The Pros + Cons of Micro Weddings

If you are planning a 2020 wedding or in the process of planning a 2021/2022 wedding , you’ve probably heard the term “micro wedding” which refers to weddings with 50 or less guests. While micro weddings have become a necessary means of compromise for celebrations in 2020, we feel this will be a continuing trend beyond these uncertain times.

We’re shedding light on the pros & cons of micro weddings and we hope you find this helpful as you consider planning all types of celebrations, from birthday parties to baby showers to your wedding!

Pros

INTIMATE SETTING

With a smaller guest count, ceremony seating and reception table configurations will naturally feel more intimate. Your guests will have more face-to-face time with you and your spouse and guests often feel encouraged to mingle with guests from both families or share toasts during an open mic moment.

DETAILS, DETAILS

Wedding budgets for a smaller guest count allow you to invest into personalized elements which may not be monetarily or physically possible for larger weddings. Some examples are handwritten notes by the couple to each guest at their place setting, thoughtful welcome or parting gift boxes with your favorite goodies, and an enhanced dinner experience with more courses or late night snacks. 

*Some details which we feel are great for micro or larger weddings are custom cocktail napkins and stirrers, signature his/her cocktails, personalized seating chart arrangements, and tray-passed beverages from ceremony to cocktail reception.

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WEBCASTING

Live webcasting your ceremony is a great way to include loved ones which you couldn’t invite to be in person or guests unable to travel to be part of your wedding day! We suggest only webcasting the ceremony and bid your virtual guests goodbye before cocktail hour/dinner reception - this eliminates any awkwardness or the need for someone to remember the camera throughout the evening, so you can all be fully present as you party the night away!

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

We believe the most important element of your wedding day is the foundation of your relationship and the eternal vows exchanged. During this time, it’s been inspiring to witness how couples have managed a postponed wedding or reduced guest count wedding, inevitably forced by the state of the world right now. It begs the question of what truly matters on your wedding day and what is ‘fluff’. 

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Con

FEWER GUESTS

Needless to say, micro weddings mean fewer guests can be present, which may be difficult for you and your families if you have many relatives. It’s difficult for some couples to decide who to invite and where to draw the line with a smaller guest count. This can potentially add stress to the wedding planning process as you fine tune a micro wedding guest list.

The Best of Both Worlds‍

Many couples who’ve had to postpone their larger guest count weddings in 2020 to 2021 but still wanted to get married in 2020 are having micro weddings this year and renewing their vows with a larger party in 2021 and beyond. This allows couples to get married without delay and lets all guests know they will be part of your vow renewals when it is safe to gather in larger groups again.

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However, this means being very financially savvy to split the original wedding budget between two celebrations or increasing your wedding budget to accommodate two events. Some ideas to save on costs at your larger celebration are buffet style dinner vs. plated dinner, minimal décor & florals, creating a dancing area rather than installing a dance floor, and eliminating a formal ceremony (you can renew your vows at the beginning or during dinner) to save on additional audio, decor, and rentals.

Stay healthy and party on in a smart, safe manner!

Xo,

Michelle