh the scenery!
Some useful info on this here https://tietheknot.scot/planning-details/ceremonies/the-legalities-and-rules-behind-getting-married-in-scotland/
Well I think that is all that is coming to mind at the moment! I’d love to hear your thoughts on wedding venues, come and socialise.