The wedding industry has totally overturned this pandemic. It has become more difficult to plan a traditional, big wedding with so many restrictions on event and gathering sizes.  As a wedding photographer, I’ve met many couples who are trying to adjust to a whole new playing field while planning their wedding. It’s overwhelming, scary, and confusing. With all the stress of dealing with a super long list of rules and regulations, many couples had resorted to having an intimate wedding. 

From an insider’s perspective, having an intimate wedding turns out to be an empowering and intentional choice. Recently, I had this wonderful experience during Mark and Steph’s small wedding. I love the intimacy, the genuine kilig, and the overall happy vibe from this celebration! 

Let’s all dive into Mark and Steph’s wedding!

INTIMATE WEDDING AT ITS BEST
Mark and Steph have chosen to look at the current state of things from a more positive perspective. Their positivity has radiated and became so evident in the photos. They were all smiles throughout the day. In fact, they both described themselves as naturally bungisngis! They’re no other words except that they’re so cute together!

Here are the couple’s favorite things about their intimate wedding:

• Personal Touch
  The couple only had 20 guests which allowed them to craft handwritten notes for their ninongs and ninangs as a ‘thank you’ for being with them during their special day. 
• The Intimate Vibe
  Having a small crowd made their celebration more intentional and meaningful where they have felt all the love from their guests, even from the virtual ones. For them, everything fell into place and they were over the moon with how things have turned out.
• Low-key Celebration
  The couple is not after a lot of fanfare nor big crowds. Pandemic or not, they would still have kept their wedding intimate and low-key, surrounded by people who matter most.

MARK AND STEPH’S TIPS ON PLANNING AN INTIMATE WEDDING

• Decide your wedding date first and stick to it.
• Create a list of activities that you need to accomplish for the wedding.
• Discuss each item on your list in order of priority. This helps you focus on the most important things down to the tiniest details. 

These are moments that matter most — the sincere joy, the overwhelming love, the honest memories that they are going to cherish for the rest of their lives. These are the truths that were captured through our lens. 

So honored to be part of your wedding Mark & Steph. Thanks for having me!

Photo – Ram Marcelo
Video & Livestream – Hello & Co. Cinema
Preparation – Blueleaf Cosmopolitan
Ceremony – Santuario de San Jose Parish
Reception – Gallery by MiraNila
HMUA Bride – Iya Gueco
HMUA Entourage – Rica Salomon
Coordinator – Maxine Covar Events
Entourage Flowers – NAB Manila
Catering – Bizu Catering Studio
Wedding Gown – Mel Orlina Couture
Groom’s Suit – Exclusively His
Mother’s Dress – Edd Sy
Host – Marc Baluyan