This intimate trend has been massively popular recently, for obvious reasons, but is there more to it than just saving pennies.
Amongst all the wedding trends doing the rounds right now, the micro-wedding is probably the one that is most talked about. But what is a micro-wedding? Is like eloping? Why should you have a micro-wedding? Today we thought we'd answer those questions, and share the pro's and con's of this intimate wedding trend.
What is a Micro Wedding?
A micro wedding is a wedding with less than 50 guests. Being smaller in size, it’s usually cheaper, more relaxed and shorter in length than a traditional wedding day.
It differs from both an elopement as those are usually done in secret, and will only be attended by just the couple marrying and two witnesses, and is often a quick and simple registry office ceremony – whereas a micro wedding is a full wedding day, just on a smaller scale.
While it still could be the couple and two witnesses, it’s not done in secret or on a whim, but is a fully thought-through and planned wedding day, just for a smaller guest list. The ceremony will often not take place at a registry office either.
How does a Micro Wedding Differ to a ‘Traditional’ Wedding Day?
The advantage of a micro wedding is that it doesn’t have to include all the components of a ‘traditional’ wedding day, like cake cutting, the bouquet toss or first dance. However, for many couples, traditions like speeches and the first dance are still essential elements, and they’ll choose to have them. It all depends on whether the wedding traditions are important to the couple or not. If they don’t resonate with your values or vision, there’s no pressure to include them!
Why have a Micro Wedding?
The reasons for having a small guest list vary hugely...
1. You’ll Enjoy a More Relaxed Day
Planning a large event is a huge undertaking that involves juggling multiple suppliers, chasing RSVPs, planning seating arrangements, and ensuring there’s enough food, booze and entertainment for your guests on the day. If parents financially contribute, they may feel it’s their right to have a say in your day, which can lead to conflict. Understandably, some couples find that pressure quite off-putting.
A micro-wedding of up to 50 guests is often much less stressful for couples. It strips the planning process right back to the things that are most important: the people you absolutely want by your side and the experience you want to create for yourselves and your guests.
2. You Can Save Money
When you reduce the number of guests at your wedding, the cost naturally goes down. If budget is a big consideration for you, a micro-wedding with only your nearest and dearest might be the best choice. It’s also a fantastic idea if you want to focus on the quality of your guest experience. If there are not as many guests, then really great hospitality in a beautiful setting can be affordable. What’s great about doing things on a microscale is that your spend per head can go up, but the overall cost goes down.
3. It’s Easy to Personalise
Micro-weddings are the antithesis of a package wedding. They will most likely to be held in exclusive-use venues where you have free rein to transform the décor, decide your running order and create the atmosphere you want.
4. You Can Spend More Time With Your Guests
At a big wedding, couples are lucky to get five minutes to catch up with each guest. With a smaller number, you can interact with each and every person, create deeper connections and make your guests feel more valued. On top of this, wedding venues that specialise in micro weddings are often exclusive-use and offer multi-day hire, meaning a wedding day can become a wedding weekend with your loved ones.
5. You’re Not Restricted By Timings
Trying to get 100 people free on the same day almost definitely requires that you choose a weekend for your wedding. However, the beauty of a smaller number of guests is that you can be flexible with how and where you marry. A weekday wedding may suit you better, be a cheaper option, and you'll also be able to fit your date in the post-lockdown crush!
If you choose to have a celebrant (and the legal part is done before), you open up even more opportunities for where you can host your wedding. A sunset ceremony on a beach, a picnic in a park, renting out a country house for a few days – anything is possible.
6. There’s Less Pressure
Not a motivation for everyone, but for some, the thought of a hundred people watching you walk down the aisle and say your vows can be anxiety-inducing. Whether you have anxiety or are shy, it might feel much more comfortable for you to say ‘I do’ with just 10 people you love around you, and that’s a perfectly acceptable reason!