Planning An Intimate Micro Wedding: A Guide To Tying The Knot

how to have a micro wedding

Micro weddings are a fairly new concept, but they are a great way to have a more intimate and personal celebration with your closest friends and family. The guest list for a micro wedding is usually fewer than 30 people, often fewer than 10, and the reception is usually centred around a meal rather than dancing. The smaller size of a micro wedding means you can have a better chance of spending time with all your guests and you can tailor the day to you and your partner. Micro weddings are also a great way to save money, as you can splurge on certain vendors or a special meal without blowing your budget. You can also be more flexible with your venue, choosing a unique restaurant, a country inn, or even your own backyard.

Characteristics Values
Number of guests Typically less than 30 people, often less than 10 (including vendors). Some sources suggest 15-50 people, with most micro weddings having 20-40 guests.
Venue A micro wedding can take place in a variety of venues, including a restaurant, VRBO, bed and breakfast, country inn, boutique hotel, unique restaurant, backyard, state or national park, beach hotel, or a private space in a restaurant.
Food The reception usually centres around a meal rather than dancing. The couple can hire a private chef or catering company, or opt for a food truck if the venue is a backyard.
Decor The couple can choose to keep things simple or focus on sustainability when it comes to decor. They can rent decor items such as table card holders, a cake stand, and a card box.
Flowers The couple can splurge on flowers and hire a florist.
Photography The couple should hire a photographer who understands and values the intimacy of a micro wedding.
Entertainment Micro weddings usually do not include dancing. The couple can hire a live musician or DJ for entertainment.
Planning Micro weddings are easier to plan due to the smaller guest list, and the couple has more flexibility with the details. They can hire a wedding planner who specialises in micro weddings or work with a planner on an hourly basis.
Budget Micro weddings are generally more affordable than traditional weddings, with costs expected to be over 50% less. The couple should discuss their budget and allocate it based on their priorities.
Guest list The guest list typically includes immediate family and sometimes a few close friends. The couple may need to set ground rules around inviting plus-ones, kids, or extended family.

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Micro weddings are intimate—typically under 30 people

Micro weddings are a chance to have an intimate celebration with your closest friends and family. They typically include fewer than 30 people, often fewer than 10, and can be a wonderful way to save money.

With a micro wedding, you can choose to incorporate as many or as few traditional wedding elements as you like. You might opt for a ceremony with vows, speeches, dinner, drinks, and dancing, or you could go for something more low-key, like a meal in a restaurant. If you're feeling adventurous, you could even charter a day cruise or go for a gondola ride up a mountain!

When it comes to venues, the world is your oyster. You could go for a country inn, a boutique hotel, a restaurant, or even your childhood home. If you're feeling one with nature, consider getting married in a state or national park, or having a backyard wedding.

To make your micro wedding extra special, think about adding some personal touches. Handwritten notes to your guests or hand-painted invitations are a lovely way to make your guests feel valued. You could also include your loved ones in your ceremony with a unity ceremony, such as passing around your rings for everyone to hold and send their well wishes.

Remember, micro weddings are all about creating an intimate and personalised experience, so feel free to get creative and make your day truly unique!

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The smaller guest list means more venue options

Micro weddings are typically much smaller than traditional weddings, with fewer than 30 guests and often less than 10. This means that you have a lot more flexibility when it comes to choosing a venue.

With a smaller guest list, you can opt for more unique and intimate spaces that might not be able to accommodate larger weddings. For example, you could consider a boutique hotel, a country inn, a restaurant with a private dining room, or even a bed and breakfast. If you're looking for a more casual vibe, a backyard wedding could be a perfect choice. Or, if you want to be one with nature, you could research getting married in a state or national park.

A smaller guest list also means that you may have more options for venues that are typically in high demand or have limited capacity. Popular wedding venues, such as beach hotels or destination locations, may be more accessible for micro weddings. Additionally, with fewer guests, you may be able to consider venues that are further away or require travel, as it may be easier to coordinate accommodations for a smaller group.

The reduced guest list also gives you the opportunity to incorporate special touches for your guests. With a smaller number of guests, it's easier to add personalised details, such as handwritten notes at each place setting or hand-painted invitations. You're also likely to have a close connection to every guest, making these thoughtful gestures even more meaningful.

Overall, the smaller guest list of a micro wedding opens up a world of possibilities for unique and intimate venues that cater to your specific vision and allow you to create a truly personalised celebration.

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You can make it personal with special touches for each guest

Micro weddings are intimate by nature, with a typical guest list of fewer than 30 people, often less than 10. This means you can make your wedding day happen your way, without worrying about the entertainment needs of a large group.

