How to have a relaxed wedding

Learn some ways on how to have a relaxed wedding.

A simple wedding also means a more relaxed wedding! When you are relaxing you are enjoying the day more. Your wedding day is an important one and you want to be present and excited not rushed and stressed. Normally, when couples are rushed and stressed are the ones that don’t enjoy their special day.

Here’s my tips on how to have a relaxed wedding:

Stay the night before so you can wake up, relax, then get ready for your wedding day

For your destination wedding or even if you are getting married locally, stay at one of your favorite hotels. Spend a little more on a suite or a hotel you’ve wanted to stay at. This is a special occasion and it’s ok to spend a little more on something for your wedding.

If you and your fiancé want a first look, a suite works well since the bride can get ready in one room and the groom in the other. Some of my favorite places to recommend to our couples are:

- The Inn at the Cove - beautiful ocean view rooms, close to all of our Pismo Beach ceremony locations

- Spyglass Inn - ocean view rooms, spacious, and walking distance to a few of our Pismo Beach wedding locations

- Sandcastle Inn - steps from the Pismo Beach pier, ocean front rooms, fun mid century vibe

If hotel prices are looking a little too pricy, consider another date or season. Summer time and weekends can always be a bit for expensive. We love mid week weddings too! And, Fall time is one of the best times for weather on the Central Coast.

Don’t invite any guests! Or, if you feel you need to have someone there, consider a small wedding. Even better, plan a surprise wedding.

Some guests add extra drama that you don’t need on your wedding day. Remember, this is your wedding, not theirs! If guests are feeling a little overwhelming, talk to your fiancé and reconsider your wedding. Many times, couples come to me and say they’ve planned a big wedding and they couldn’t continue with the plans because it was too much for them. The shrunk the guest list, had a small wedding, and a more relaxed wedding.

When starting the wedding planning, you and your fiancé may just want to elope. A wedding is a celebration of the love you share with your fiancé, not the love that you share with a guest. A just the two of us elopement is that - just the two of you! Many couples return home and have a “we got married” party and invite all the people that they’d invite to their wedding. They share photos, have food, and a celebration of their love.

We’ve had a few couples who’ve had a “surprise, we are getting married” wedding. What is this you ask? It’s a wedding where you let the guests know at the last minute the you are getting married. Imagine planning a wedding for a year…think about all the opinions that you have to hear about…why not just leave those options to a minimum by surprising the guests.

A couple of ours did this.

Their family had a trip planned to Pismo Beach. The couple contacted me and said they wanted to get married, but their family thought they all were just going on their annual family trip. Two weeks before the trip, the couple told their family they were getting married. Two weeks gives family enough time to plan what they are going to wear. Especially if the wedding is causal, the guests don’t have to worry about buying a formal outfit, a fun beach dress is perfect for the guest to wear. And, Amazon, Target, Macy’s and Kohl’s ships out clothes fast. So, your guests can online shop.

I sure wish I could have had a surprise we are getting married wedding or even a just the two of us elopement.

Get married sooner vs later… why wait?

Like I mention above about planning a wedding in a whole year. The more time, the more things can come up. I feel, you can plan a small wedding in about 3 months. I’ve planned small weddings in less time too!

If you have a shorter amount of time, worry doesn’t set it. If you know you only have 3 months for all the planning, you will probably only focus on what really matters, not the fluff parts of the wedding.

A relaxed wedding means you don’t have the extra time to think about the unknown. You have time to only focus on what’s important.

Have a more casual themed wedding

Weddings have really changed! They are not formal, black tie events anymore. It’s ok to have a more causal wedding. I actually think they are more fun and more relaxed!

A more causal wedding creates a more relaxed wedding.

Most of our weddings are more casual. For a more casual wedding, guests can still dress up. A wedding is a special event! But, the dress would be something a little more fancy. I’ve included some photos of guests that I think do a great job of having a more causal, but nice, dress for a wedding.

For a casual wedding, the bride can still wear a white, lacy dress and the groom can still wear a suit.

Choose a setting that is naturally beautiful - no extra fluff needed

Our ceremony packages don’t include a lot of extras. Wondering why? I believe in the beauty of the natural backdrop. The Central Coast is an amazing setting for a wedding - from sun kissed beaches, to sunsets overlooking the ocean, to waves crashing in the distance.

The natural setting is a free item that’s provided for your wedding day. Why take away from the natural setting with added decorations? Plus, the decorations add to your budget too.

I love the beauty of the Central Coast!

Stay within your budget

One of the biggest things to stress over is your wedding budget. Feeling overwhelmed with the money part can cause you not to have a relaxed wedding.

You and your fiancé need to sit down and talk about how much you realistically can spend on your wedding. Remember, the wedding is just one day out of the rest of your life with this person. Do you want to be in debt over your wedding or do you want to start out financially free of debt with your partner?

Maybe a big, fancy, expensive wedding is not the best for you. It’s hard to realize your wedding dreams might not come true. If you still can’t get that expensive wedding out of your mind, this might be the time to take a few years to save up to pay for the wedding. But, if you think getting married to the person you love and still having most of what you want (on a budget) then now is the time to make it official!

