Are There Different Types of Weddings?
At the very core of wedding planning is this belief that all weddings fall within the same cookie-cutter box and need to include the same specific and “traditional” events.
Well, I’m here to share with you what 3-years of being behind the scenes in the wedding industry has shown me and how you can hopefully break free from the assumption that all weddings have to be (and are) the same…because *spoiler* there are different types of weddings out there!
Before I was a destination wedding and elopement photographer, I was a bride. I was getting married and trying to plan a wedding, just like you! I got caught up in the whirlwind that wedding planning is and never stopped to ask myself:
What kind of wedding do I really want? Do I have to use the same wedding “recipe” as everyone else?
It is SO EASY to fall into the status quo and do what everyone else is, simply because you don’t realize there is a different way, and that was me.
So to start things off, I’m giving you ALL THE PRAISE for being here and for asking yourself those hard questions.
I’m so stoked that you have stopped to ask that simple question, are there different types of weddings?
Since being in the wedding industry and having hands on experience documenting wedding days all across the spectrum, from 2-person elopements to 200 person wedding bashes, I have found that most weddings fall within 5 main categories:
Traditional-Large
Traditional-Small
Family-Oriented
“Just-Us”
Multi-Day
Each of these types of weddings offers something completely unique and each is just as significant as the next! As we continue to walk through what each of these types of weddings are, I want you to focus in on which one you resonate most closely with and feels most natural to you and your partner.
So let’s breathe a deep sigh of relief, and dive on in!
Traditional-Large
What is it? A Traditional-Large wedding day is pretty much what most people think of when they think of a wedding. The guest counts tend to be large and range from around 150-300 people. With bridal parties ranging from 3 on each side to 10+!
Some of the included aspects of the day might be that the wedding couple refrains from seeing each other prior to them walking down the aisle, they will also likely want to include all of the traditional reception events like the dances, toasts, the bouquet and garter toss, cake cutting, and dance floor games. To close out the night, they will typically have a formalized exit where they exit through a tunnel of sparklers, streamers, or bubbles.
It’s a BIG celebration where the couple wants to party with everyone they know (and everyone their parents know!). In fact, parental figures and opinions tend to be very important in Traditional-Large weddings. From experience, couples may include aspects or events that they may not be excited about just to make others feel included and/or excited about their day. Many times, it is the parents that are fronting the bill for the wedding, and they can sometimes feel their opinion matters more because of this.
All in all, Traditional-Large weddings are perfect for those extroverted, out-going couples who love to be the life of the party, because after all, they ARE the party in this case!
Traditional-Small
What is it? A Traditional-Small wedding is very similar to that of Traditional-Large except for the guest count. With this type of wedding, the couple chooses to only invite individuals they personally know and want present at their celebration. Typically these guest counts are smaller between 75-125 people.
Traditional-Small weddings will sometimes have more personalized and/or styled aspects since the couple’s wedding budget can be stretched further with the smaller guest count. They may start to shift away from having all the traditional aspects included and may only choose to include those that they actually want to be doing like having a bouquet toss, but not a garter toss.
Couples who plan Traditional-Small weddings are very thoughtful of the experience their guests are having and want to ensure that each guest has an epic time during the party! These wedding couples are ready to celebrate with their people and want the freedom to splurge on the details and indulge in their day!
Family-Oriented
What is it? This is where we begin to break down the world of elopements (and my specialty!). From experience, there are two types of couples who choose to elope; those who value their “Just-Us” experience (which we will get to next!) and the ones who want to include their closest friends and family in their day - the Family-Oriented ones.
Family-Oriented wedding days are typically very relaxed and intimate as everyone is staying and getting ready together. Those important people are typically present for most events throughout the wedding day and the wedding couple will typically look to ensure that they are included. Couples who have a Family-Oriented wedding day tend to stray away from feeling like they need to include those more traditional events and instead include or add aspects to their day that intentionally serve and contribute to the experience they are wanting. For example, wanting to include a “first-look” prior to them walking down the aisle so that the majority of their day is spent together, rather than apart.
