How to organize an intimate wedding

You might be wondering how to plan an intimate wedding because of the coronavirus. And I completely understand, because it's a topic I'm hearing about more and more on social media and at the Atelier.

If there's one thing I love about my Mimètik Brides, it's their diversity: in tastes, ages, lifestyles… I learn so much from them in the showroom when, little by little, between dress changes, they open up and share more personal things with me. But, despite this diversity, which I find incredibly enriching, there's one thing they all have in common: they want to shine like never before and feel authentic on their wedding day .

In some cases, that means celebrating an intimate or small wedding with their closest loved ones. Other times, it's a big party in a rustic setting, but with many guests.

With the pandemic, many of my Mimètik Brides have changed their initial plans: they have postponed the celebration for a few months, moved the date to 2021, or decided to go ahead and have a small celebration now and a bigger party when they can.

If you fall into this latter category, or if you've always loved small weddings , I hope this article gives you tons of ideas. And at the end, I'll even let you in on a little secret!

A small wedding: Less is more

"Less is more" is one of my life mantras. That's why, for example, I'm fascinated by Mies van der Rohe, or why my Mimètik dresses are infinity dresses—so versatile and easy to mix and match. In the case of a wedding, "Less is more" means that everything will be much more meaningful to you. With fewer people, those who hold a special place in your heart will be there, and you can dedicate much more time and attention to them . It also means that everything will be reduced to what you truly want, without external pressures. Not to mention that it will mean a reduction in the wedding budget. And, with these resurgences of COVID, it's a good way to make you and your guests feel safer.

How to organize an intimate or family wedding

Organizing an intimate wedding is very similar to organizing any other wedding, but with some special characteristics:

• Create your own Pinterest board, Excel spreadsheet, and Keep: I love starting everything with creativity and organization. These two things, though they may seem contradictory, can go hand in hand and will help you throughout the entire planning process . Plus, this way, everything will be somewhere else, away from your mind, and your partner can be 100% involved in every step. With Pinterest, you'll have all the inspiration you could possibly need. Instagram is also great, but Pinterest lets you have multiple boards with different themes and share them with whomever you want. Be careful! It's addictive once you start… The Excel spreadsheet will help you manage your budget and keep all the different vendors in one place, with their characteristics, pros and cons, prices, etc. I explain more about budgets in this article: Your Wedding Budget. And Keep will allow you to jot down those ideas that suddenly strike you when you're with your friends, reading a story to your children, on your way to work… at the most unexpected moments. And yes, the Keep list can also be shared.

• Calculate the number of guests: This point, always important, is even more so for a small wedding! To be considered a small or intimate wedding , there shouldn't be more than 50 guests. And with the coronavirus pandemic, we're likely talking about many, many fewer.

• It's usually recommended to make two guest lists, one for the groom and one for the bride, and then remove those who aren't the closest family members. In the case of a wedding during the coronavirus pandemic , it might be best to start with the immediate family and expand only slightly. As with so many other occasions, let your heart guide you.

• If you're planning a bigger party next year, let those friends and family members you didn't invite to the small celebration know. They'll understand, especially if your decision was due to health restrictions, and they'll appreciate feeling included in your future plans.

• Choosing the venue: Do you know what the best thing about an intimate wedding or a wedding with few guests is? That it can take place in so many different locations: a chapel, a cove, in the woods, a farmhouse, the garden of a country house, the rooftop of a city building… Just the other day, a friend of mine got married on a rooftop; she looked stunning and radiated happiness! Everything was small and charming, full of details that she had prepared herself.

• Think about personal details: If you love DIY as much as I do (that's how I started Mimètik during the 2011 crisis!), this is the perfect opportunity to unleash your creativity. Instead of hiring suppliers to make the invitations, stamps, wedding favors, etc., you can do it all yourself. It might take a little longer than expected, but the result will be wonderful. I'm sure your guests will be touched by every little detail, from the decorations to the keepsakes they'll keep for themselves. Have you considered personalized gifts? I smile just thinking about it, because I'm sure you already have some ideas you're eager to put into practice. It will be a small, charming wedding .

• Have that themed wedding you've always dreamed of! With a small, intimate wedding , you can let your imagination run wild and do whatever crazy idea you have in mind. Aren't you surrounded by your loved ones? They know you better than anyone, they support you in everything, and they want to see you shine like never before. So yes, have that Ibiza-style wedding you've always dreamed of, on the beach, with everyone in white. One of my Mimètik Brides had a celebration like this, and it was amazing: Clio + Joao: an all-white Mediterranean wedding. Or celebrate that medieval wedding, following the Game of Thrones theme, or steampunk, or a totally hippie wedding inspired by the 60s… Your wedding, your rules!

