A wedding celebrant has said that smaller weddings are trending in Ireland due to mounting costs.
Miriam Fitzgerald of Save My Day.ie and Spiritualist.ie has worked as a wedding celebrant for over a decade. While the traditional Irish wedding involves a large plethora of guests, she said that people are reconsidering this route due to financial pressures.
People are increasingly opting for more intimate wedding ceremonies, with a larger party planned for afterwards. Additionally, city centre weddings are also becoming more attractive for couples due to their convenience and flexibility.
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Miriam told Dublin Live: "Wedding ceremonies are expensive and traditionally as a country, we like a big blow out. That’s what is lovely about having a ceremony in the city."
She continued: "It gives you the option of that intimacy without getting involved in the public display… many people don’t have the money for that anymore. It’s nice to have the variety of a smaller ceremony and then maybe your party afterwards."
Miriam has officiated at many smaller weddings in recent times and says they prove even more sacred for couples on their big day. The smaller guest list means that everyone at the ceremony tends to have a tight bond with the bride and groom.
She explained that one of her upcoming ceremonies will feature just 20 guests. The wedding will take place in the small setting of Kennedy's Pub, although the wedding party will host a wider celebration later on.
Miriam said: "It helps cut down dramatically on the cost while giving people the best of both worlds. We had to perform smaller ceremonies during lockdown and they were beautiful- everyone was there because they meant something to that couple, there was no element of plus ones and so on."
Some of her favourite hotels for smaller wedding ceremonies include the Shelbourne and the Merrion. However, many venues across the city easily cater for a tighter guest list, in line with the evolving wedding industry.
Miriam advises couples ahead of their nuptials to ensure their story is told during their wedding. She said that couples often stress about external factors while planning their wedding, when their love story should take precedence.
She also said that candles are one of the biggest faux pas during wedding ceremonies. Couples can save on their budget by avoiding naked flames on the big day, which can be particularly inconvenient for photographers and videographers.
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