For University students thinking of tying the knot, a small wedding may be an excellent choice. Students can plan a simple wedding with a consultant or just buy a book and plan their own.
“I have heard that often, people do not remember much about a large wedding, just a whole lot of hustle and bustle for nothing,” said Katie Rasmussen, a freshman pre-nursing major. “A small wedding is more intimate, more special.”
It can also be a handy way to save money.
Wendy Richards, a sales clerk at Barnes and Noble, said the store carries a large selection of books on how to put together almost any kind of wedding.
Barnes and Noble has a section called Weddings and Etiquette with five shelves approximately five feet long full of different wedding books and related materials.
One that Richards recommended was “Easy Wedding Planning Plus” by Elizabeth and Alex Lluch, priced at $19.95.
The different books about how to plan weddings range from $8 to $60 with everything in between.
“My personal idea of a small marriage is eloping,” Richards said, laughing.
If eloping is out of the question, but planning a wedding using only books seems too time consuming, a wedding consultant may be the answer.
Parties To Go provides flexible wedding consultations.
“The difference between us and other companies is our wedding showroom,” said Debby Josephson, the Delta Oaks manager. “We also have an in-house florist, plus wedding consultants who will work with the bride and groom from beginning to end.”
“Location with large weddings can be a problem,” added Judy Gregory, a wedding consultant at Parties To Go, “and the logistics of how to get people from the wedding to the reception can be difficult. …
“Many large weddings are videotaped, and the bridal couple must watch the video to see what their wedding was like,” she said. “The wedding became a blur.”
Once Parties To Go consultants have the date and location of the wedding, they can help couples with different options. They rent out nearly everything, including tents, dance floors, glassware, silverware, linens and arches.
“We also sell items in paper for those that would like that option,” said wedding consultant Veneda Bishop.
Even with the help of a consultant, the couple still have to take care of the bridal wardrobe, music, photography and food.
“The benefit of a small wedding is that you can personalize it,” Bishop said. “The bride and groom can mingle more with the guests.”