5 ways to use creativity to have a slower wedding.
Introduction
So in my last post I mentioned I wanted to explore a ‘slow wedding’ and what this could look like, is it even a thing?! My initial thoughts are instead of buying everything on the list or wish list you could slow things down with even the simplest of creative tasks. Using your creativity (yes we all have some!) will help you connect in a wonderful way to your event instead of just buying in. It will slow down your wedding shopping and turn it into an experience instead. It will likely save you pennies and be a mental health boost too.
Some or all of your own flowers
No this might sound like a huge under taking but it really depends on what your dream florals look like. Maybe not one to take on if you are thinking of some huge flower arch or installation but for the purposes of this blog series where we are exploring ‘slow’ we are not looking to achieve the latest wedding trend looks but simply create a space for celebration and invite the beauty of nature in to it.
For my own wedding I did all the flowers and guess how much I spent - about £130. Yes that is all! I didn’t do them alone, friends and family took part and it was very special. They weren’t super fancy they were lovely.
Button holes
A few weeks before the wedding a few of us got together with a delivery of dried flowers to make button holes. We created a little outdoor tea party and a table full of blooms and had fun.
Ceremony florals
The day before the wedding a friend delivered, fresh from her grandmas garden, buckets filled with hydrangeas. Added with roses and lavender from parents gardens we filled jars of all kinds and put them in boxes and delivered them to the groom and friends, who enjoyed putting them all out around the ceremony chapel. I did though have the added bonus of getting married in a cute chapel with sweet little windows for these flowers so that did make things easier!
Bouquets
The evening before the wedding as everything had calmed down I spent a lovely couple of hours with some flowers bought from the local market and ones snipped from my green fingered dad’s garden and created little rose and lavender posies. It was lovely to be using something my dad had grown and it really made me look forward to the next day!
Venue decor
The day before the wedding with a couple of bundles from the local market, from the garden and foraged around the venue myself, mum and mum-in-law filled jars and bottles on the tables with blooms and greenery. This could easily be achieved by anyone just wanting to have some fun and take part. Using greenery helps to make the arrangement more relaxed and not needing an expert so much!
2. Paper decorations
Now this would be a mindful and committed way to decorate your wedding! This would definitely slow things down and force you to find time to dedicate to your slow wedding. I liked this image as inspiration because it is a statement but doesn’t look like it would require great paper skills and still have impact.
3. Dessert table
Save pennies on the catering and get a little competitive dessert table on the go! Everyone had such great fun planning their bake and laying it on the table. It was a feast for the eyes and belly! No they won’t all be perfectly pretty, so if you are planning the most aesthetic wedding ever this won’t be for you, but if you want a wedding full of joy and love you will feel it with this one.
4. Thrifting.
Well the ideas here are only limited by your imagination!! Have some fun hunting down a collection of treasures from charity shops. After the event you and others could keep the favourite pieces, pass along for another wedding or return back to charity for another purchaser.
5. Writing
Are we loosing the art of writing? I often see beautiful place cards and invites calligraphed expertly advertised to couples but if we are slowing things down what could be a more perfect way to do that with minimal creative skill needed than sitting to write your own invites and place cards or notes? You could still have beautiful invites made but then sent to you to write names and envelopes. A little mindful wedding activity as a couple that will bring joy and build exciting for the big day.
