The Four Different Types of Weddings To Consider When Planning your Big Day

Hello! I hope you are having a great day today! Did last week’s conversation about how to look radiant on your wedding day inspire you to drink more water? I hope so! And I hope you are literally drinking a big ole’ bottle of water as you are reading this right now! 😉 

This week’s topic is all about 4 different types of wedding categories: what they mean and what they look like. Today’s topic also will hopefully help you cast more of a vision to see what you are dreaming about for yourselves as a couple, so let’s dive into the four different types of weddings! Also, please do not forget to scroll down to snag your free wedding planning guide which I have created for the detail-loving bride!  

Type 1: Traditional Wedding

The phrase “Traditional Wedding” can literally mean a multitude of things depending upon what cultural background you are from. Let’s say you have been born and raised in _______ (insert specific city and state here), so a traditional wedding may look like you plan your wedding in your hometown and you decide to invite not only your friends and family and maybe even open it up to the community you grew up in. You accommodate for 200-300+ guests, you may have light snacks or even a formal sit down meal, a full ceremony and reception, pretty much the whole 9 yards goes into planning this full “traditional” wedding because you want your entire village who raised you to celebrate alongside you. Or let’s say you are from a specific country like India (cough cough like me) and so your wedding may involve incorporating some traditions within your own culture that are wedding related.  And if you are wondering…yes I had an Indian wedding and here is a link to an older blog post about that event: click HERE

photo by www.dollydelongphotography.com

Type 2: Intimate Wedding

An intimate wedding can be very similar to the traditional wedding except it is on a smaller scale and accommodates a smaller crowd of around 30-50 (even smaller). It can be held at a smaller venue, a park, a friend’s house, a family farm, maybe even a backyard. It can accommodate a specific budget you have. You can still have your DREAM wedding in an intimate setting. Also note, an intimate wedding is very different from an elopement in that there actually is a formalized list of events. Even though it’s not on the traditional scale, there still is an order of events. 

Type 3: Destination Wedding

A wedding which takes place away from your hometown and it allows the couple to host a wedding a unique location of their choice (this could literally mean ANY destination-not just a tropical location). If you decide to go with a destination wedding do you just want it to intimate and just be surrounded by your closest friends and family OR do you want to open the invitation and make it available to more guests who are able to travel out to your preferred destination? 

If you are worried this would be an expensive option, it surprisingly is not depending on where you are wanting to get married (so don’t rule this out just in case)!

Type 4: Elopement Wedding 

An elopement is a marriage ceremony conducted in a sudden and secretive fashion, usually involving a quick trip to the local courthouse or a quick flight away from one’s residence with your fiance. So a lot of people may only think of Vegas when they hear the word elope…but people can elope literally ANYWHERE now. On top of a mountain, in a hot air balloon, in a museum, in a historic district of their city, literally anywhere!

Now when you and your fiance dream and plan out your big day, what type of wedding do you envision for yourselves? 

• Do you envision yourself standing on top of a mountain, exchanging rings in the presence of your closest buddies? An intimate wedding or elopement may be for you!
• Do you envision seeing your cousins/family members and relatives from all walks of life along with your community of friends and co-workers surrounding you on your big day? A traditional ceremony may be for you!
• Or do you and your fiance envision yourselves saying “I do” in a new-to-you environment where everyone in your wedding party + family will need to travel to and it’s a brand new experience for all?  A destination wedding may be for you!

photo by www.dollydelongphotography.com

Either way, just sit down and talk about your vision, dreams, and expectations about your big day with your fiance. Pinterest aside (and other people’s opinions aside) what do you and your fiance want? Hopefully, you have your wedding budget in mind so you can determine what type of ceremony (traditional, elopement, destination or intimate setting) you desire! Another reason for knowing what type of ceremony you want is because it will also affect when you can start booking specific wedding vendors! 

Note: There is literally NO wrong way to get married, and remember, your wedding is only ONE day, and your marriage is the most important aspect to focus on. I say this a lot to my brides and grooms (because this is something I firmly believe in) your marriage should be the center and focal point of your attention. The most important work you can do as a spouse is continue to cultivate a healthy and loving marriage in which you build each other up in love and respect. I love marriage, and I love watching healthy marriages grow and flourish! The strongest couples I know are the ones who understand how to view most things pragmatically and who also know how to communicate in respect as they are making bigger decisions. 

I hope this sparks a fun conversation of what you and your fiance are envisioning for your big day!

If you are getting married in Tennessee and are looking for specific wedding vendors to work with, here is a link I have created to help all of my detail-orientated brides CLICK HERE to access my wedding planning guide for free!

As always, thank you so much for keeping up with my wedding photography adventures! I love serving you all through photography and I especially love working with couples who are joyful and excited about getting married! If you are newly engaged and are looking to work with a wedding photographer who would best capture and illustrate your love story with radiant and joyful portraits, please feel free to reach out to me! 

Meet Your Friendly Nashville Elopement Photographer

DOLLY DELONG IS WIFE TO A SUPER CUTE COMPUTER NERD, MAMA TO A LITTLE DROOL MACHINE, AND A DESTINATION WEDDING AND FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER BASED OUT OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.  DOLLY IS AN 80S BABY THROUGH AND THROUGH AND LOVES HER 80S PANDORA MUSIC STATION, WHICH SHE DANCES TO ALMOST ALL THE TIME. WHENEVER SHE HAS A SPARE MOMENT, SHE ENJOYS WATCHING TV (I.E. SURVIVOR), SHE EATS WAY TOO MANY SWEETS AND LISTENS TO PODCASTS WHILE RUNNING OR WALKING. TO WORK WITH DOLLY DELONG PHOTOGRAPHY LLC, PLEASE EMAIL HER AT THEDOLLYDELONG@GMAIL.COM OR FILL OUT HER CONTACT FORM HERE