• Guest participation: In a small or family wedding, the celebration can become a great opportunity for everyone to play a part. Are any of your friends musicians? Can your closest friends help you make a spectacular entrance? At Drita's wedding, for example, her son, dressed in a vintage early 20th-century paper boy outfit, shouted "Extra, extra! They're getting married!" just before they entered with colorful sparklers. I think it's fantastic.

• The reception: While an intimate wedding allows for a buffet-style reception, if you're reading this because of the coronavirus, it's best to have the food served at tables, minimizing both the movement of people and the possibility of touching or sharing utensils. It's also a good idea to consider outdoor celebrations or banquets where there's good air circulation. If you love rustic and alternative styles as much as I do, this isn't a problem at all. Eating while watching the sun set over the vineyards or surrounded by olive trees, for example, seems like a magical moment to cherish forever.

The ideal wedding dress for an intimate wedding

So far, we've talked about weddings as social celebrations. Which they are, even when it's a family wedding . But now I want you to focus entirely on yourself. Have you already imagined what your dress will be like? Are you looking for your ideal boho dress? With a Mimètik, you'll feel authentic, comfortable, and have all the versatility to change the dress throughout the day; for example, wearing it one way at the signing and another way during the reception. A Mimètik is the ideal wedding dress for that rustic wedding you're planning. It's been the choice of my Mimètik Brides, whether they got married in a vineyard, like Jessica and Joan , or in the mountains, like Mònica and Óscar , in a forest, at a farmhouse…

If you're in a hurry to receive your dress because you're getting married soon, you can't miss this article: Boho Wedding Dress Ready to Ship: How to Choose Yours . If it's an autumn wedding , you'll love this article: Boho Wedding Dresses for a Perfect Autumn Wedding . And if you have time and want to take it step by step, start with our Bridal Collection . You'll see the different shades and the quality and softness of our fabrics.

Anyway, I'll take this opportunity to give you some quick ideas, such as our best-selling boho wedding dresses :

• This model is a Gala Vintage , and it's the one my Mimètik Brides love the most. Whenever it appears in my stories, I get tons of questions, emoji reactions, and comments like "It's gorgeous!" and "I got married in this Mimètik!" It consists of a base with an infinity dress, available in Ivory or Champagne, and a lace overdress, which you can choose from Ivory, Champagne, Golden, or Rose Quartz.

Here's a Marie Essential bag. I find it so simple and elegant… I couldn't love it more! You can wear it on its own and you'll shine like never before. Add those accessories that make you feel authentic and you'll have it. As I explained with the Gala bag, you can find it in both Ivory and Champagne. The difference? In Ivory, it will have more contrast with your skin if you have a darker complexion and will look more classic, even with a touch of lingerie and sensuality. In Champagne, it's very vintage and more suitable for fair-skinned women.

You can wear the Marie dress on its own, or you can use it as a base and add other accessories to make it feel more dressed up. You can even do this: wear it one way for the civil or religious ceremony, perhaps with a shawl , a lace bolero , or an overdress to make you feel more elegant, and then wear just the dress later for a more relaxed and comfortable look. That's what Eli did, wearing a Rose Quartz bolero at the town hall, and then just the dress for the reception with her family and friends. It's so versatile, you have a thousand options!

Be part of the Mimètik Brides community

If you've made it this far, you deserve a secret: if you sign up for our newsletter , you'll get a 10% discount on your first purchase. Plus, I offer recommendations, showcase other Mimètik Brides for inspiration, and occasionally there are Vente Privée deals.

Want more? There's more! I invite you to join us on Instagram . I love the vibrant atmosphere we have there. Once a week we showcase Mimètik Brides, which will inspire you, and in the future, if you'd like, I could even share your story! We also explain the different collections, show products, and answer all your questions. I'm sure you'll love the wonderful environment we're creating. Even though you're shopping online, I want you to feel supported by the Mimètik Team, as well as all the other Mimètik Brides and Mimètik Lovers.

Can you help me decide on the next article?

I'm already thinking about my next article. Would you like to know what an "elopement" is? If you're not familiar with the term, don't think of Romeo and Juliet: go on Instagram and search the hashtags #elopement #elopementwedding #adventurewedding or #elopementphotography. I'm sure you'll be as fascinated as I am. Would you like me to write about it?