The New Normal
IT’S NOT A NEW IDEA
But it’s a good one.
The idea of the micro wedding has been around for a few years and we are thinking this might be the future of weddings, for awhile anyways.
No one has a crystal ball but in these pandemic times all we can do is wonder, and evaluate the information we are given. We feel like it may be a while before people are ready to feel normal about coming together in big groups, regardless of when official policies shift and government regulations relax.
Elopements will fit the bill for some, but for others, they would rather wait for the time to come when they can have the wedding of their dreams with the people that matter most to them and all the details they have pinned or saved on Instagram. But maybe, there is a middle ground.
WHAT IS A MICRO WEDDING?
While an elopement is a (sometimes secret) very small affair with just the couple, and sometimes a few guests/witnesses, a micro wedding has all the fun bells and whistles of a big wedding, but just… smaller in scale. Usually between 5 - 40 guests or so, the micro wedding still usually has a ceremony with an aisle walk and seated guests, cocktails, a meal with beautiful decor and details, toasts or speeches and maybe even a first dance. Of course there are variations and like with a big wedding, couples will include the elements that matter to them, but the point is that its got all the fixins but for a smaller guest count.
This can be tricky because we all know guest list creation can be hell on earth, but especially now or in the near future when small gatherings resume, we think people will be more understanding about a couple choosing to go smaller and more intimate and aren’t as likely to be bent out of shape about not getting the invite.
Technology is also on our side these days, now more than ever people are gathering via Zoom, Facetime or Skype as a way of life, so if someone can’t make the trip to join your celebration, you can always make use of that for people to watch the ceremony, or even make a speech.
BUDGET WIN
The micro wedding also allows for couples to put together the day of their dreams while not spending a fortune, and to have elements that would not have been in the budget if they were hosting 200 people. The exact swoonworthy centrepieces you love, hand lettered personalized menus, that photographer you have been following for years but thought you couldn’t afford, your favourite date night wine, those wishbone chairs that were too big a price tag at 150 suddenly are totally doable at 20.
NOT TO MENTION THE INSANE QT
Quality time, that is. With a more intimate guest count, couples will be able to actually spend valuable time with each of their guests, and not be in the whirlwind flurry of “thanks for having me/congrats/you look beautiful” that is often the experience when the guest list is in the hundreds. With less people there is more time to be spent with each, and this is a huge plus.
ROOM FOR ORIGINALITY
There are only so many venues that can work for larger capacity events and celebrations, but when you drop the size, you open up a world of options. This means you can stay off the beaten path of venues more commonly used for weddings and host your micro wedding at your favourite restaurant, a brewery, your backyard, on a boat - whatever feels quintessentially “you”. It can be somewhere your guests are not likely to ever have attended a wedding before, which helps make the experience more personalized and one of a kind. The same applies to the details as well - things that would be difficult or crazy expensive for a full sized wedding are very possible for micro weddings. If you wanted every guest to have their own tiny mini beautiful wedding cake for dessert - no problemo. If you wanted to write a personalized note on the back of everyones menu, no problemo. If you want to have custom table linens made… or custom tables, that’s right, no problemo. Of course a micro wedding can also be done inexpensively just like a big wedding can be, but the real magic of this idea is that you can do all the things you ever dreamed of for your big wedding but couldn’t quite afford, because of the smaller group size.
“BUT I LIKE PEOPLE”
You’re not alone. Social butterflies of the world may cringe at this idea because for them, a big bash is everything. And thats completely valid and we commend you if you know this about yourself! Micro weddings are not for everyone, and we’re not saying everyone should have one. We just want to highlight this land in between elopements and weddings as many people haven’t considered it, and for some, it will feel just right - especially in this crazy time we are in now, when throwing a party is no longer a right, but a privilege.
WE ARE SUPER INTO IT
With so much possibility - using non traditional venues, getting crazy into the details, personalization and design, you may well want help pulling together your perfect micro big day. Contact us to chat more about how we can help!