With guest counts usually between 10-20 people, Family-Oriented couples have the freedom to be even more thoughtful in planning the experience they have with their intentionally invited guests. Couples can really go all-out for those special people and themselves and many times Family-Oriented weddings will include an experience driven weekend dedicated to everyone spending time together and relaxing, both pre and post-wedding day.
Family-Oriented weddings are special because the couple can truly enjoy the company of each and every guest and they have the budget to ensure each guest, as well as themselves, has a uniquely crafted experience. Couples that go for a Family-Oriented wedding want to spend time with their people and each other. They want everyone under the same roof, having an amazing time, in an amazing location. They want everyone sharing in the experience of their day…together.
FUN FACT: Did you know the average cost of a wedding in 2022 is $25,000?!
Imagine utilizing that budget to plan a 10 person experience-oriented wedding weekend with your closest friends and family? Or better yet, imagine what the possibilities are for a couple who wants to foster a “Just Us” experience?
“Just-Us”
What is it? As simple as it sounds; the couples that want a “Just-Us” wedding experience want to foster the deep connection they share together and want their day and planning experience to be easy-going and only include exactly what they want to be doing on their wedding day.
Many times, couples who choose a “Just Us” wedding experience are more introverted and may be overwhelmed with the idea of planning a large wedding where so many “eyes” are going to be on them all day. Some choose this experience because they have difficult family relationships. It may also be that this couple is very private, and they want to keep this special day strictly between the two of them. There are seriously so many reasons couples may choose to have a “Just-Us” experience.
Many couples who choose this wedding style opt to include additional activities on their day (besides simply having their ceremony) that they genuinely enjoy doing together; like hiking or backpacking, splurging on tattoos, or even traveling and exploring a new culture or destination together. A lot of times couples will choose to go-all-out on a unique and/or thrilling component of their day, like taking a helicopter tour or trekking on a glacier to their ceremony location (or both!). Ultimately, with a “Just Us” experience, the couple’s wedding day is completely centered around their story together and what they enjoy doing, together. Every couple’s story is unique and there is no “right” way to have a “Just-Us” wedding.
But what if you’re stuck between two categories?
Maybe two of these options fit your vision perfectly, but also seem slightly contradictory to each other, so what do you do? Well that my friend, is where a hybrid category comes into play! Enter: Multi-Day Weddings!
Multi-Day
What is it? Multi-Day Weddings and Elopements are just that, celebrations that take place over the course of more than one day.
Multi-Day Celebrations allow couples the freedom to have the best of both worlds! To have the ability to celebrate with those who matter most to them as well as foster the “Just Us” experience they have been imagining.
The couple may decide that perhaps the first day of their elopement weekend they want to get legally married surrounded by their closest friends and family. With this experience, the couple still wants to cherish the sweet getting ready moments, share an intimate dinner at their AirBnb cabin with everyone, and even have informal father-bride and mother-groom dances out on the deck all with the evening ending over campfire stories and delicious cake. The next morning, the couple heads out privately, in their wedding attire, at first-light to catch an amazing sunrise at a location that is special to them. They share private, handwritten vows and together they savor the newness that married life is.
Even for couples who are choosing a more traditional celebration, this same concept can also be applied!
For example, a couple wanting to have a traditional-small, destination wedding, might want to pursue a more low-key and grounding experience with their new spouse the next day. Maybe for this couple, they have chosen the destination of Santorini, Greece for their wedding, so the day after their celebration they start married life off by embarking on an intimate catamaran cruise, just the two of them (and their photographer 😉), around the Aegean Sea, and later in the evening, they climb back into their wedding attire to share personal and private vows overlooking the city and dedicate time during sunset to capturing adventurous and artful portraits, since the day before was focused on spending intentional time with their invited guests.
Every couple is unique and therefore, what they value most out of their wedding experience will also be unique.
