Micro Weddings: The New Normal?
There are currently many rules and regulations in place to ensure the health and safety of one another during these uncertain times. Couples are either choosing to move forward with their wedding plans this year with a much smaller guest count amongst other things such as social distancing, or they are choosing to postpone to 2021 and wait it out. Finding new ways to embrace our “new normal” and celebrate exciting moments in life has been a challenge for some. However, small and intimate gatherings — also known as “micro weddings” — are becoming increasingly popular.
Photo Credit: Kelly Birch Photography
A micro wedding is a small gathering that usually has a guest count of 20 guests or less. The timeline is typically shorter and very simple. It is also a bit more relaxed than your typical wedding. There are many benefits to planning a micro wedding. For starters, it can be less expensive and you can still have your wedding this year instead of postponing.
Here are some tips when planning your micro wedding:
Photo Credit: Lauren Bakery Photography
One huge perk of a micro wedding is the number of venues that can host a micro wedding. Due to the smaller guest list, venues that you might not even have considered when you were thinking of a larger sized wedding are now an option! When couples are planning a more intimate wedding, they can look at venues such as a beautiful rooftop, like the Hewing Hotel or Brick x Morter here in Minneapolis. These are stunning venues with amazing views of downtown Minneapolis and can accommodate a micro wedding. There are many other unique places that you can find to host your micro wedding especially because there is such a small group of people, the options are endless. Think of who you are as a couple and what is important to you, and then find a place that reflects that.
Micro weddings can be tough for the couple that has large families or the couple that loves to socialize and have a ton of friends. A tip to cutting down your guest list would be to invite your immediate family and those family members that you see more than once a month. Also, invite your closest friends. Think of the friends that you have known the longest or spend the most time with. If you still are having a hard time cutting down the guest list to less than 50 people, then consider sending a Zoom link to a wider group of people to watch the ceremony! They get to still be apart of your wedding without you having to postpone and worry about all of the uncertainties.
Another tip regarding micro weddings is to decide if you still want to include a wedding party. Since the guest count is already so low, some couples choose to forego a wedding party. You could just have the two of you standing when saying “I do” or you could always have that one special friend or family member stand up with you. You could also keep your guest count low and just have the important people there by having a close friend or family member get ordained and is great with words to officiate your wedding. That way you can have that one extra friend or family member at your micro wedding.
There are many elements of a micro wedding that are the same as a larger sized wedding, but there are also many different elements that you might not realize. These are just a few ideas to keep in mind when planning a micro wedding and also the differences in a micro wedding versus a “normal wedding”.