Micro Weddings: Everything You Need To Know

February 22, 2021 By Joanna Koralewska With 0 Comment

In Weddings

Micro weddings have grown dramatically in popularity due to Covid-19 restrictions but with more and more couples choosing to downsize their weddings in 2021, it looks like this trend will outlive the global pandemic.

These smaller weddings are a way to forget the expectations and pressure that can come with a huge celebration and enable a focus on what really matters for the couple.

It’s about you, your partner, and your closest family and friends celebrating each other and enjoying the things you love most.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is a micro wedding?

A wedding is described as ‘micro’ when there are fewer than 25 guests. Usually that’s made up of immediate family and a few close friends. It’s not to be confused with an elopement, which is normally just the couple, a wedding official and two witnesses.

Beyond the size, micro weddings can vary a lot. Some couples will stick more closely to the traditional go-to-the-chapel format, just on a smaller scale, while others will completely throw away the rule book and do it their own way.

On the whole, micro weddings do tend to be more relaxed, with a real focus on everybody spending quality time together.

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How is it different to a traditional wedding?

Rather than seeing micro weddings as being distinct from more traditional celebrations, perhaps it’s better to think of them as being on a sliding scale from non-traditional to traditional.

A micro wedding can include as many or as few features of a traditional wedding as you like.

Your micro wedding will likely still consist of the core elements of a ceremony and reception but beyond that, it’s up to you!

Try sitting down with a list of wedding traditions and go through one-by-one deciding which to keep. Perhaps you still want to do speeches and a first dance but you aren’t bothered about cutting the cake or tossing your bouquet.

The smaller guest list also really widens your choices when it comes to some elements of your wedding day, especially the venue. Not needing to find somewhere that can accommodate hundreds of people means that lots more venues become potential options.

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5 Reasons To Choose A Micro Wedding

Let’s not avoid the elephant in the room. Right now, one of the biggest appeals of micro weddings is simply that they’re the most likely to go ahead in our current climate.

That isn’t the only reason to have a micro wedding though. They were becoming more popular even before Covid-19, and for good reason.

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1. You’ll save money

Just like any other wedding, your micro wedding can be as elaborate or as frugal as you like, but fewer guests will naturally bring down costs. This leaves you with these options:

Take advantage of this budget-friendly option and pocket the savings to spend on an incredible honeymoon or put towards your first house together.
Use the spare cash to really spoil your guests (and yourselves!) with a super indulgent celebration.
Or find a sweet middle.

Just like with every other aspect of your micro wedding, whether you want to splurge or save is up to you, but you will have more flexibility over how you spend your money.

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2. You have more freedom

For some couples, the formalities and expectations that come with large traditional weddings can detract from the magic of the day. Micro weddings allow you and your partner the flexibility and freedom to get creative and think outside the box.

You make the rules, from the dress code down to decorating the venue the way you like.

A smaller celebration means less people to keep happy, a more flexible schedule, and fewer formalities. This leaves you with two things to do:

Say ‘I do’.
Have fun.

Other than that, you can wear what you want, eat what you want, and listen to what you want.

And remember, you don’t have to compromise on style just because you have decided to have a micro wedding.

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3. Lessen the planning stress

Just thinking about how you’re going to occupy 100+ people for an entire day can be enough to give you a headache, let alone all the admin beforehand.

With a micro wedding there’s less of everything: less invites to send, less RSVPs to deal with, less menu choices to worry about, and less table plans to organise.

You want your wedding day to be the best it can possibly be, so having less things to worry about in the run up will massively help it be a blooming good one.

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4. Reduce those wedding day jitters

For many people, the thought of having hundreds of eyes on them can feel daunting. Being in the company of just your closest family and friends – the people you love and trust the most – can really help ease your nerves.

Instead of worrying about performing in front of a crowd, you can focus on embracing the true meaning of the day, and the reason you’re there in the first place: to marry the person you love!

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5. Spend more quality time with your guests

A smaller guest list will give you the opportunity to spend quality time with every single person and make some really special memories together. Everybody you invite will feel like they’re an important part of your special day.

You can make it a super personal experience for each and every guest too. Think about giving out personalised wedding gifts and favours, or having everybody’s favourite drink waiting for them at dinner.

If you want to spend even more time with your loved ones (and why wouldn’t you!), you could turn your celebration into a wedding weekend or even a week. Your venue might offer whole-weekend hire, or you could host a mini festival wedding.

This is an especially nice idea if you’re bringing together two families who live far apart and haven’t had the chance to spend much time together before.

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Are there any disadvantages to a micro wedding?

Alongside all the amazing things about micro weddings, choosing to have a smaller celebration may not go down well with everybody. Some people may feel hurt by being excluded.

Don’t let other people’s opinions put you off, but equally make sure it’s the right decision for you. For instance, if you have a large family that you’re super close, a micro wedding might not be the best choice.

If you’re confident a micro wedding is right for you, try not to pick guests based on who would be most upset not to get an invite. Instead, think about the people you really want by your side, the ones you can’t imagine saying ‘I do’ without.

Typically, the priority on the guest list goes to immediate family and your closest friends. For those who didn’t make the cut but who you still care about deeply, there are lots of creative and thoughtful ways to let them know you love them.

For instance, you could send them small personalised gifts together with invites to watch a live stream of your wedding to make them feel included in your day.

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Live stream your wedding

Lots of people are choosing to live stream their wedding now, which is a great way to involve more people than the guest list can allow. For weddings in 2021 (and possibly beyond), it also allows guests who may not be able to travel due to global pandemic travel restrictions.

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End thoughts

Many couples may have felt pressure from family members to have a big wedding. Especially when parents contribute financially to the wedding; they may feel it’s their right to intervene. Take advantage of the very valid excuse that Covid-19 gives you to have a micro wedding.

Embrace the flexibility of a smaller guest list, relish in the company of your loved ones, and enjoy the freedom of not sticking to traditions just because somebody else thinks you should.

This is your day! Enjoy it!

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