WHAT IS A MICRO WEDDING AND WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE ONE?
Latest trends and how to host your own smaller wedding
‘Micro wedding’ is the new word on the block and here’s why….
Couples due to marry in 2020 & 2021 have been through a lot in the last few months. While lots of couples have had already had to postpone or cancel their weddings due to lockdown measures, the newly-engaged are left wondering if they will even be able to have a wedding at all. All is not lost, a micro wedding might be the solution to your wedding woes. Micro weddings are amazing and I’ve shot some in 2020 and they are JUST as special.
Small weddings have been possible in some areas of the UK since June 2020. However, for some, the idea of trying to salvage their plans for a large wedding might be too much bear. You might be disappointed with the idea of a downscaled wedding. We are here to reassure you that a small wedding can be wonderful! A recent wedding trend, a micro wedding has entered the limelight during coronavirus wedding planning. So, what is a micro wedding?
What is a Micro Wedding?
The micro-wedding is a small traditional wedding. They are a fantastic solution to the drastic adjustments that have recently taken place in the wedding industry. Micro weddings are amazing, romantic! Brides and grooms are able to change tradition and get creative in ways that may have been trickier with larger affairs.
With social distancing here to stay and numbers being kept to a minimum, we’re expecting micro-weddings to be a big trend as we head into 2021 and possibly 2022.
Typically, a micro wedding will between 20-30 guests, however as with any wedding trend, it’s all about interpretation. Obviously, at the time of writing this (Jan 20th 2021) we are in a national lockdown and you may feel like you want your special day to be as intimate and private as possible.
READ MORE; Micro Wedding At Elmore Court with Katherine and David
Make the Most of Your Wedding Budget
When you reduce the number of guests at your wedding, the costs will naturally go down. As many of us worry about job security and the state of the economy, micro-weddings lift some of the pressure to cater for 120+ guests, from food and drink, less venue hire to wedding favours. Having fewer people on your guest list may also allow you to stretch your budget further. Minimising on guests gives you an extra excuse to splurge on exciting extras as you spend less on catering and venue space. You’ll be able to make it extra special for those who are lucky enough to attend your Micro-Wedding.
Here’s some Micro-Wedding Tips
How do you plan a micro-wedding? If you’re starting from scratch, then get ready to be even more creative and plan the big day you’ve always dreamed of, on a small and intimate scale.
Guilt-Free Guest List
Possibly the trickiest part of planning a micro wedding is the guest list, and you’re going to have to be pretty cutthroat. After all, it’s going to be a very exclusive event. Remember this is your day, you’re the ones paying – who do you really want at your beautiful and intimate wedding?
As we mentioned before, by definition, a micro wedding is a ceremony that has between 20-30 people, or less, present. (Government restrictions will dictate this currently) However, if the current lockdown measures are anything to go by, your ceremony may be limited to ‘a group of up to six people’.
READ MORE: Getting Married in a Registry Office?
If you have a huge family and lots of friends, planning a micro wedding is tricky. However, this time of isolation has made many of us realise who we truly miss when we’re not able to see them. This new found clarity could be used to prioritise your guest list. First, put aside the obligations you might feel to invite people’s partners and extended family members. Perhaps you could just invite family and have a party with friends later? Don’t worry about people taking offence. Just explain your situation and go with your heart.
Think of it as your new VIP micro wedding guest list.
Live Stream Your Wedding
Modern technology means that you could live-stream your wedding, so indeed others around the country or the world can tune in to watch your wedding day. Don’t be put off by the idea of there being cameras set up at your venue. Think along the lines of the usual kit required to make normal wedding videos, just with the added ability to share every second, live, with family and friends.
Fuss-free wedding food
When planning a micro wedding, the beauty is in the budget. When you’re catering for such a small group of people, you can make your money go further and even have the most beautiful wedding food.
(Dish above from a recent food shoot of Elmore Courts new menu)
If your wedding is really small, you can even cater for your guests yourself with pre-prepared finger food, a BBQ, or your favourite take-away restaurant – fish and chips!
When it comes to the cake, it may seem excessive to splurge on a traditional large wedding cake for your micro wedding. Alternatively, you can opt for a beautiful cupcake per guest, and arrange them to make a beautiful, yet unconventional, display.
Hire a Wedding Photographer
No matter how small your wedding, please hire a wedding photographer. You’ll want to document this day, no matter what. But that doesn’t mean you need the standard 12 hours coverage. A smaller guest list also means a smaller shot list, so talk to your photographer about creating a custom package for a shorter amount of time. Gary, who is a wedding photographer in Bedfordshire will talk through your day as normal and come to an agreement with you for attending a shorter event.
READ MORE: How much is a wedding photographer
Get Creative
When planning a more intimate wedding, you can experiment with tradition. That means letting the ceremony reflect who you are. If you and your partner aren’t the traditional types, then consider a theme for you and your guests to dress in accordance with. This could be anything from your favourite era in time or wedding inspiration from your favourite film set.
If you are opting for a more traditional dress code, then don’t feel that you have to abandon your dream of a black-tie wedding simply because the guest list is small. It’s still your wedding day, and that’s the only excuse you need to put on your finest attire.
READ MORE: How to be the BEST maid of honour
The Perfect Wedding Venue
A smaller ceremony means that you can be even more flexible with where you do it.
You can pick your home, a park, or somewhere isolated, as you don’t need to worry about capacity. Elmore Court, although a beautiful and large wedding venue in Gloucestershire also can create a stunning location for your micro wedding.
The best part? When you aren’t worrying about the cost of herding hundreds of people across the country, and a little help from Uber, you can allow yourself to venture somewhere new and unexplored for your special day.
Cut the Cost
Non-essentials? Wedding favours and centrepieces are an opportunity to save money and get creative. Wedding Ideas have plenty of advice on how to DIY your wedding favours, which can add a personal touch to your special day.
When planning a micro wedding, you can eliminate a lot of the frills. Cut the non-essentials things on your checklist, and even consider getting married without a photographer and a band. Buy a few disposable cameras, and ask a guest to bring their largest speaker, and you’ll enjoy a more intimate celebration.
READ MORE: Wedding Trends for 2021
If you’re still stuck for advice on whether to postpone your wedding, or how to plan a simple home ceremony, Wedding Ideas have plenty of how-to’s and advice on where to start.
Have an Incredible Micro Wedding Experience
Micro weddings do not mean you have to cut corners! A smaller wedding and fewer expectations allows you to be more flexible and creative. You can splurge on a top-shelf drink and gourmet food at a top restaurant or treat yourself to your dream designer dress. Have champagne, beautiful decor and an amazing honeymoon (when you can)! What you are saving on guests can go into over areas of your wedding to create an unforgettable experience.
Top Tips for Minimising Your Wedding
You might be planning a micro wedding from scratch. Or, you might be adapting a postponed wedding. Either way, here are some ways to ease your micro wedding planning
Let’s summarise
You need to prioritise more than your guests. Write a list of non-negotiables that you want at your wedding. You and your partner should each get to say three things that you won’t compromise on. For example, it could be an amazing photographer, a top-shelf open bar, an outdoor ceremony, a delicious meal, your dream wedding dress, and a beautiful cake. Use your budget wisely to prioritise the important things.
There we have it, tips to host the perfect micro wedding. Now get planning!
Gary is a professional wedding photographer, with over 16 years experience of creating wedding stories around Europe.
