Incorporating the slow-living lifestyle concept into a wedding can transform the traditional celebration into a meaningful, intimate, and stress-free experience.

Rooted in the values of mindfulness, simplicity, and intentionality, slow living encourages couples to focus on what truly matters, deepening connections with each other and loved ones. A slow wedding is a celebration of not just the union of two people but also a practice of a thoughtful and conscious approach to life.

A wedding day goes by in the blink of an eye, making it essential to slow down, be present, and fully take in each precious second. Embracing the slow living lifestyle is the perfect approach for this. Slow living transforms a wedding into not just a fleeting celebration but a deeply meaningful experience. You can consciously approach this and create your wedding day in a way that lets you slow down, relax and flow through every precious moment.

What is slow living, and why incorporate it in a wedding

Slow living is a lifestyle concept that advocates for slowing down and appreciating each moment, focusing on quality over quantity, and fostering a deep connection with one's surroundings and activities. Key aspects include reducing stress, minimizing material possessions, and prioritizing meaningful experiences and relationships. These considerations go perfectly hand in hand with weddings.

It is easy to get lost in the stress of wedding planning, to overspend and to start fulfilling other’s expectations. In turn, slow living brings attention back to the core purpose of the wedding – the commitment and love between the couple. This fosters a deeper appreciation for the significance of the marriage itself beyond the celebration. The slower pace encourages one to reflect on the meaning of the day, promoting a deeper connection to the vows and promises made.

Furthermore, a slower pace allows guests to feel more comfortable and engaged. Focusing on creating meaningful experiences rather than extravagant displays ensures that guests leave with lasting memories of the love and connection. Not less importantly, a simpler, more mindful approach often leads to more cost-effective decisions. By focusing on quality over quantity, couples can allocate their budget more thoughtfully and avoid unnecessary expenses. Investing in elements that truly matter to the couple, such as a meaningful venue or ethical vendors, ensures that money is spent in alignment with their values.

In a slow wedding, you have the opportunity to capture the most candid and heartfelt moments in photos and videos. By embracing a relaxed pace and focusing on genuine connections, you allow photographers and videographers the time to document authentic emotions and interactions. This thoughtful approach ensures that your photos and videos reflect the true essence of your celebration, capturing the spontaneous joy and meaningful moments that make your wedding day unforgettable.

Choose a wedding photographer like Maria Bryzhko, who is renowned for her exceptional ability to capture genuine moments with an elegant and editorial touch. Her artistry lies in her talent for documenting the authentic emotions of your special day while maintaining a sophisticated and polished aesthetic.

In addition to your photo gallery, find a wedding videographer who will immortalize moments of your wedding day in a video. SE Wedding Films is a distinguished wedding videographer known for capturing all the emotions of your special day with authenticity and spontaneity. Their expertise lies in documenting the genuine moments and heartfelt interactions that make each wedding unique. With a keen eye for spontaneous and emotional scenes, SE Wedding Films crafts stunning and personal wedding videos.

Ways to explore and incorporate slow living principles into a wedding

Have an intimate wedding in a serene environment

A slow-living approach prioritizes intimate gatherings, fostering a warm, personal atmosphere where meaningful conversations can flourish. Thus, limit the guest list to close family and friends and send handwritten or custom-made invitations, reflecting a personal touch and intentionality.

Next, choose a venue that aligns with nature to create a serene atmosphere. If having a destination wedding, plan enough time to decompress and get used to the venue. Arriving a few days early allows you to settle in, explore the surroundings, and fully appreciate the beauty of the location. Staying a day or two after the wedding extends the experience, giving you time to relax and savour the memories.

Great venues for a slower wedding are beautiful and serene French chateaus like Château de Santeny and Domaine Le Mezo. These stunning locations, with their exquisite architecture and breathtaking surroundings, naturally inspire you to slow down, appreciate every detail, and enjoy a luxurious celebration.