In Summary:
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What most people think of when they think of a wedding
Large guest counts of 150-300+ people and large bridal parties
Usually takes place at a hotel ballroom or large venue
The couple likely wants to include all of the traditional reception events like the dances, toasts, the bouquet and garter toss, cake cutting, and dance floor games. To close out the night, the couple will typically have a formalized exit where they exit through a tunnel of sparklers, streamers, or bubbles
-
Very similar to that of Traditional-Large except the guest count is smaller and usually between 75-125 people
May have more personalized and/or styled aspects. The couple may start to shift away from having all the traditional aspects included and may only choose to include those that they actually want to be doing
Usually takes place at a specialized venue or hotel
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Will have a small guest count, usually between 10-20 people and only include the couple’s closest friends and family
Couples tend to stray away from including those traditional events and instead only include aspects of their day that intentionally serve and contribute to the experience they are wanting
Will many times include an experience driven weekend dedicated to everyone (and the couple) spending time together and relaxing, both pre and post-wedding day.
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Couples who want to foster the deep connection they share together and want their day and planning experience to be easy-going and centered around their story together
The couple may be more introverted, private, or have difficult family relationships
Will likely include additional activities on their day that they genuinely enjoy doing together; like hiking, splurging on tattoos, or even traveling and exploring a new culture or destination together
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Weddings and Elopements that take place over the course of more than one day
This allows the couple the freedom to have the best of both worlds! To have the ability to celebrate with those who matter most to them as well as foster the “Just Us” experience they have been imagining
Can create a more relaxed wedding day setting since couples will not be worried about squeezing everything into one day
My advice to you as you continue to wedding plan…
is to prioritize your values and act on what you feel best represents yourself and your partner. Set boundaries early and allow yourself space to be different, think different, and create something special that celebrates you. Give yourself permission to plan a wedding experience that fills you with joy and excitement and feels true to yours and your partner’s story together!
I’d love to hear which wedding category most closely resonated with you!
Let’s chat about how we can make it a reality!
Curious what the next steps are in your wedding planning journey?
Take a peek at my blog - 5 Tips to Planning an intentional wedding day
Hear From My Past Couple - Ashley & Dean
The entire process of working with Jenna was flawless and wonderful from start to finish!
She really does feel like an old friend. (I) Literally could not articulate what a joy she was to work with or how special she made Dean and I feel, not just on the day but on the run up, during, and after the event. This girl took what had been for us a hard situation and made it into the dream situation.
My husband and I had tried for years to make a wedding work and had a quick lunch break ‘get the paperwork done’ courthouse wedding, after which we never celebrated or even changed my name because we were always looking to host a wedding one day. Two covid-thwarted attempts later we were ready to just forget about the whole thing as we were technically already legally married - until I came across Jenna’s work and thought I would take a chance and reach out to learn more about eloping. That first call changed everything. My feelings of ‘not doing it right’ or not being able to celebrate disappeared with our conversation and instead I was able to feel the joy and excitement again! I knew right away from our initial call that we HAD to work with her.
We booked our elopement for June 17th in Yosemite National Park. And Jenna was incredibly organized and kept in touch with us and communicated regularly. Every time I had a question she was there – every time I had a panic she was there. She helped us find the most amazing accommodation and prompted us along the process of getting our permit. Working with Jenna is like having a bridesmaid, a wedding planner, a photographer (and florist!!) all in one. Literally could not speak any higher about Jenna.
Also, my husband Dean hates having pictures taken – really truly hates them. She made him feel so relaxed and comfortable and at ease throughout the entire process. We soon learned that the day was far more than that.
Jenna doesn’t plan pictures, she plans moments.
The whole day of the elopement was effortless and filled our cups up with so much joy. And this really shows in how natural, genuine, and full of love the pictures are. Not only did we have the most magical special day full of intentional moments to celebrate our marriage, but we had a BLAST hanging out with Jenna. I’ve said it to her and I’ll say it in this review – we felt like we were on a road trip with friends.
The day felt like an adventure. It felt so special to the point where if there weren’t even pictures at the end of it we would still be over the moon with the experience. (BUT OMG the pictures are showstoppingly gorgeous)!
Her professionalism, organization, encouragement, humor, bubbly personality and TALENT are second to none.
If you are thinking about booking a special day or elopement and you have come across this review, trust me – you will want to book the call and see for yourself! Thank you Jenna for everything!