Your wedding should be one of the best days of your life. However, the planning process can be stressful. If you’re planning an intimate winter wedding reception, you want everything to go smoothly. Here are some tips to help you plan the wedding reception of your dreams!

Keep the Guest List Small

Unfortunately, large weddings and intimacy don’t always go hand in hand. If your lifestyle involves a lot of people, you may need to cut your guest list down. According to The Knot, the average wedding has 131 guests. Depending on your venue, you might need to cut this number down in order to keep things intimate. Consider who you really want at your wedding and who you’re okay with not seeing. Keep these things in mind as you build your guest list.

Embrace Coziness

Winter wedding receptions are indoors because the weather can be so cold. If you’re getting married in the winter, embrace the coziness of being inside. Decorate the venue with an emphasis on warmth. Soft lighting, hot food, and soft surfaces can make the space feel much more intimate. The intimacy of such a space will be ideal for your wedding plans.

Keep it Simple

Your wedding reception does not need to be an outrageous affair. In fact, if you want an intimate winter reception, you should keep things simple. Focus on the time you’ll have together with your family and friends. The fewer things you have taking up space, like photo booths or other rentals, the more space you’ll have to host. Choose a few things that you and your spouse enjoy and make those a showpiece of the reception. Or, if you really want candid photos, consider providing disposable cameras for everybody. 94% of women still own printed photos, so use ones in your home to decorate your wedding for a personal touch.

Have a Destination Wedding

One way to keep things intimate is to host a destination wedding. You might want to celebrate your winter wedding by heading someplace warm to exchange your vows. For those who enjoy a more upscale lifestyle, this can be an excellent way to keep things small while also making it an experience no one will forget. Destination weddings tend to be smaller since fewer people can travel to them. This will let you keep that feeling of intimacy that a smaller reception brings. It also gives you and your guests an experience you will treasure. Preferring experiences to items is a common sentiment among millennials. In fact, 78% of millennials would rather spend money on an experience than purchase an item. Your destination wedding will be the perfect experience to share with your friends and family.

Skip What Doesn’t Matter to You

There are many wedding traditions that feel almost mandatory. If every wedding you’ve ever been to has had them, then you might feel obligated to include them in your own. However, the more wedding traditions you add to your event, the bigger it is going to be. Take some time to consider what does and doesn’t matter to you when it comes to your wedding. Which traditions are important and which don’t matter? How are you envisioning the day? You and your fiance should have this discussion as you plan the wedding. Eliminating certain tasks and events from the day will make it a more intimate, enjoyable affair for both of you.

Your wedding should be what you want it to be. If you want an intimate winter wedding reception, take these tips into consideration!