Your Cart is Empty
Am I having a small wedding? Or is it a micro wedding? What about a tiny wedding? I've also heard about a minimony? Or is it an elopement? It's all so confusing and I just don't understand!
If you're confused about all of the new terms in wedding planning that everyone from your vendors to your friends to your family keep throwing around - especially now that large gatherings (weddings!) are limited - don't worry.
In today's wedding planning advice post, because we are going to be talking all about what makes a small wedding and the benefits you might not be thinking about when it comes to have a micro wedding.
And, of course, I'll be giving you lots of inspiration, decor ideas and advice for mico weddings too!
Now that large gathering are limited, weddings and in-person events are trending smaller, naturally. However, this trend towards smaller or small-ish weddings has given rise to lots of new wedding planning terms such as micro-weddings, minimony, macro weddings, tiny weddings, elopements and more! Plain and simple, these new terms are all "code" for small weddings. The issue or confusion is that what a small wedding means is different by couple and by region. Every couple and wedding vendor defines a mico, mini, tiny or small wedding differently.
In some areas a small wedding is a micro wedding and a micro wedding is a small wedding. To some, small, tiny and micro are interchangeable terms that wedding professionals use to refer to a wedding with a lower wedding guest count. If you're having a small wedding, you're also having a mico or tiny wedding or a minimony.
However, in some areas a micro wedding refers to a specific number of wedding guests. I talked to wedding planners all over the country and many said that a mirco, macro, tiny or mini wedding refers to a wedding with 50 guests or less. Small weddings are not related to any specific number and are relative to what the couple considers to be small.
Even though what defines a micro wedding varies, almost universally, an elopement is a term used for ceremonies that happen between just the couple. If you are getting married at home or at the court house, for example, and it is just you, your partner and the officiant, it is called an elopement.
Before we go any further, it's worth noting that the size of your guest count is what determines the size of your wedding. When we say small, micro ore tiny, we are referring to the total number of guests in attendance. We are not referring to the budget, venue, the details, or anything else other than the guest count. Small definitely doesn't refer to the amount of love in your heart either!
Now that we've cleared up what a small or mico wedding means, the next obvious question is: How many guests makes for a small wedding?
What makes for a small wedding is relative to each couple and what they consider to be small. To one couple 50 guests is small, to another small might mean 10 or 2 people, while 100 guests might be considered small to another. It all just depends on what is small to you and this guest number is different for each couple.
Within the wedding industry, including wedding planners, florists, caterers, photographers and more, most vendors consider any guest count less than 100 people to be a small or micro wedding. In some areas, 20 guests is small, but in other areas 75 guest is considered micro. But, in general, less than 100 guests is universally considered a small wedding by wedding professionals.
Now that we know, opting for a small guest list can designate your wedding as a small wedding, also known as a micro-wedding, it's time to talk about all of the benefits of having a small wedding. Simply put, smaller wedding often offers opportunity for more when it comes to wedding design, details, time and money. When it comes to small weddings, less is more...less guests, more 'wow' factor!
A smaller guest list leaves more room in your budget for those special things and extra touches. For example, instead of disposable or generic glassware, you can now opt for personalized glasses for each of your guests. Something that they'll be impressed with at your wedding and cherish as a momento to take home!
You might now have more room in the budget for personalized wedding favors, escort cards, and personal touches throughout the wedding are sure to impress your guests and design a one of a kind wedding. Doing all of these special details on a larger scale for large numbers of guests can get really expensive really fast, but with a small guest count, these details might be possible.
Having a small wedding also gives you more time to spend on each guest. For example, you can make your reception more personal with a handwritten note to each of your guests! Take the opportunity of a smaller guest count to spoil your guests with personal touches. It's your 'excuse' to let no detail go unnoticed.
Micro-weddings also allow you more time to spend with the guests in attendance at your wedding. This is one of the top reasons why couples choose to plan a smaller wedding. Take advantage of your smaller guest count by creating beautiful tablescapes. A smaller guest count might mean a smaller wedding cake, but that can also mean you get to add a dessert bar, too!
Small weddings also offer more venue options that typically cannot hold a wedding. Barrel rooms at wineries, smaller barns, your favorite restaurant, and downtown lofts can now be your venue of choice with a smaller guest count! Spare no detail with these smaller venues. Choose decor options that accentuate the beauty of your chosen venue and provide unique details like acrylic food labels and signage throughout your wedding.
You know we couldn't talk about small weddings without giving you lots of design ideas and inspiration! The decor, the favors and all those little details - that's fun part, besides getting married, of course!
For this edition of Garter Girl Loves, we've sourced our favorite finds from Etsy that are perfect to incorporate into your small wedding.
With love,
The Garter Girl
Some of the above product links are affiliate-connected and purchasing through these links helps to support the blog.
