Should your Wedding last all Weekend?
We hear this truth all the time: “your wedding day goes by so fast.” But what if we could plan an event that’s longer than just one day? Personally, I’m a big fan of a wedding celebration that lasts all weekend long.
There’s many benefits to having a multi-day event. Whether it’s a destination wedding or one that’s close to home, modern couples are looking for ways to slow down and savor these precious moments. You’ll spend more time with your guests, and feel less pressure to cram all the fun into a 12-hour day (or a 6-hour wedding reception).
For example, Emily & Bill had a destination wedding at a summer camp in Maine. They rented the entire camp so that their guests could stay in cabins on site. We enjoyed a Welcome Dinner on the first night with a live band, field games and canoe rides the next morning, plus an outdoor ceremony before dancing the night away…. and then a bonfire with pizza as the after party. It was so much fun!!!
If the wedding couple and/or their wedding party can stay onsite, that’s a great bonus. Sleeping at the venue allows the couple to move seamlessly from their getting ready space to the ceremony and reception. There’s no need to rent a shuttle or wake up super early. I really love that part! For example, Emily & Bill’s toddler was able to have a nice long nap in their cabin while her dad was getting ready. When she woke up, it was a quick walk up the hill to see her mom.
This may surprise you, but wedding weekends are actually easier for your vendors: if we can drop off rentals or set up the lighting/sound on a Friday and remove it on a Monday, it’s much easier (and more cost effective) then setting up and tearing down on the same day. At most wedding venues, all setup and tear-down must be completed within the 12 hour rental window, and many vendors charge extra if their staff needs to come back late at night on the same day.
There were a few things that made this particular wedding so unique:
Bill & Emily are close friends of ours, so I was happy to travel across the country to make their wedding weekend dreams come true. (Normally, I only take clients who are getting married right here in Eugene, Oregon).
The wedding theme was “70’s summer camp,” and the couple asked their talented friends and family to act as “camp counselors,” leading summer camp activities throughout the morning of their wedding day: field games like ultimate frisbee and capture the flag, wine tastings, jewelry making, and yoga. And of course anyone could enjoy canoeing or swimming in the lake!
Thank you to Emily & Bill for choosing me as your planner. I will forever love the weekend we built together and all the memories we made. Here’s to your bright future together, and your growing family!
Vendors:
Venue: Camp Mataponi
Photo/Video: Superia Weddings
Welcome Band: The Stray Horses
DJ: Jams Frever
Floral Design: Plant Office
Rentals: One Stop Event Rentals
Lighting: Sebago Lake Lighting
Photo Booth: Flash Me Maine
Backdrop: Sunny Side Up Goods
Hair, Makeup, Bartenders: DIY
