How to make your wedding day feel more intimate

Get ready together

Getting ready for the big day fills a good portion of the wedding schedule. One way to squeeze in some extra time with your bride or husband-to-be is to get ready together. Whilst this may break wedding traditions, there’s just something so special about spending a quiet morning getting ready together; sharing your anxieties and hopes for the day ahead. 

Solton Manor’s picturesque Dovecote Cottage offers a calming, private space for wedding preparations. Couples can enjoy exclusive use of the cottage from 7am on their special day, including use of the private electric hot tub. There’s no better way to ease those pre-wedding jitters than soaking in your very own hot tub with a bottle of champagne and nibbles to share! 

Enjoy an intimate first look

If you’re not keen on getting ready together, why not share an intimate first look? You can revel in the emotions and enjoy one last moment together before saying “I do”, without all eyes being on you. Jump for joy, hold each other, laugh together, cry on their shoulder; those emotional first look reactions make for some truly meaningful personal photographs. But if you’d rather not have this private moment documented, you can simply hide away and enjoy each others’ company for a little while longer.

Exchange letters or gifts

One of the most intimate gestures you can offer your significant other is a love letter or personalised gift. Ideally exchanged during preparation or the first look, this is a unique way to share a physical declaration of your love. 

If you’re choosing to write a letter, make it personal and unique to your relationship with nods to special moments you’ve enjoyed together as a couple. Gifts don’t necessarily need to be expensive. Thoughtful gifts such as a scrapbook of cherished photographs or a memento from your first date make the most meaningful presents.

Write your own wedding vows

Writing your own vows is one of the simplest ways to make your wedding celebration feel more intimate. Your relationship is one-of-a-kind, so expressing your true feelings will make your wedding ceremony more personal and unique to you as a couple. The thought and effort that goes into composing your own declaration of love will mean so much more to your spouse than just reading from a generic script. 

Solton Manor provides the perfect blank canvas for hosting intimate weddings in Kent. You can choose to exchange your personalised vows outdoors in Godric’s Garden, or inside our Dutch Barn ceremony area. Both areas offer the ideal backdrop to enjoy a few cherished intimate moments together.

Exchange your vows in private

There’s no law to say that you must exchange vows in front of others, and some couples may feel uncomfortable sharing their vows in front of a crowd – whether they are personalised or not. So, why not share your individual promises to one another in a quaint, intimate setting before or after officiating the ceremony? This “mini elopement” is guaranteed to be much more emotional and direct, without potential distractions from guests. Plus, reading your vows in private makes for some truly beautiful photographs!

Make time to eat together

We can’t tell you how many times we see the bride and groom’s plates untouched during the wedding breakfast, as they’re too busy ensuring that guests are happy and well-fed! Schedule some time to eat dinner together, whether that be in the comfort of your private bridal suite whilst guests are sipping on their welcome drinks, or at a designated sweetheart table during the wedding reception. 

Our wedding caterers are well versed in offering delicious food and drink that everyone can indulge in, including the bride and groom. They can set aside a private sit down meal for you and your spouse to savour your dinner in peace, without the added pressure of mingling with guests. This is a great way to spend an intimate moment together and share those exciting initial conversations as husband and wife.

Image credits

Daniel Luke Weddings

Dover Media Group