What is a Microwedding? Planning a Smaller Big Day

Planning a wedding can seem like a daunting task. Finding the perfect dress, venue, location, and planning the guest list can overwhelm and cause you stress. Marriage planning should be a happy time though, keeping the plans simple and refined will alleviate stress and let you spend more time enjoying your new spouse. This is…

Planning a wedding can seem like a daunting task. Finding the perfect dress, venue, location, and planning the guest list can overwhelm and cause you stress. Marriage planning should be a happy time though, keeping the plans simple and refined will alleviate stress and let you spend more time enjoying your new spouse. This is why you need to consider a microwedding. What is a microwedding you ask…It is a tight-knit wedding in an intimate setting. There are generally no more than 50 guests. All of the traditions of a wedding still occur just on a much smaller scale. So let’s take a look at all of the details surrounding this growing trend and get you planning the wedding of your dreams today!

What Is a Microwedding?

Microweddings are different than traditional weddings in the sense that everything is done on a smaller scale and the focus is truly on the couple versus the event. When you have fewer guests it means that you can have a tighter budget and less stress of coordinating a huge affair. Microweddings allow the control to remain in the hands of the bride and groom without having to hire a costly coordination or wedding planner. The ceremonies are usually fairly simple and affordable, many times occurring in a beloved outdoor setting. The wedding will still involve a reception. However, the festivities are usually much more casual.

What Is an Elopement?

Traditional elopements of the past were usually events shrouded in secrecy where the bride and groom would sneak off to get married without anyone attending the ceremony or even being aware that the couple was going to be wed. The times and attitudes have changed in regard to elopement though. Now the event is much more personalized and less sneaky so to say. Many times the couple will let their families know of their plans but choose to just have an intimate ceremony between the two of them in a romantic location. The inclusion of personal touches makes the event seem more thoughtful and put together rather than the traditional rushed or frantic feelings of prior elopement ceremonies.

How Many People Are at a Microwedding?

Traditional weddings can sometimes have extravagant guest lists with over 300 names. For your microwedding you will want to keep that list less than 50. Try writing a list of family members and friends that you must have there with you. Avoid getting lost in whether or not you should invite distant relatives or acquaintances. The point of the microwedding is to be surrounded by close friends and family that know you and your spouse well. The closer they are to you, the more help and support you will feel on your tiny big day!

How Do You Tell People You Are Having a Small Wedding?

Being open and clear with communication among your friends and family is a must. You will need all of the help and support you can get when planning your microwedding. Write a list of your must-haves for the wedding and share them with your friends and family. You will likely find that they are able to help in more ways than one. You may have a friend who is a great photographer and will snap some photos for free or an aunt who can bake you a beautiful cake. When you let people in on the fact that your wedding will be small, it will help you open the communication for what your expectations are for the wedding. Remember, everyone has an opinion, but this is your special day! You may find that some of your more traditional family members do not care for the idea of a microwedding and that is okay! The important thing to remember is that you will be creating a beautifully created wedding that is personalized perfectly for you and your spouse.

How Do You Tell People That They Are Not Invited To Your Wedding?

Breaking the news to someone that they are not invited can get a little tricky. You do not want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but you are having a microwedding so not everyone will be able to attend. If you are finding it very difficult to limit your guest list, a microwedding may not be the right choice for you. While some microweddings push the limit and have up to 50 guests for a truly intimate microwedding you should try to narrow your list down to less than 20. Breaking it down in terms of dollars might help some people understand. The fact is, the average cost of traditional weddings hovers around $35,000. When you explain that you are trying to have a budget-friendly and intimate affair you simply cannot include everyone. You can also explain that the event space that you have chosen is very special to you and your spouse but it only allows for a minimal amount of guests. If you find yourself stuck on exactly who to invite you might consider having your microwedding ceremony and then inviting a few extra guests after for the reception. Another option is to have a sequel wedding. The sequel wedding will allow you to have a small intimate wedding and then at a later date you can celebrate the ceremony again with a larger reception. Most people will be understanding and supportive of your decision, and just remember, it is about you and your spouse and that is what matters the most.

How Do You Plan a Small Wedding Or Microwedding?

Even though your event is on a tiny scale, you will still need to do some planning. Here is a breakdown of some of the things you should take into consideration. The Venue – Stay away from venues that are not able to work with your space needs. Many larger venues, usually used for larger crowds, can be made to feel more intimate and closer with the use of airwalls or other methods. While planning, you may consider social distancing. A smaller group can fill up a larger space quickly with 6 feet between seating sections. You can also think about a special place that holds meaning to you and your spouse. A park or nature preserve, a romantic restaurant, or a family member’s backyard are all options, and many larger venues can be rearranged to become a microwedding venue. The Photographer –  The photographer is a must. Even though this wedding is tiny, the memories are big! Even if you enlist one of your closest friends to snap the pictures for the day, someone needs to be photographing. With a smaller guest list, you won’t need to hire multiple photographers or spend extra money on extensive packages. Keep it simple and intimate. The Catering –  You can go one of two ways here. If you are having a super small microwedding you may want to spend a little extra here to treat your family and friends and thank them for their support. You can work with your caterer to see if they can help customize a special menu for your special event. The Officiant – First decide whether your ceremony will be a religious ceremony or secular. From there you can decide who you will choose to perform the nuptials. Becoming ordained to perform weddings is now easier than ever. You may discover that a friend or family member who you know is ordained and can do the ceremony for free! The great thing about having a microwedding is that you can customize the reception and ceremony with ease.

Can I Get Married and Celebrate Later?

Yes, of course you can! We discussed earlier sequel weddings. Many people choose to incorporate both microweddings and sequel weddings for varying reasons such as cultural differences, religious reasons, financial reasons, and many others. The microwedding allows the couple to celebrate intimately with close friends and family and the sequel wedding often has a larger guest list and more traditional activities for a reception. You might even choose to have just the microwedding ceremony and then immediately start your honeymoon with your new spouse. If you do this then planning a sequel wedding is a great way to see all of your friends and family after the honeymoon and share stories of your trip. Having a microwedding will allow you to customize the important parts of your wedding. So if a huge celebration is not really your style, you don’t have to feel inclined to celebrate that way.

Planning Your Dream Microwedding

Now that we have answered the “What is a microwedding?” question, you should be ready to start planning your dream wedding today. Having a small ceremony will let you tailor the day perfectly to create big memories on a tiny scale. Keep an open mind when you plan and just have fun! If you would like some help planning your event contact us by clicking here. ‍

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