9 Tips on creating a wedding with soul.

28 Mar

There are undoubtedly more than 9 tips on creating a wedding with soul, but in my humble opinion, these are the ones I think make the biggest impact.

I’m 12 years in so I’ve seen a shit tonne of weddings. I walk away dissecting them each time, not in a judgy way, it’s more about the kind of vibe the wedding had and did the couple and guests enjoy themselves. Did the wedding have a soul?

With the plethora of choices for weddings the weight of choice can do a number on the head so I hope the below helps. It’s basic stuff, no trade secrets, but it’s seeing weddings play out numerous times that steers my opinion.

The space.

The aesthetics and feel of a space deeply influence the vibe. Are you looking for something intimate, interesting, or casual? Or an outside venue where the stars become the ceiling? Before you think of the venue flip your thought process. Work out the vibe you want and then find the venue that will help you achieve that, not the other way around.

Think of it as a party.

You don’t have to think of it as a wedding, I feel like this immediately adds so much pressure and expectation. By taking the focus off it being a wedding you might be inclined to make decisions based on what you really want and not what you think you should do. So think of it as a party or a really cool gathering and that will help nut out what you really want.

Choosing a wedding celebrant.

I’ve seen some great ones and quite frankly some awful ones. Celebrants set the vibe of your whole ceremony so make sure you know who you are working with. Choose someone with which your personalities gel and arrange a ceremony you're happy with.

Great Celebrants: The Tilers Wife | Dilhary | Rythm Keeper | Salty Celebrant | Sarah Thompson

Inject your personality.

This a big one. Make sure you and your partner sit down and work out what’s important to you both for your day. If you figure this out, then your wedding day will reflect your personality and guests will go nuts because it will be you guys all over.

Music.

It goes without saying that music sets a vibe, especially at reception. If you want a ranging dance floor nothing can do that as well as live music. You could make the best playlist in the world, but it doesn't hold a candle to a great DJ or band.

Food.

I think it goes without saying that good food is important but I’ve come to realise that doesn’t mean a 5-course 5-star meal. Some of my favourite weddings have the simplest of food, but it was gloriously tasty and everyone was full. Whatever you do, make sure you feed your guests well, nothing worse than a hungry guest.

Best wedding caterers: Supper Road | Rossen and Cook | Soul Provider

Write your own vows.

There is nothing more personal than writing your own vows. I think the days of reading something stiff and generic are out. The wedding is about you guys so why not personalise it with what you want to say to each other? I can’t recommend this enough.

Choose your mc wisely.

A MC can make or break a wedding. You’re looking for someone that knows you both well and can speak off the cuff and has great wit. Even if you’re not having a formal wedding, it’s still great to have someone that lets guests know what’s going on and works with the event coordinator to make sure the night runs smoothly.

There are no rules.

Lastly, there are no rules to a wedding day, so do what the hell you want. The only thing set in stone is the part where you say 'i do’ everything else is up for the taking. Seriously don’t let it overwhelm you. Go with your gut and do what you want, those are the best weddings.

Melissa Mills