With a smaller guest list, you can add special touches for each guest. For example, write handwritten notes to every guest to place at their seat or hand-paint each invitation instead of having them printed. You could also opt for personalised place cards, adding calligraphy to each one or writing on something that ties into the theme of your wedding, such as oyster shells at a coastal wedding. Another idea is to print poems as your place cards, choosing a poem that reminds you of each guest and pasting it beneath their name. You could also write out your dinner menu in your own handwriting.

If you want to involve your guests in your ceremony, you could pass your rings around for everyone to hold and send their well wishes, or invite everyone to participate in readings of their favourite love poems, passages from a book, or quotes. You could also ask a few friends to read a passage that's meaningful to you as a couple—this doesn't have to be from a religious text. It could be a movie quote, a paragraph from a book, a few stanzas of a poem, or lines from a song.

With a smaller guest list, you can also afford to splurge on other aspects of your wedding, such as the flowers, the photographer, or the meal.

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You can splurge on a dream photographer, food, flowers etc

Micro weddings are typically intimate events with fewer than 50 guests. They are often held in backyards or at VRBOs, but you can also host one at a luxury hotel or resort.

With a micro wedding, you can splurge on your dream photographer, food, flowers, and more. Here are some ideas to help you plan:

Photographer

It's essential to choose a photographer who understands your vision for an intimate wedding. Look for professionals who specialise in capturing the intimacy and uniqueness of a micro wedding. Check out different photographers' portfolios and meet with those whose style you like. Ensure you feel comfortable with them, as they will be documenting one of the most important days of your life.

Food

With a smaller guest list, you can splurge on food and beverages. Consider hiring a private chef or a catering company to prepare a gourmet meal for your guests. Alternatively, you could have your favourite restaurant cater, or even opt for a food truck if you're feeling adventurous.

Flowers

Flowers are a must for setting the vibe for your wedding. You can now easily coordinate your flowers online and choose from various floral packages to fit your colour scheme and style. Opt for lush floral arrangements with exotic blooms, cascading orchids, and dramatic centrepieces. Work with a talented florist to create a cohesive and stunning look.

Venue

Although not a direct splurge, choosing the right venue can elevate your micro wedding. Consider a luxury hotel or resort with beautiful settings and high-end amenities. Many offer customisable wedding packages. If you're looking for something more casual, a backyard wedding or a country inn could be perfect.

Other Splurges

With the money saved from having a smaller wedding, you can also splurge on a designer wedding dress, lavish decor, a dream honeymoon, or unique guest favours. The opportunities are endless!

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It's easier to plan, but you still might want a planner

Micro weddings are typically smaller than traditional weddings, with fewer than 30 people in attendance, and often fewer than 10. The guest list is usually limited to immediate family and sometimes a few close friends. This means that you will have more venue options, and seating charts, catering, and other logistics are simpler to plan. You will also have to deal with fewer opinions from outsiders, and you can tie the knot in a shorter timespan.

However, just because micro weddings are smaller, it doesn't mean you can't hire a wedding planner. In fact, a planner can be a great asset to help you navigate the unique challenges of planning a micro wedding. For example, you may still want help with finding the right venue, photographer, and other vendors who have experience with small, intimate events. A planner can also help you with budgeting and allocating your funds where they will have the most impact. Many planners offer hourly rates for micro weddings, so you can get the help you need without breaking the bank.

When choosing a planner, look for someone who understands the unique dynamics of a micro wedding and can help you create a personalized, intimate experience. They should be able to help you incorporate special touches that may be more challenging with a larger guest list, such as handwritten notes for each guest or hand-painted invitations.

While micro weddings are generally more affordable than larger weddings, it's important to remember that they can still be expensive, especially if you're adding bespoke details or splurging on certain vendors. Therefore, it's crucial to set a budget and stick to it, just as you would for any other wedding.

Frequently asked questions

A micro wedding is a small, intimate celebration of about 15-50 people, including immediate family and sometimes a few close friends.

First, decide on a budget, then create a guest list and choose a venue. You can then start to plan the details, such as food, florals, decor, and entertainment.

Micro weddings are more flexible and intimate than traditional weddings. They usually have a smaller guest list, and the reception typically centres around a meal rather than dancing.

You could consider a country inn, boutique hotel, restaurant, bed and breakfast, or even a state or national park if you want to be one with nature.

Consider adding personal touches such as handwritten notes for each guest or hand-painted invitations. You could also include your loved ones in the ceremony through a unity ceremony, such as passing around your rings for everyone to hold.

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