With everything going on in the world right with Covid many bride and grooms have decided to forgo the large wedding and opt for a scaled back and intimate wedding instead. Couples still want to celebrate their wedding but on a much smaller level. Here are 10 tips for how to go about planning a micro wedding!
1. PICK THE RIGHT WEDDING VENUE
Once you decided on the overall theme of the wedding (style and colors) start looking up venue spaces that are tailored towards small weddings and events. Think outside of the box, for example; your favorite locally owned restaurant that can host a private event, a botanical gardens, an Air B&B here in Tampa that allows weddings, or a friends that has a beautiful backyard with enough space to accommodate your small wedding.
2: INCLUDE TRADITIONS YOU LOVE
While someone bride and grooms are choosing to reschedule their large wedding for next year and do a “minimony” on their original wedding date, others have decided to opt for a micro wedding so they can keep their original wedding date. But no matter which option you choose you can still have many of the traditions you've been dreaming of for your wedding. If that means wearing a traditional wedding dress and veil, doing a first look, having elaborate flowers, sending out an invitation suite, or wedding favors, then “you do you” and plan it how it want it to be.
3. KEEP THE GUEST LIST SMALL
This one might be the hardest decisions when planning your micro wedding but it’s one of the most important things to consider. Sit down with your fiancé and take an honest look at your guest list, only invite people that truly love you and are happy for you. If you haven’t seen a friend or family member in years and barely talk to them then save that seat for someone that plays a bigger part of your lives. Try not to worry about if you’re going to hurt their feelings. Those that really care about you will understand and will be happy for you even though they didn’t get invited. Also take into consideration if you will allow “plus ones”. To be frank, when you’re paying for the wedding you get to say who can and cannot attend.
4. CONSIDER SCALING BACK HOW MANY BRIDESMAIDS AND GROOMSMEN YOU WILl HAVE
Some bride and grooms are choosing not have any brides and groomsmen to insure a smaller wedding. But if you still want a couple of your closest friends to stand up their with you then by all means have them. One advantage of having less people in your bridal party is that you’ll be saving money bouquets and boutonnieres, money that could be put towards making your bouquet bigger or the ceremony flowers more elaborate!
5. EMBRACE ALL THE WEDDING ELEMENTS AND DECORE
A small guest means you can get more creative with the food, drinks, entertainment, and decor. Just because it's a smaller wedding doesn't mean you can't have beautiful or even elaborate florals! You can have well defined areas for your ceremony with a unique arbor, centerpieces for your table tops, or a lounge area with pretty furniture for you guests to sit and enjoy cocktail hour. Beautiful linens, menu signs, and pretty plates or glasses can make it feel more luxurious. When it comes to food you can have pre-plated appetizers with large variety of different kinds of food for your guests to enjoy. