by Brynne Conroy
Contributor
Many wedding ideas start off grand — big guest list, big dress, big budget.
But a number of factors have given rise to a new take on the big day: micro weddings. By keeping it small, couples can include all the important trappings that make for a dream wedding but at a much smaller price tag.
Couples marrying later in life and prioritizing other goals like buying a house, not to mention the COVID-19 pandemic, have prompted many people to rethink the big, traditional wedding. Having a small, intimate wedding instead allows you and your partner to celebrate each other on your terms and on your budget.
Here’s some micro wedding inspiration.
First thing’s first: What are we talking about when we refer to a ‘micro wedding?’
A micro wedding is generally a wedding with less than 50 guests. Before COVID-19, micro weddings were a way to save on wedding costs by limiting the guest count to family members and a few close friends.
By keeping your guest list small, you cut down on the size wedding venue you need, and by extension, the cost of food, alcohol, table settings, decorations and favors.
But none of that means forgoing what is most important to you. With a small wedding, you simply cut out the fanfare of hosting a large crowd and focus your wedding planning on the details that matter most to you and your partner.
If you think of a micro wedding as a better-than-average party you’re throwing for your closest family and friends, the cost can be quite manageable. Think around $1,500 for some light food, drinks and the couple’s outfits for a party in someone’s home or backyard.
With every detail you add to your micro wedding, you’re adding to the cost. Even a small-scale wedding with catered food, alcohol and flowers at a rented wedding venue can reach $10,000.
But that’s still a fraction of what a larger wedding can cost. It’s not uncommon for couples to spend $30,000.
When planning a micro wedding, many of the old wedding traditions don’t necessarily apply. With a micro wedding ceremony — a “minimony,” if you will (and we definitely will) — remember that good things come in small packages.
When you’re planning a micro wedding, start with your guest list. You may only want your closest friends and family there for your big day. Or you may even want it to be only the two of you and the officiant.
In some states, you can get hitched without an officiant via a self-uniting marriage.
Whether you have a handful of guests or just the couple at your micro wedding, venues and vendors across the wedding industry have many ways to help you celebrate your big day while saving money.
With a smaller guest list, your venue doesn’t need to be large — or even be a typical wedding venue. Your favorite art gallery might be renting out space, or you might be able to book a private room at your favorite restaurant. If a venue had a minimum guest count prior to 2020, those minimums have likely been reduced or eliminated altogether.
You may have a bit of pent-up wanderlust, or maybe you’ve dreamed your whole life of a destination wedding.
Destination weddings are usually micro weddings. Because you or your guests will have to pay for extra expenses like hotel rooms and travel costs, the number of people who can attend is naturally smaller than a traditional wedding in your hometown.
By having a small, intimate wedding, you can think more creatively about the details that will make your affair unique and memorable. Peruse these wedding ideas and customize them to your taste.
Here are a few micro wedding favors you might consider for your big day, depending on your budget and theme:
Similarly, because micro weddings have smaller guest lists, couples can opt for a non-traditional guest book. Here are some ideas that can be customized to any micro wedding budget:
Brynne Conroy is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder. She blogs at Femme Frugality.
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