George Boyle
Micro-weddings are a great way to save money and time, and are perfect for introverts, people who value simplicity, or couples who want to connect with each guest. The cost of a micro-wedding depends on personal choices, but you can expect to pay around $10,000, which is over 50% less than a traditional wedding. With a smaller guest list, you can splurge on other details, such as a five-course meal, live music, or a wedding gown. You can also add meaningful touches, such as handwritten notes for each guest or hand-painted invitations. When it comes to the venue, you can choose a fancy restaurant or a private waterfront rental home. You can also get creative with your local bakery or sweet shop for a smaller cake. While you may not need a full planning team, you can still work with a wedding planner who offers hourly rates.
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What You'll Learn
- Budgeting: Micro weddings can be cheaper, but costs vary depending on vendors and personal choices
- Venue: Smaller guest lists open up more venue options, including restaurants and private rentals
- Invites: Splurge on wedding stationery with handwritten calligraphy, personalised illustrations, etc
- Photography: Hire a photographer to document the day, but you may not need a second shooter
- Entertainment: Hire a live musician or consider a private river tour instead of a traditional DJ
Budgeting: Micro weddings can be cheaper, but costs vary depending on vendors and personal choices
While a micro wedding can be significantly cheaper than a traditional wedding, the costs can quickly add up depending on your choice of vendors and personal preferences.
The first step in budgeting for a micro wedding is to determine your total budget. This will be the guiding light for all your financial decisions. It is also important to keep in mind that a micro wedding does not equate to a low budget. Even a lavish wedding can fall into the micro wedding category.
The next step is to outline all the possible costs, from the obvious ones like the dress, suit, and catering to the easily forgotten costs like invitations, favors, and wedding insurance. It is also essential to have a ballpark figure of your guest count as it will help with effective budget allocation. The number of guests will impact the cost of catering, venue, and décor.
When it comes to choosing a venue, micro weddings offer more flexibility as you are not limited by space. Boutique hotels, garden areas, historic places, and intimate restaurants can be great options for a smaller guest list. Some venues offer all-inclusive packages, which can save you thousands of dollars. It is important to pay attention to the venue's ambiance and what is included in their pricing, as some may require more DIY work.
Catering is another area where you can save money. Buffet or cocktail-style service is often less expensive than plated dinners. However, if you want to add a unique touch, artistically themed menus can enhance the dining experience, although they usually come at a higher cost.
To keep your budget on track, regularly evaluate your spending as you book your vendors. If certain categories are exceeding your projections, consider reallocating funds from other areas. Budget flexibility will help you create your dream micro wedding.
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Venue: Smaller guest lists open up more venue options, including restaurants and private rentals
One of the biggest advantages of a micro wedding is the flexibility it offers in terms of venue options. With a smaller guest list, you are no longer limited to large banquet halls or ballrooms and can explore more intimate and unique spaces.
Restaurants are an excellent choice for micro weddings, as they often have private dining rooms or exclusive hire options that can accommodate your guest count comfortably. Many restaurants also offer all-inclusive packages, which can include the ceremony, appetizers, the main meal, cake, and even decorations. This not only simplifies your planning process but can also help you save money.
Private rentals, such as a waterfront home or a cabin in the woods, offer another unique venue option for micro weddings. With a smaller group, it is much easier to coordinate and manage the logistics of renting a private space. You can even consider a weekday wedding, as it will be more convenient for your smaller guest list.
When choosing a venue, it is important to consider the overall experience you want to create for your guests. Micro weddings are all about maximizing personal touches and elevating the guest experience. Think about incorporating special details, such as handwritten notes at each place setting or individually boxed desserts. You might also want to consider entertainment, such as hiring a live musician to create a cozy and intimate atmosphere.
Remember, the beauty of a micro wedding is that you have the freedom to choose a venue that truly reflects your style and personality. Whether it's a cozy restaurant, a private rental, or even an outdoor setting in the middle of the wilderness, the options are endless when you're planning an intimate celebration.
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Invites: Splurge on wedding stationery with handwritten calligraphy, personalised illustrations, etc
For those looking to splurge on wedding invitations, there are several ways to create a luxurious and personalised experience for your guests. One way is to opt for handwritten calligraphy on your invitations and envelopes. This adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to your wedding stationery. You can choose from various calligraphy styles, such as "Romantic", "Wondrous", or "Classic", to match your wedding theme and personality. Additionally, consider using thicker envelopes, as they tend to be better suited for quality handwritten calligraphy.
