Micro-Wedding Planning Tips

With the current COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing and the current restrictions declaring weddings of now just 15 people can take place, couples are having to get creative with their wedding plans for the foreseeable. Our hearts go out to couples who have had to postpone or reschedule their wedding, but limits on large gatherings and lockdown haven’t stopped love. An intimate celebration can have even more meaning and small weddings can be just as stylish. If you’re finding that you have to adapt to the temporary restrictions, you can still plan a day to remember for all of the right reasons.

 Micro-weddings are the biggest trend of the year (and we think they’ll probably be sticking around for a little while), so here are our top planning considerations if you do decide to go ahead with a celebration on a much smaller scale.

Even if this is the first time you’re hearing about micro-weddings, they’ve actually been around for a long time! They’re viewed as the flexible, relaxed and a more personal alternative, with most hosting around 20 to 30 guests. The duration is often shorter too but equally, you get to spend more time with those who are closest to you. There are no ‘rules’ to follow when it come to a micro-wedding and it offers you the opportunity to tailor your day to suit you.

 There are plenty of perks to having a micro-wedding and throwing the rulebook out of the window is one of them! As long as you have all of the legalities covered, timings and schedules can be relaxed and it’s up to you how the day unfolds. You may find you want to cut out unnecessary traditions too, such as the cake cutting or speeches. This allows you to focus on the elements that mean the most to you both, so take advantage of the freedom!

If the vibe you’re going for is ‘relaxed’ make sure you let your guests know about the dress code. You may still want to don black tie, but you may find that you want your guests to rock something a little more casual or your wedding guests can get still get dressed up in traditional wedding attire. We have plenty of fascinator hats and wedding clutch bags for your friends and family to choose from.

 A micro-wedding is inevitably kinder on the purse strings as there are less guests to cater for (with the average UK wedding hosting 80 – 100 people). You may want to spend the extra budget on delicious food and drink, perhaps going all out with your wedding dinner menu. The meal (particularly with a smaller wedding) is one of the most important aspects of any event and this is a chance to get truly creative with your breakfast. From a five-course extravaganza to personalised edible favours, you can allocate more of your budget on an ‘experience’ that your guests will remember forever.

 However, a smaller guest list can also come with some awkward conversations and tricky decisions, especially as the number of guests allowed has recently reduced from 30 to 15. It may not feel like many people (particularly if you’ve always dreamt of a huge guest list), but it does mean you can invite those who are truly closest to you. We recommend sending out invitations to those who you couldn’t imagine not being there with you on your wedding day. You can still enjoy an epic party with your original guest list at a later, safer date. Why not consider using Zoom throughout your ceremony for those who couldn’t attend – it means everyone gets involved, including loved ones who may be vulnerable etc.

A benefit of a micro-wedding means you can consider unique and exciting venue locations that perhaps would have been off the cards if you’d had a larger number of guest attending. From a ceremony in a woodland glade to a dinner in your favourite restaurant, venues are able to accommodate smaller numbers, and this often comes at a reduced cost.

The most important thing to remember when planning a micro-wedding is that every last detail should be meaningful to you both. You can worry less about trying to please everyone and instead focus on the thing that make you the happiest.

Image Credits: Image 1by Lighthouse Photography | Image 2 by Alison Conklin Photography | Image 3 by Lindsey Mueller Photography | Image 4 by Karra Leigh Photography | Image 5 by Brian D Smith Photography | Image 6 by Melia Lucida Photography | Image 7 by Muravnik Photography | Image 8 by Scarlet O'Neill Photography | Image 9 by Lighthouse Photography |