Silverball Leisure

Not all weddings are grand affairs - nor do they need to be! With a growing number of couples opting to have a far more intimate wedding, or taking on much of the planning and work themselves to keep costs down. Many couples opt to elope - go to another country for a wedding ceremony, with perhaps a celebration on their return.

We gave an interview to the organisers of the "Tiny Weddings Fair" ahead of a specialist wedding show aimed at these couples....

What do you love about tiny weddings?
We love all weddings! As with any event, its not about the scale, its about who you are with, who is celebrating with you and sharing your day. Tiny weddings allow for an intimate day, focused on the love and the actual marriage – we don’t all need a lavish celebration!

How do you think the couples are different when working with a large wedding versus a tiny wedding?
With a tiny wedding the couples are able to be more in control of the details which matter and tend to be having a far more personal day. Over our thirty years we have hardly ever worked a “cookie cutter” wedding, and that’s what we love about our job!

What are the main differences in the way you do business when dealing with a tiny wedding?
In all honesty we offer the same level of service for every event and function we work – that’s why we don’t offer “packages” as many other companies do. We are always available to give advice or bounce ideas – regardless of what part of the wedding it involves! We provide a very personalised service, and with tiny weddings in particular that tends to be exactly what is needed.

Give an example of a tiny wedding you have worked on and what you did for the couple?
We have worked every venue size from manor houses to village halls. With smaller, personal weddings we have found that the bride and groom tend to run everything themselves, with no wedding planner or co-ordinator on hand for them. That’s where we step in! By having a DJ with plenty of experience we can – and have – been able to discreetly and subtly steer the day, ensuring that everything necessary happens. This has ranged from coaching for speeches, making a toast on behalf of a nervous father of the Bride (he forgot!) to opening the drinks and providing the cake knife (yes, we carry a cake knife as standard!).

If you could work on a tiny wedding anywhere in the world, any theme, any couple; where or what or whom would it be?
As a DJ I don’t have quite the range of options! I love working with couples who want to celebrate their love, who want to make their day personalised to them and their characters, who involve their guests and – obviously! – love their music which means the party can be just fun!

Do you feel there has been an increase in tiny weddings in the past few years or have you always worked with a lot of small wedding parties?
I think that, although there are still couples spending large sums on big weddings, there has been a shift toward couples taking more control of the day and of the budget. Moving away from the traditional “Mum and Dad paying” means that couples can exercise control over the guest list and have realise they don’t need to invite all their distant relations! We are seeing more couples wanting something different – be it a tiny wedding, an overseas ceremony or just a different way to party. Our experience and versatility is key here!