Another way to elevate your invitations is by incorporating personalised illustrations. You can commission custom illustrations of your venue or choose to include hand-painted artwork, emblems, or floral illustrations that reflect your wedding's focal points, such as the setting or the season. These illustrations can be added to your invitations, save-the-dates, information cards, or programs. Hand-drawn illustrations offer a unique and thoughtful touch, with the distinct character and imperfection of pen illustrations adding a lively quality to your wedding stationery.
If you're feeling creative, you can also experiment with unexpected materials and shapes for your invitations. Acrylic and vellum backgrounds are modern ways to reveal the details of your wedding day. Alternatively, you can opt for fun shapes, such as circles, arches, or abstract cut-outs, to make your invitations truly unique.
To create a cohesive look, consider including a custom crest or monogrammed illustration on your invitations. This can be a regal, gold-coloured sketch or a design inspired by your big-day attire. You can also incorporate your chosen decade into your stationery suite if you're throwing a retro wedding.
Remember to plan ahead and book your preferred calligraphy or illustration services early, as these are often in high demand and require a turnaround time of a few weeks. By choosing any of these options, you'll be sure to impress your guests and set the tone for your micro-wedding celebration.
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Photography: Hire a photographer to document the day, but you may not need a second shooter
When it comes to a micro wedding, you might be working with a smaller guest list and a more intimate setting, but that doesn't mean you should skip out on hiring a photographer to document your special day. While you may choose to forgo the eight- to ten-hour package and a second shooter, a photographer is still a must-have.
"No matter how small your wedding is, please, please hire a photographer. You'll want to document this day, no matter what," says wedding expert Lee Meyer. With a micro wedding, you have the opportunity to create a custom package with your photographer for a shorter amount of time, capturing all the key moments without the need for an extensive shot list.
When choosing a photographer, consider someone who aligns with your style and vision. You might not need a full-blown "event designer" or photographer who specialises in large-scale weddings. Instead, look for a photographer who can offer a more tailored approach and is experienced in capturing the intimate and personal nature of micro weddings.
While you may not need a second shooter, there are other creative ways to capture your day. Consider adding a videographer to your team, who can capture the emotions and atmosphere of your micro wedding. Alternatively, you could provide disposable cameras for your guests, allowing them to capture the day from their unique perspectives. These options can enhance your visual memories without the need for an extensive photography package.
Remember, your wedding photographs will be cherished for years to come, so it's essential to strike a balance between capturing the day and enjoying it. Discuss your priorities and must-have shots with your photographer, and don't be afraid to get creative. By tailoring the photography to your micro wedding, you can ensure beautiful documentation without the need for an extensive package or a second shooter.
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Entertainment: Hire a live musician or consider a private river tour instead of a traditional DJ
Micro-weddings are a great way to maximise personal details and elevate the overall experience for your guests. They are also a fantastic way to save costs, with the highest end of the range falling at around $10,000.
When it comes to entertainment, you can hire a live musician or consider a private river tour instead of a traditional DJ. Live music is a great way to keep your guests entertained and create a classy ambiance. You can book soloists such as violinists or pianists, or even a cool background acoustic duo, string quartet, or jazz band. If you're looking for something more unique, consider a mariachi band, a soul and Motown band, or even a steel drummer.
If you're looking for a truly unique experience, consider a private river tour for your micro-wedding. The Hudson River Cruises in New York offer stunning sunsets and beautiful views of the Hudson Valley as the backdrop for your wedding reception. They also provide a fully stocked bar and delicious catered food. Another option is the Indian River Queen in Florida, a stunning triple-deck paddle wheel boat that offers full-service catering, a bar, restrooms, and a sound system.
When planning your micro-wedding, don't forget to send save-the-dates and invitations, and consider splurging on wedding stationery with details like handwritten calligraphy or personalized illustrations. You can also add special touches like handwritten notes for each guest or hand-painted invitations.
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Frequently asked questions
A micro wedding is a small, intimate wedding with only your closest loved ones. The couple gets to define what "micro" means to them, but micro weddings usually have 12-35 guests.
The cost of a micro wedding depends on personal choices, but it is generally cheaper than a traditional wedding. The average wedding cost in 2023 was $35,000, while a micro wedding is likely to cost around $10,000-$15,000.
Micro weddings are more flexible and allow you to splurge on details that are important to you, such as flowers, a wedding photographer, or a special meal. You can also be more creative with your local vendors, such as bakeries and florists. You may also want to consider sending out invitations and save-the-dates, as well as creating a wedding website and registry.
Micro weddings can include any elements you want, such as a DJ, dancing, or a live musician playing an acoustic guitar or harp during the meal. You could also charter a boat for a private river tour.
