I was never one to dream of or picture my wedding day growing up. Certain aspects of it, yes—the dress and choice of venue (always my favourite part of any wedding)—but that’s mostly where it ended.

I adore attending weddings, however. Big ones that pull out all of the stops, complete with grand ceremonies and traditions, and small intimate ones that include only a core group of people and no more than a few hours of one singular day.

Over the years, the thought has occasionally crossed my mind of how I would feel about having the nearest and dearest of two people, a priest, photographer, and cameraman, and an eventual turnout of what could potentially be in the hundreds attend and witness the exchange of deeply personal vows with me and my future husband, and the thought doesn’t always evoke delight.

In any case, I thought I would make my personal feelings and experiences useful to others who may feel the same. If public speaking, extreme attention, or constant cameras make you uncomfortable, the wedding ideas below may be for you.

INTROVERT WEDDING IDEAS

Courthouse wedding

I don’t know what this says about me, but if I were close to getting married, a courthouse wedding would probably be my chosen method of matrimony. It may be the perceived short duration of the ceremony or the simplistic style of the affair, but either of those reasons would be valuable for an introvert.

Eloping

Eloping has become more socially acceptable than it was even a decade ago. It used to be considered much more inconsiderate of close friends and family not to want to host an occasion that included everyone loved by the couple.

But with the overall social and cultural changes of people being open about financial and personal constraints, respectful of each others’ privacy, and the concept of eloping being just plain romantic, I think we can certainly include it as a perfectly creative and viable wedding option for introverts.

Immediate family only

If both parties are on board, you could have your immediate family present. This not only favours the introvert, but it also takes an immense amount of stress away from the guest selection process since there will be none at all.

No uncharacteristic activities that involve being the centre of attention

Hear me out: There can be a wedding world with no public dancing if you don’t want to, no extended speeches, and no having every single moment captured on film or video. Many traditional wedding norms are included (and paid for) without much thought or customization for your personality. If you don’t like it, it’s okay not to do it.

 I firmly believe that the audience should feel the energy of the bride and groom. If it happens to be stressful, then it tends to kill the mood for all. So do what you are comfortable with and that still captures the day’s romance, feeling, and sentiment.

Choose introvert-friendly venues

The style of the wedding venue is not to be undermined as far as contributing to the comfort and ambience of the occasion.

Buy out your favourite restaurant that can host the ceremony in one area and the reception in another. Host it at a family member’s home for added sentimentality and familiarity to make yourself more at ease throughout. There is something about a small, enclosed space rather than a grand, majestic church, exotic destination location, or hotel ballroom that indulges an introvert’s intimate and personal style.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope what you have read has somehow educated, informed, or inspired you.

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