In our last blog post, we touched on how your wedding might look different in the age of coronavirus. You imagined your wedding filled with your friends and family who all gathered to celebrate you and your partner.
But, thanks to the pandemic, large weddings have been put on hold for now.
That doesn’t mean you have to forego celebrating your big day with all of your loved ones!
We’re giving you even more guidance on how to live stream your wedding in this ultimate guide — part two!
(And if you missed part one of our ultimate guide, you can read it here!)
What to Include in a Virtual Wedding
While there are so many benefits of having a virtual wedding (or at least a virtual aspect to your wedding), there are a few downsides, too. Like hosting a virtual wedding that feels more like a business meeting rather than your big day, for instance.
But those downsides have plenty of work arounds so you can make sure your wedding live stream looks and feels more like a traditional ceremony.
Include Music in Your Wedding Live Stream
One big way to make your wedding live stream feel more like a traditional ceremony is to include music.
Having a string quartet will help break up the ceremony into sections. Plus it adds an elegance to your ceremony so it feels less like a meeting and more like a true wedding.
If you’re using Zoom or another platform to live stream your wedding that offers multiple angles, you can have a camera specifically focused on your string quartet! Having that will give your virtual wedding more of a traditional feel, since your guests will be able to look between you, your partner, and the officiant, and the musicians.
And don’t be fooled by the term “classical music.” String quartets can bring a beautiful elegance to your wedding ceremony without only having to play classical music from days of old. You can choose music from your favorite bands, your favorite movies and broadway shows, and even your favorite TV shows (a Bridgerton wedding, anyone?).
Want to see what a string quartet can do for your virtual wedding ceremony? We can help you find the perfect one for your big day.
Add a Cameo Appearance in Your Wedding Live Stream
Who knows how much it would cost to bring a celebrity to your wedding ceremony in person (other than their agent, obviously).
But, if you’re live streaming your wedding, you have a little more wiggle room to add some unique flair and personality to your day! And a great way to do it? Go with a cameo from a favorite celeb or, you know, an entire ensemble cast. I mean, The Office cast in your Zoom wedding party, anyone?
Send Wedding Favors to Your Virtual Guests
With virtual weddings becoming more and more popular, couples are finding ways to make sure their invited guests really feel like they can celebrate the big day with them.
A huge trend is sending wedding favors to virtual guests so they can really appreciate and celebrate the couple alongside them, even if they’re miles away.
So, if you’re looking to engage your virtual guests more during your wedding live stream, consider sending them a thoughtful wedding favor! That might look like a champagne flute and a small bottle of bubbly that they can pop so they can toast alongside you. Or maybe a welcome gift bag that includes a few things that are local to your wedding venue (how about some craft beers?). You could even consider sending jarred desserts so they can enjoy the tastes of a traditional wedding!
Think about sending a wearable favor like a button or pin that your guests can wear during your wedding ceremony, too. Then, you can snag a great screenshot or photo of all of your virtual guests celebrating with you!
How to Invite Guests to a Virtual Wedding
We all know that a traditional wedding means sending out an invitation suite and a save the date to your guest list.
But what’s the etiquette for a virtual wedding or if you’re planning to live stream your wedding ceremony? Should you send a formal invitation for the live stream? Should you go with an e-vite?
Here’s what we suggest:
Send Wedding Invitations for Guests to Watch the Live Stream
If you’re planning an entirely virtual wedding or a wedding with virtual aspects, send lovely formal invitations out to your entire guest list!
The formal invitation adds a flair of tradition to a relatively modern wedding concept. Your guests will still feel like they’re attending a wedding ceremony instead of another work-from-home meeting. Plus, using formal invitations show your guests that you’ve thought of the small details, whereas sending just a simple link to a wedding live stream may look more like an afterthought.
Use Your Wedding Website for All Live Stream Information
Once you’ve announced and invited your guest list to your live stream wedding, use a wedding website to give them the rest of the information they need!
Create a wedding website through The Knot and list info there for your guests. Include the dress code for your ceremony and a link to your registry. If your wedding website is password protected, you can add your live stream link to it so your guests can get to your virtual wedding quickly and easily!
A wedding live stream is the perfect answer for you if you’re looking to keep your wedding party small, while still celebrating with all of your friends and family!
Hopefully, this ultimate guide on how to live stream your wedding helped you plan around a pandemic and the world as we know it! Even without a pandemic, live streaming your wedding is a great option to include those who might not be able to make it in person.
And if you’re looking for ways to add a little more tradition to your virtual wedding ceremony, consider hiring a string quartet to bring elegance and personality to your day! Click here so we can help you find the perfect one for you and your partner.