Be mindful of décor, food and drinks

Slow living celebrates minimalism and sustainable choices. Prefer simple, elegant decorations, focusing on natural elements like flowers, greenery, and candles. The same approach goes for food. Serve food and beverages sourced locally and in season to support local farmers and be sustainable. It is all about quality over quantity and taking time to select a few meaningful elements rather than making extravagant choices.

However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have beautiful decorations. You can embrace the slow-living approach by being creative with your wedding florals. Work with a floral artist who will craft a one-of-a-kind concept tailored specifically to your wedding. By focusing on unique, handcrafted floral arrangements, you not only add a personal touch to your celebration but also enhance the atmosphere with beauty and intention. This thoughtful approach ensures that your floral designs reflect your style, contributing to a meaningful wedding experience.

A great way to be mindful of wedding catering is to incorporate the slow food philosophy by choosing dishes that are prepared with care and emphasize quality ingredients. The slow food movement advocates for enjoying traditional and regional cuisine while supporting local farmers and producers. This approach to wedding catering perfectly goes together with destination weddings where couples usually love to explore local food choices.

By working with local vendors and incorporating traditional dishes, you can offer a unique and delicious dining experience. The same goes for drinks. You can not only explore locally brewed or crafted drinks but also, to accentuate the conscious approach, consider having an alcohol-free celebration.

Heartfelt and genuine wedding ceremony

Your wedding ceremony is not a show; it's a deeply personal moment meant to reflect your unique relationship. When planning your ceremony, focus solely on what feels right for you and your partner. Make it as long or short, sentimental or funny as you like. This is your special moment, so embrace the freedom to design it in a way that truly represents who you are and what your love means to you.

You can personalize your ceremony by writing your vows to reflect your unique relationship and values or including rituals and traditions that have personal significance. You can work together with a wedding celebrant like Julia Hierlemann, who specialises in crafting deeply personal and meaningful ceremonies.

Additionally, you can encourage guests to unplug by having a no-phone policy during the ceremony and parts of the reception. You can provide instant cameras or a guestbook for guests to capture memories without digital distractions. To organize an unplugged ceremony, start by clearly communicating to your guests. Include a note about it in your invitations or wedding website, and place signs at the ceremony entrance as reminders. Additionally, have the officiant make a brief announcement before the ceremony begins to remind it.

Create a relaxed wedding timeline

To avoid a rush related to wanting to fulfil various wedding activities and traditions, spread the celebration over a weekend to allow more time for it. For example, a rehearsal dinner the evening before and a brunch the day after can help create a more relaxed atmosphere. To avoid a tightly packed itinerary, start by developing a comprehensive plan, including buffer periods between major events to accommodate any delays or changes.

Don’t forget about the downtime for yourself and your guests, providing opportunities to relax and enjoy the day. Thus, you will be able to stay flexible and be prepared to adapt your plans if needed, focusing on the experience rather than strictly adhering to the schedule. A great wedding tip is to opt for a venue that can host both the ceremony and reception to reduce travel time and simplify logistics.

An experienced wedding planner team, such as Pasion Eventos, is invaluable for crafting a wedding day that aligns perfectly with your wishes. They will plan every detail of your day, ensuring the flow and pace reflect your vision. They will create a seamless, stress-free slow wedding experience that allows you to enjoy each moment fully. Their expertise ensures the timeline is tailored to your needs, making your wedding day perfectly and slowly paced.

Focus on experiences over extravagance and enjoy

Incorporating slow living into wedding experiences and entertainment focuses on creating a relaxed celebration. To achieve this, consider opting for live, acoustic music that enhances the atmosphere without overwhelming it.

By infusing slow living principles into your wedding, you create a celebration that is not only beautiful but also deeply meaningful, memorable and, most importantly, stress-free.

Wedding photographer: Maria Bryzhko

Wedding videographer: SE Wedding Films

Wedding planner: Pasion Eventos

Wedding celebrant: Julia Hierlemann / Your Love Your Story

Wedding venues: Domaine Le Mezo, Chateau de Santeny

Author: Renāte Berga