A garage is turned into a lovely location for a small, intimate wedding with family and friends.
Size isn’t everything … at least not when it comes to weddings. Some couples dream of a large event with lots of people at an amazing venue. Some couples prefer a smaller, more intimate event with a few friends and family. It really is up to the couple to plan for a wedding they can look back on fondly in the years to come.
Here in Lethbridge and southern Alberta, there are a good number of wedding venues that can cater to any size of celebration you could want. But sometimes I am asked by a couple for some ideas on small, budget-friendly venues. To those inquires, I could quote Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz … “There’s no place like home; there’s no place like home; there’s no place like home.”
Yes, weddings at home are an alternative and they can be the preference for many couples. For a smaller wedding, there are certainly benefits to planning for a home ceremony. Being prepared for inclement weather is one of those benefits. Sometimes it can be fairly easy to move the wedding into a sheltered space if things turn wet or cold or … this is southern Alberta after all … ridiculously windy!
I have performed ceremonies in living rooms, sunrooms, carports, garages, backyards, large houses, small apartments, and on decks and patios, both exposed to the elements and under protective awnings. So, just about any home setting can serve well for a wedding, depending on the number of people attending.
During the past two years, the in-home wedding seemed to become a little more popular in Lethbridge and southern Alberta due to COVID and the necessary restrictions that were in place. But weddings at home were popular before the pandemic and they remain so now with the easing of restrictions.
If you like the idea but aren’t sure if the space you have is appropriate, let me reassure you that any space you are comfortable with is fine for a wedding. Never forget that the ceremony is all about you and what you’d like it to be. With a little creativity, you can make many areas perfect for your wedding.
This past June, I performed a wedding in a garage. I have to tell you, the couple involved decked it out wonderfully, even including small tributes to family members who had passed away. Depending on where you stood or were seated, you would not have known it was a garage!
Seating for the guests creates the desired aisle!
A nice arch, some flowers, and a backdrop create a wonderful ceremony site
The possibilities in backyards can also be quite impressive. A short time ago, I was asked to perform a backyard wedding in Lethbridge. This was pretty much a regular size lot, and it was perfect for hosting family and friends for an intimate wedding ceremony. The couple had chairs set up for guests, an arch for the ceremony, a fence decorated for a backdrop, and a family member controlling music through a Bluetooth speaker. It was sunny, the temperature was comfortable, and … it wasn’t windy! You can’t ask for much more than that with outdoor weddings in Lethbridge!
Certainly, there are other options couples can consider for the smaller wedding. There are parks, campgrounds, private rooms in restaurants, and other venues that can work for you. But I think a wedding at home can create a different kind of memory as each time a couple is in their yard or garage or living room, they are right back where they were married. So, the ceremony can live on for them … plus they then have a built-in place to celebrate anniversaries right where they got married!
Venues are obviously an important part of a wedding ceremony, but you could find the ideal location for you is closer than you think.
Cheers!