What is a micro wedding? | Micro Wedding FAQs | Micro Wedding Photographer Sussex

What is a micro wedding?!

Think weddings with a smaller guest list, a celebration planned for you two and upto 30 of your nearest and dearest.
Micro weddings are all about a relaxed, intimate vibe but can still be just as thoughtful and styled as a wedding with 150+ guests!

If you’re thinking of having an intimate wedding celebration, or thinking about changing up your plans due to Covid, I answer all your questions below. If there is anything I haven’t covered, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Accompanying styled shoot photos taken at Amore Workshops.

What are the benefits of a micro wedding?

You can totally let go of what a traditional wedding looks like, and revel in what feels right for you. They can also allow you to focus more on you two and what the celebration means for you as a couple. Micro weddings also tend to be simpler to plan as you don’t have quite so many suppliers or ‘moving parts’ involved, you don’t have to worry about having so much time between the ceremony and your reception for your guests to amuse themselves for example. It also means you can ditch the mega complex and sensitive seating plan!
Be as carefree and indulgent as you wish.

Where can you have a micro wedding?

Just like a larger wedding, you can choose from a number of options. For the legal bit, you can choose a registry office, or your family church, and then hop to your favourite restaurant for dinner. Or you can hire a wedding venue and have both your ceremony and dinner in one place; if you go for this option, make sure you are booked with the registrars to conduct your ceremony. You could also have your legal signing totally separate and have a celebrant create a totally bespoke ceremony instead.

What happens at a micro wedding?

Whatever you wish! One of the benefits of having a smaller guest list, is you can totally do whatever you want, whenever you want, free of a more traditional structure. Ditch whatever doesn’t feel right for you. You could choose any number of ways to form your day! You could to get ready together, or have a ‘first look’ before your ceremony, say personal vows privately after the legal ceremony away from prying eyes, have a picnic on the beach or a dinner at your favourite special restaurant. You can also keep some of the fun traditional wedding stuff like confetti and sparklers too.

Can I have a pretty and styled micro wedding?!

A micro wedding is still your wedding, so style it as much as you like! A lot of wedding stylists have bespoke micro wedding packages to help you set the scene wherever you choose to get married or celebrate with your guests. Pick a vibe and colour scheme, and bring that into your table ware, flowers and outfits. It can still be beautiful, just on a smaller scale.

Will I upset people by not having a larger wedding?*
*If your original wedding plans and guest list are changing due to Covid, read this and then see below for more on Guest list topic.

The most important thing to remember here is relevant for whatever size wedding you have - it’s about you.

Your wedding is about you two and what feels right for you, and you can invite whoever you like to whatever part of your celebration.
When you’re set on your plans, talk to your friends and family and explain to them what your plans are and why it’s important for you to have a celebration this way, rather than it being a total surprise when they do or don’t get an invite.

Many couples who have a micro wedding choose to have a larger party celebration another time, it allows you both to have that special, intimate celebration together with a chosen few, but then bring everyone together to share the joy! Or have a ceremony for just the two of you, and meet up with guests for a fun picnic or dinner later on so that no-one feels excluded.

Before you set your date, discuss who are the absolute ‘ride or dies’ in your life that you couldn’t imagine getting married without, and don’t feel guilty about who isn’t. Your wedding is one of the absolute best reasons in life to be selfish.

Also think of that old truth, the people who matter don’t mind, and the people who mind don’t matter x

What kind of budget do I need for a micro wedding?

Being honest, the sky is the limit. Most suppliers will offer adaptable packages especially for micro weddings as they will take into account the reduced time and guest list. That can be a real bonus as it allows you to funnel your budget into other things, rather than feel it is too stretched. Prioritise the parts of your day that mean the most to you, put more from your budget in those places and you can’t go wrong. For example, like spending a little bit more on your wedding dress without feeling guilty, or splashing out more on the venue styling or securing the most banging food supplier!

Should we still get wedding insurance?

Yes absolutely, this is always a good idea no matter what your wedding day holds for you.

What about if we want to go away for our micro wedding?

That is totally an option, and it doesn’t mean running away together in secret unless you want it to. ‘Eloping’ or elopement weddings can come in many forms too, be it up a mountain, or somewhere more exotic, you can still apply whatever you like to your day and have whoever you wish there too.