Coastal California Wedding’s packages are affordable! I created the packages because I feel a wedding shouldn’t cost as much as a car. You can still have a beautiful, memorable wedding that doesn’t break the bank.

Venues and food are what seems to cost the most. When looking for a venue, make sure they include extras in the cost of their space. Some places charge you to just put your foot on their ground - they don’t include anything else. Or find a less expensive venue that you can personalize. With food, my favorite cost saving options are to go with a restaurant that has space for your large party. A restaurant already includes tables, chairs, silverware, glasses, napkins and table cloths (plus delivery of these items). These small extras can add up.

If costs are becoming too expensive, consider some of my tips like having a small wedding with close friends and family and then a large party back home to celebrate.

Consider an all inclusive ceremony package

Just like the restaurant example, a ceremony package that includes all the details can add up price wise.

Coastal California Weddings all inclusive packages gives you a discount on all the services that you’d have to purchase separately.

Plus, all inclusive wedding packages help you have a more relaxed wedding because you aren’t having to manage all the wedding vendors. For our packages, we have team meetings and communicate with our team. There’s no need for you to have to manage emails, texts, and phone conversations from multiple people. You talk directly to us and we bring your ideas back to our team.

These are some great tips for how to have a relaxed wedding.

Let me know if I can help plan your relaxed wedding - Love, Natalie

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Why you should have a small wedding in Pismo Beach

By Natalie Jones • February 27, 2025

Here’s why you should have a small wedding in Pismo Beach Small weddings are the way to go these days! We aren’t just saying that because small weddings have been our thing since we started our business back in 2015. A small wedding can have the same parts of a large wedding - unforgettable moments, celebration with friends and family and the start of the rest of your life together. But, small wedding have a few more benefits like - less stress, less more, and more of the two of you and what you want for your wedding! We love the scenery of the Central Coast for small weddings. There are million dollar views - from your toes in the sand at one of the beach locations, to overlooking the ocean, to shaded eucalyptus trees, and jagged cliff sides. Small weddings are our favorite because the couple is free to focus on the most important things, like having their day, their way, spending the day with the people who truly matter, and having an amazing day packed with lasting memories. What Is Driving the Trend Toward Smaller Weddings? Several factors are behind the increasing trend of smaller weddings. Modern couples are redefining what it means to celebrate love, and in most cases, they focus on quality over quantity. Small weddings have become for popular and couples embrace fewer guests and find the beauty of intimate gatherings. Changing societal norms and the desire for unique, personalized experiences also make smaller weddings an attractive option. How Do Small Weddings Create More Meaningful Connections? Small weddings foster more meaningful connections by allowing couples to spend quality time with each guest, creating an intimate and personal atmosphere. With fewer attendees, conversations feel more genuine, and guests feel truly valued and appreciated. Some couples will have a few day long celebration for their wedding - starting a few days before the wedding with wine tasting or seeing the sites of the Central Coast, then relax on the beach the next day. After some fun in the sun, it's wedding day. The day will end with a group dinner or casual private reception. Then, the guests will leave and the couple has a few more days to celebrate their honeymoon in Pismo Beach or other beach location. This setting also encourages deeper interactions, making it easier to share special moments, heartfelt toasts, and personal stories. Without the hustle and chaos of a large event, couples and their loved ones can be fully present, strengthening bonds and making the celebration even more memorable. How Does a Smaller Guest List Reduce Wedding Stress? Planning a wedding can be quite challenging. It is easier for couples to plan their weddings with smaller guest lists, as this dramatically lowers their prospects of worrying. Incorporating fewer guests into a wedding means that there are fewer logistical elements to take care of, such as catering, seating arrangements, accommodations, and more people to please. This way, couples can spend more time and energy making their special day more unique instead of fretting over accommodating numerous people. A more personal gathering helps create a homely and calming vibe, giving the couple a chance to make the most of each interaction with their guests. Most importantly, a smaller guest number means that there would be fewer changes needed at the last minute, which translates to lower expenditure and costs. Hence, all attendees, coupled with the couple, can fully enjoy themselves without feeling the pressure of the wedding arrangements. What Are the Financial Benefits of Hosting a Small Wedding? Hosting a small wedding can be a cost-effective choice, offering couples the chance to allocate their budget more intentionally. With fewer guests, expenses for catering, venue size, and decor are reduced, freeing up funds for other priorities such as an unforgettable honeymoon or investing in a dream home. This financial flexibility allows couples to create a celebration that reflects their values and vision without overspending. Celebrate your love story with us! Small weddings are more than just a trend—they represent a shift in how couples approach one of the most important days of their lives. By focusing on intimacy, meaningful connections, and thoughtful planning, small weddings offer a unique and heartfelt way to celebrate love. For couples looking to create a stunning and intimate wedding experience, Coastal California Weddings is your simple and stress-free way to plan your wedding. We provide expert guidance and inspiration.

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