I have an awesome wedding idea for you! This was something that my baby sister and her husband did at their wedding and it was such a cool idea and gave them years of enjoyment. They had these full size empty wine bottles each labeled with a different year like 1st year, 2nd year, ect. and little papers and pencils set out in front of them with a sign instructing people to write notes, advice, ect to the couples for the different years of marriage. On their 1st anniversary, they broke the 1st year bottle open and got to read all the notes and stuff, and that was something fun that they got to do on their anniversary every year for like the first 5 years of their marriage. (Lol, in one of the notes I wrote to them, I so called it on when they would have their first kid. 🤣 My sister got such a kick out of that when she got to that note.)

I love that you are going against the norm and doing what YOU want. I got married at 30 and I was so over the "mandatory" things that people tried to tell me I had to have. We did not do a first dance. First, the power went out and second we are both so awkward and it would have been zero fun. We did an early wedding (10:30am) and brunch as the food. So good! No bouquet toss, no garter toss. We did cut the cake and feed it to each other only because my mom told me the tradition behind that was a way to say I will feed you and take care of you even when you can't do it yourself. We did not do a wedding favor. I usually throw away or never look at the tons of favors I've been given, so why do it? We are not super partiers, so the focus was on the ceremony, eating, then leaving. The wedding started at 10:30am and we were gone by 1:15pm. The best man even returned the suits the same day as the wedding 😂 we did all of this because it's what WE wanted

IDEA!!! Make a cute little box and have some notecards and pens for people to drop in their free date night suggestions while they're there at the wedding reception or after party. It'll be so fun to read them together the next morning 🙏🏼

Michel, I am so excited for wedding content! Please share more if you feel so obliged. I love that you are doing things for you this time around and can't wait to hear more! Enjoy the journey!

LOVE the after party idea! That's so unique, and a great way to make the most of an early venue cut-off time. So happy for you two. :)

I’m married to my best friend in the entire world and we just did a small semi-elopement in winter where we had us and only 6 guests who knew, then a friend who was the minister and another friend was the photographer, so with us there were only 10 people present. We had a lovely ceremony and then a moody Christmas/winter luncheon, and it snowed. And we announced it after. And I loved EVERYTHING about that day, but occasionally I do feel a little sad that we didn’t do a full huge spectacle of a wedding lol. Because we get told as brides so often that that’s what you’re “supposed” to do. But then I remember how special the day was because of how extremely intentional every detail was (and how because it was small, we were able to provide amazing elevated food, enjoy the company of the only guests we really wanted there in the first place, and have everything exactly how we wanted it) and I no longer feel any fomo lol, because as you said, spending thousands to please other people is indeed dumb 😂 As a recovering people pleaser myself, snaps to you for your mentality and I know your day will be so special and really fun for you AND your guests ❤❤

Give us all the wedding content you feel comfortable sharing. I'd tag along happily. I think your wedding sounds fun and authentic. I have always attended more formal weddings, which are a lot of work even for guests, in my opinion. Here in Italy it is custom to have an afterparty, at the same venue, where things get much more informal, but the majority of the day is exhausting, to me.

what a privilege to have more wedding content from you!!!! you are so amazing!

This sounds like it'll be so much fun! I totally agree, small and intimate is the way to go. We had 40 people and it was perfect. Everyone loved how personal and intentional it felt.