Be prepared: The next wedding invitation in your mailbox might ask you to break the law.
It may describe the stuff of spy movies: Sneaking into a museum and gathering around a popular painting without rousing suspicion of the guards. All in the name of celebrating a wedding in a ways that’s trendy, thrilling, and totally thrifty.
It’s called a flash wedding (or guerilla wedding) and it’s a twist on the quirky flash mob performances that have been popping up in public squares, shopping malls, and YouTube channels around the world for the past few years. In a flash wedding, the bride, groom, officiant, wedding party (optional) and guests gather quietly in a public place to perform a quick wedding ceremony before dispersing to a reception or after-party.
Why Flash Weddings Make Sense
Flash weddings are unique, fun and quick, but, most importantly, they can save the bride and groom BIG money.
The “average” American wedding costs nearly $30,000, making a public wedding is an attractive alternative. You can say goodbye to the big costs associated with the the venue, décor, and ceremony music while still having a memorable and beautiful day in a free public space.
Another perk of a flash wedding is that location possibilities are endless, you can hold your wedding someplace that’s potentially more meaningful to you and your betrothed than the average church or rented ceremony space.
Where Can You Have a Flash Wedding?
If you want a sweet, intimate and quiet ceremony, you could look into a private park, garden or other outdoor area.
If you want to be the center of attention of a major crowd, plan your event a mall, airport, business, or a major park or public place (a la this cute YouTube couple—the wedding starts around 3:15).
Museums are another popular flash wedding location. They’re already decorated with exquisite art; many couples choose their favorite piece of art ahead of time and let their guests know to meet there.
How Flash Weddings Cut Costs In a Big Way
With a flash wedding, the major costs—the wedding venue and all its trappings—are free.
And let’s be honest: a public wedding is hardly formal. This gives you the liberty to make everything about the wedding more casual, too.
For example, you can send a fun e-mail, post card or even a Facebook event for the invitations.
The popular blog A Practical Wedding, even shows you how to inexpensively create an aisle out of construction paper that you can use almost anywhere.
Choose DIY attire and flowers for a unique touch; a non-conventional wedding dress might make it easier to make a getaway in the event security rains on your parade.
With a flash wedding: Planning is the name of the game.
You cannot plan enough. Scout out various areas of your venue once you’ve decided on a spot. Pick a non-peak time for the ceremony. Check an event calendar for other events to make sure you’ll have the space to yourself. You may be breaking some rules, but you can still pull the thing off in style if you create an unbreakable plan.
The Downsides
The biggest downside to a flash wedding? The law.
As most couples who choose a flash wedding want their “I Dos” to be a beautiful location, sometimes those spots are, in fact, bookable wedding venues…that charge a hefty fee.
Botanical gardens, museums, parks, and many other public venues usually charge a pretty penny for getting married there. So if security guards happen to crash your wedding, be prepared to get kicked out before you have time for the kiss.
There are ways around this, of course, but you’ll have to get all your guests in on the deal. SmartMoney magazine offers these flash wedding tips:
- Have the bride, groom, wedding party and officiant wear long coats or cover-ups to conceal their wedding attire so security doesn’t take note
- Buy tickets (if you have to) in small groups so employees don’t get suspicious
- Have guests form a circle around you
- Make it quick and snappy; then get outta there
- Take pictures outside or at another location
Of course, some public places probably won’t mind if you hold your quick wedding on their premises. Politeness could get you a long way in certain locations that aren’t monitored by security. And, in the case of lots of flash wedding bride and grooms, crowds and employees ended up applauding and enjoying the ceremony instead of breaking it up.
What do you think? You guys had vocal opinions about the average costs of weddings, but does this appeal to you? Would you consider a flash wedding? Been to one? Had one? Let us know.
Read More:
- Wedding Planning Budget Worksheet
- How to Save Up to 50% On Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands
- How to Buy Your Engagement Ring Online
Photo used under Creative Commons license thanks to prettyemmy.