Small Weddings Explained!
So you are interested in having a small wedding, but where do you start? There are so many buzz words flying around - “micro”, “tiny”, “intimate”, “pop up” - it’s hard to make sense of it all.
“Small wedding” is an umbrella term for a few different types of weddings. Generally speaking there are three main categories: Mini, Micro, and Elopement. While the differences are small (hehe, get it?), they can have a big impact on your guest list and budget. We’re going to break each one down for you so you can figure out which kind of small wedding is right for you.
PHOTO BY CADENCE & ELI
Mini Wedding
A mini wedding - commonly referred to as an intimate or small wedding - is a wedding with less than 50 people that still has all the elements of a traditional wedding, just on a smaller scale. It typically involves the ceremony, a meal, and entertainment over the course of several hours. Mini weddings aren’t new but they are gaining in popularity as couples prioritize their guests’ experience. A mini wedding doesn’t necessarily mean a mini budget however, since it requires all of the vendors and planning a larger wedding entails. For more mini wedding advice check out this article from BRIDES.
Micro Wedding
Micro weddings are the hottest new wedding trend. Often called tiny weddings, a micro wedding is a stripped-down version of a traditional wedding with 30 or fewer guests. Micro weddings typically last two to three hours, which is just long enough to have your ceremony followed by drinks and light bites, with some photos to mark the occasion. Our sister company, Minne Weddings, offers a stylish, all-inclusive micro wedding option that makes planning a cinch. This great piece for Cosmopolitan features another way to micro-wed.
Elopement
The smallest of the small weddings, an elopement is two people jetting off to get married with an officiant and maybe a photographer, often last minute and without family and friends knowing. Elopements don’t contain any aspects of a traditional wedding except a ceremony. Many couples elope to the courthouse for a civil ceremony. Martha Stewart Weddings shares some wise tips on eloping.
Minimony
The term “minimony” is also gaining traction. Think of it as an enhanced elopement, with up to 10 guests and focused on the ceremony only. This is popular with couples who are having to postpone their original wedding due to COVID-19 and still plan to have a bigger reception. #marrynowpartylater
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