There is no set definition as to how many guests a micro wedding should have. For many, fifty is the most, while others draw the line at twenty-five, and there are also some for whom fifteen is the maximum number of guests acceptable for this situation. So, while there’s room for debate in that case, the general consensus is that the number of guests is as small as possible when it comes to an arrangement such as this. There are many advantages to keeping your ceremony on the small side, such as reducing the costs, enjoying a friendlier and more intimate atmosphere, having more vendors to choose from, and not dealing with the stress that inevitably comes with having to make sure everything is in order with a huge number of people around.
If you feel overwhelmed by the idea of a massive wedding that gets hundreds of guests together, a micro wedding is definitely the best choice for you. Yet, just because it’s small doesn’t mean that it cannot be extra special and that there aren’t ways to ensure everything is just as you imagined.
The venue
When you have fewer people on your guest list, you have the opportunity to have your pick and choose between a much larger number of venues, from the standard to the nontraditional. For small wedding parties, you might even be able to hold the ceremony outside, in a forest, desert, or a fjord on Norway’s coastline, with much less hassle. Moreover, if you want to have a destination wedding because it’s been your dream to get hitched in a different country, it is much easier to make the arrangements when there are just twenty or so people you have to consider.
Small, quaint restaurants work just as well, and if there’s any location where the two of you are regulars, it could be an amazing opportunity to hold the party there and share this space with all your friends and family. Most wedding vendors love working on intimate, small weddings, as it lets them be more flexible and is nowhere near as stressful as planning for hundreds of individuals.
More informal
While you can definitely make your wedding as formal as you want, small events are typically less structured since you’ll most likely invite only those who are closest and dearest to you. This naturally means that the dress code will be less restrictive as well and that while the guests are naturally still expected to look presentable and festive, the rules won’t be as strict. For instance, the bridesmaid gowns can be simple slip dresses or something more modern, such as asymmetric, ruffled pieces with cowl necks, spaghetti straps, and cut-out backs instead of the classic, floor-length dresses that are the standard for bridesmaids.
If the wedding takes place in a garden or another small space such as a beautiful historical courtyard, a small gallery, a theater, or even a library, you can also get the outfits to fit the theme so that the ceremony doesn’t look out of place.
Fun activities
It may sound odd if you’ve never experienced it before, but a micro wedding also allows you the room to be more creative when it comes to the activities you can do. For instance, you can have drinks and snacks around a bonfire. You’ll see that the conversation flows naturally, especially if you have some music in the background to go along with it. Yard games, fun and unique desserts, and even getting a food truck can add a lot to the atmosphere.
The music
The music is a fundamental part of each party, and weddings are no exception. You can rent large speakers from local music stores and have a wedding playlist playing throughout the ceremony. You can find ready-made selections on streaming websites out there or make your own song collection that includes all of your favorites. It is your wedding, after all, and you should get to decide. If your budget allows it, you can also hire a DJ. This will allow you to have more variety when it comes to the songs, and there are some who believe that having someone play simply is better for a festive occasion such as this.
There is also the option of live string music, a charming alternative that is very likely to impress all of your guests. If working with professional violinists, cellists, and guitarists is too much for your budget, you can always hire students from nearby colleges or theaters, as they’re very likely to want the job since it is also very good practice for them. There is no limit to the genres you can play, although there are some that are more likely to appeal to the majority of people, such as jazz, soft pop, classical, and nostalgic tunes that can range from the 50s to the 00s.
The food
There’s no wedding reception without the food, but creating the perfect menu is not a simple task. Doing the same thing you’ve seen at other weddings in the past will most likely feel underwhelming and bland, but coming up with something entirely new might feel risky since it’s possible that many won’t enjoy it. You should consider everyone’s dietary restrictions (if there are any), whether they’re related to personal beliefs or the result of allergies and food intolerance. It’s best to have a menu that includes appetizers, salad courses, sides, a plated main course, and the wedding cake and desserts afterward.
For the appetizers, you can consider caprese skewers, mini crab cakes, veggie spring rolls, pigs in blankets, arancini, grilled cheese and tomato soup shooters, tiny chicken pot pies, bacon-wrapped shrimp, and seared scallops. For the main course, you’ll want to add something more substantial, such as steak, lobster, herb-roasted chicken, or lamb. Pair it with seared vegetables, and you’ve got a dish that will make everyone happy. As for the cake, chocolate is always a favorite, but if you’d like something a little different, there’s vanilla buttercream, lemon curd, raspberry preserves, salted caramel, carrot cake, strawberries, and white chocolate.
Planning a wedding isn’t easy, not even when you only have a few guests. However, a micro wedding will definitely be much less trouble than a big reception, so if you’ve been thinking of keeping things small and quaint for your own special day, you should not hesitate to do it.
