Would it that we all had all found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to make every single one of our wedding fantasies come true. But, truth to tell, would having the budget to fund dangling thousands of orchids from the rafters, endlessly pouring Dom Perignon champagne fountains, and hosting your own Beyoncé concert, really deepen our love for our “guy” and our family and friends? (Well, maybe Beyoncé might!)

It is important to distinguish between expensive and luxurious when thinking about a wedding. Expensive experiences are not necessarily luxurious ones and luxury experiences aren’t necessarily expensive. 

For us at Men’s Vows, luxury weddings are those that have a hand-made quality, allow for meaningful time together, and are so original no one else, even with all the money in the world, could replicate. 

Taking each in turn… 

Hand-made

Hermès is one of the world’s most luxurious brands, in very large part due to the fact that their products are all hand-made. From a saddle to a handbag, the perfection of these pieces are thanks to incredibly skilled artists.

How could make your wedding more hand-made? Consider a letter-pressed invitation or a hand-written note to each of your guests expressing what their friendship has meant to you. If there is a florist or a baker among your friends and family, set them free on making these elements of your wedding unforgettable. Or, rather than buying expensive wine, maybe there’s an opportunity for you to have a special vintage bottled for your big day. 

Time

Every single couple we’ve interviewed for Men’s Vows has expressed how fast their wedding day seemed to go by. Of course it does, what with the thrill and emotions of the day, being surrounded by everyone you hold closest, and the fun of a great party. 

But, what if you had a much smaller wedding over the course of a weekend, allowing you to spend really meaningful time with each of your friends and family? In fact, what about calibrating your wedding list to the time you have available for each of your guests?? 

We know that trimming a guest list can be one of the hardest tasks when planning a wedding, so consider having other events around your wedding—cocktail parties, group lunches, one-on-one conversations—in order to connect with those you keep in your circle, and let your big day really be a gift of time between you and your closest friends and family.

Originality

People spend hours and loads of money working with the best invitation designers, florists, DJs, and wedding planners to create a beautiful and unique wedding day. But, there is one surefire way to making your wedding the most original it can be: your vows. 

Spending time putting into words your love for your man—and for your nearest and dearest to see through that window onto your love—is essentially what a wedding is all about. No two couples will ever replicate original vows and no two guests will experience a couple's vows again. So, take the time, no matter how hard or uncomfortable it might be for you, to make that very moment when you become Mr. and Mr. as original and memorable as you two are. 

Ultimately, getting married is both a right and a luxury. And, whatever your budget allows for and however you want to celebrate you having found the man of your dreams, is entirely up to you. But, no matter what, find luxury first in the hand-made, meaningful time together and your vows.