let’s get intimate with micro weddings

april 11, 2023 | written by marissa lee and stephanie ridgely

While wedding planning, you may be wondering how many people you want present to celebrate your big day. Do you want to invite everyone you know or just your closest friends and family members? Do you have 100 family members or 20? If you are leaning toward a smaller wedding, you may consider a micro wedding. A micro wedding is an intimate ceremony, reception, or both that hosts 50 guests or fewer.

A micro wedding allows you to celebrate your big day without sacrificing the elements of a traditional wedding. Micro weddings are just as enjoyable, memorable, and romantic. Do you want a huge ball gown? You can still wear it. Do you want to have a destination wedding? You can still go. Do you want an elaborate cake and floral arrangements? You can have them. Your dream, your personality, and your style can all be executed for a smaller crowd.

benefits of a micro wedding

Budget-friendly

Micro weddings are less expensive. Brides.com says that micro weddings are “over 50 percent less than that of a traditional wedding with the highest end of the range falling at around $10,000.” Having a micro wedding allows you to spend more money on the details that matter most to you. Because you are saving more money on the guest list, you can spend more on your flowers, venue, location, food, dress, and so on. You can choose the more expensive band that you love or travel to an extravagant location.

Quality time

One of the main concerns with larger weddings is the couple’s inability to spend personal time with everyone. Many couples have opted to take wedding and “first look” photos before the ceremony so they can talk to their guests during the cocktail hour, forgoing the need to stop at each table during dinner. Some also host a welcome party the night before. You may not want to spend money on a welcome party and you may not be a fan of the “first look.” The intimacy of a micro wedding allows you to spend quality time with each one of your guests.

Flexibility

Hosting a smaller wedding opens up more options for location, food, and activities. You could use a food truck for dinner or an ice cream truck for dessert. Maybe your favorite cake baker doesn’t cater to large parties but could accommodate 30 guests. Did you and your fiance meet playing pub trivia? Playing trivia with a smaller crowd is more feasible than with hundreds of people.

Here are a few creative locations to host a micro wedding:

• Your favorite restaurant

• A park or outdoor area with a creative backdrop (your city’s skyline, a lake or ocean, etc.)

• Venues with smaller rooms and flexible packages

• An art studio (a Cleveland favorite)

• Your backyard

things to keep in mind

For the most part, micro weddings are less chaotic, less time-consuming to plan, and less stressful. And while micro weddings give you the flexibility to host your big day nearly anywhere, keep in mind that there are some limitations. Your venue and caterer may have minimums related to their bar packages or guest count and those minimums can change depending on the day.

Although hosting a micro wedding will reduce many of your per-person costs, it’s important to understand that there are many costs that aren’t dependent on guest count. These costs can include, but aren’t limited to, the venue rental, the photographer’s rate, and the band. It’s possible your vendors may have micro wedding packages but expect to receive less in return: shorter timeframes, fewer pictures, and less time for setup.

Friends and family may have opinions about how you choose to do this, as leaving people off of your guest list comes with the territory of hosting a small wedding. Make sure your decisions are based on what you want, not what you feel pressured to do. At the end of the day, your wedding is about celebrating the commitment you and your significant other are making to each other.

host a micro wedding at the elliot

Photo by Drzazga Photo

Did you know The Elliot has micro wedding packages?

With two aesthetically distinct spaces, The Elliot is equipped to host your closest family and friends for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, making your wedding a unique and memorable experience.

Visit our website to learn more and schedule a tour!

Photo by One Red Door Photography