10 Top Tips for a Surprise Wedding

An Unexpected Occasion

“Surprise! Weddings”

Less of the fuss and more of the fun!

Tips for Planning a Surprise Wedding

10 Top Tips

So often I hear of the stress and fall outs during the planning of a full on all bells and whistles wedding but there are other options to those wanting to make a public commitment as a loving couple but with less fuss and expectation.

Of course there are plenty of pit falls which I can advise you on but the overall effect is becoming more popular internationally. There are two types of surprise weddings, one where you invite everyone to an event and drop it on them when they arrive and the other is to have the event privately while on your holiday and hold a party for your family and close friends after the event to announce and share your story.

Here is some top advice to consider when planning your surprise wedding: 

1.       Depending on which surprise you’re planning you might want to consider telling a few of your more important people; parents, grandparents. They may want to help with a few things to off load the pressure. This is also advisable as you need to remember that these people in your life have also been looking forwards to your big day and will appreciate your consideration and be more understanding of your decision.
2.       Deciding on an alternative event such as this will mean that other traditions will be missed, such as hen and bucks parties but you can build new traditions, as there is always time for another party after the event with a slide show and memorabilia of the day.
3.       If you’re getting married secretly overseas, you might want to consider dried, silk or flax flowers and a dress for all occasions, this way they can be bought back out and enjoyed again at the after party.
4.       Your family and friends might be suspicious, so it’s important to consider giving your event a theme or title, for example: A garden party to celebrate your five year anniversary of knowing each other. If you’re planning to invite people to the event, again giving a theme will encourage a dress code in keeping with the real theme and reason for your day.
5.       Invites and/or save the date: if you have guests coming long distance or even international guests you will need to give them plenty of warning, in those cases it could be a cause to tell them the truth as they are less likely to cross the water for a tea party. “mums the word of course!”
6.       Bridesmaids and Best Men will need to be in on the job of course, unless you’re really brave and surprise them too on the day.  It’s helpful to have a few key people in on the occasion, as you will appreciate some support at set-up.
7.       The announcement: Whether you’re eloping or inviting guests to your event secretly you will need to think about how you will make the big reveal, always consider those who may feel denied the opportunity to have been engaged in the planning. One would hope that everyone will be simply delighted with the whole idea but a quiet word in their ear at an opportune moment will release you of all obligation, as they will know you considered their feelings.
8.       Social media: with on line announcements being so easily expressed on site, you might want to consider a chalk board or little notelets asking guests when they arrive and the beans are spilt not to share anything on social media until after the event.
9.       Gifts: obviously its tradition to give a gift at your wedding but with a surprise this is something you will deny your family and friends to choose to do, however a wishing well could be a nice alternative and help to pay some of the credit cards bills off.
10.   Find a Celebrant who will be happy to be in the secrete with you and help create your surprise and anticipation, there are few rules to your ceremony so you can build in your thanks to those who helped create the surprise, explain why you chose to create your event the way you did, which will answer many questions quietly nestled in some minds.