Do micro weddings feel like a lesser wedding?

The best people to describe how a micro weddings feels, are to check out the happy faces of couples who have had a smaller wedding! My couples agreed that having a smaller wedding was no less of a celebration, that there were no less special moments or less love and joy.

Check out Hannah and Ian’s Italian wedding with 30 guests at Relais Villa Vittoria
Check out Rachael and Will’s winter wedding with 15 guests.

You can also read Wedding Stories from 2020 here.

Your Questions from Instagram

Guest list: We are having a micro wedding due to Covid, so how do we tell people they are on a ‘maybe’ list?

So this will undoubtedly feel very emotional, stressful and awkward for you. The best thing to do, is be honest as soon as you can when you have confirmed your plans.
Write to your guests that you are having to change-up your plans and reassure them that of course you would want every single one them all there and are mindful of their feelings too, but you are doing your best to plan a day with many shifting pieces beyond your control.
Advise your guests that you are planning your guest list based on a ‘numbers limit’, and when you have better guidance from the government for your date that you will update them. Gently remind people this is not a choice you want to have to make!
The vast majority of your guests will totally understand, we are all affected by this pandemic to some degree, and anyone less understanding will come around soon enough.
Perhaps think about streaming your ceremony, or simply say that you will share some special images or video from your photographer/videographer when they are ready. This is YOUR day, look after yourselves and what you need first.

Stationary: We spent quite a lot on invites for our original date, do we send digital invites for the new smaller wedding date?

First things first, what’s in your budget, and is having a physical invitation important to you?
I would talk to your original wedding stationary supplier if you haven’t already - ask what options they can help you with for a reduced guest invite/postponement package. Many wedding stationers can help you with creating a digital invitation and some can offer this at a reduced rate for you as their cost of physical materials is less, though obviously their time and skill is well worth paying for!

Perhaps send a digital invite to advise people of the postponement and your change of plans, and perhaps invites for your guests that are able to come to your new date?
Whatever you choose, focus on what matters most to you and ultimately giving the important info to your loved ones.

Bridesmaids: If I can have my girls there, do I have them wear bridesmaids dresses?

Girl, you do you! Bridesmaids dresses come in many forms, and whatever wedding you have it is totally your choice to have the more traditional ‘same dress’, or a co-ordination in colour for example between different styles.
If you want to have that bridesmaids vibe, go for it! If you want to have a more relaxed vibe to the day, maybe ask your girls to wear the outfit they feel most fabulous in. Think about why you do or don’t want your bridesmaids in bridesmaids dresses and go from there.
Get on Pinterest, have a boozy and giggly Zoom with your girls and get the ideas flowing!

The same goes for all of your wedding tribe, have a think about your options and go with what feels right.

Elopements: What’s the difference between a micro wedding and an elopement?

It’s generally thought within the industry that a micro wedding has a smaller guest list but feels more like a traditional wedding. Elopements are often a wedding where you go away to a destination within the UK or even abroad together/with a very few close family and friends; it can be a total adventure up a mountain, or on a quiet beach for example. Elopements aren’t just about running away in secret to Gretna Green, oh no, they can be so much more and inclusive of your loved ones too.
Whatever you call your day, if it’s right for you, it’s not wrong!

Weddings

Photos taken at the stunning Amore Workshops
Suppliers:
Venue: @thewindinghouse
Floral stylist: @xyrisbotanicals
Furniture/Props/Stylist: @the_w_collection
Dress designer: @suzanneneville
Shoes & Earrings: @freyaroselondon
Hair & Mua: @off.duty.weddinghmua
Bespoke Headwear: @saintbethofficial2
Stationery & signage: @whitecottageweddings
Cake: @cbcakery
Vows & Details: @caboodleweddings
Ceramic table vases: @homefolkceramics
Pocket watches: @brelsen_pocketwatches
Pearl hair pins: @thebobbypinuk
Helicopter charter: @polarhelicopters
Real model couple: @char_rene & @patrick_muyot

What is a Micro Wedding? | Micro Wedding FAQs | Micro Wedding Photographer Sussex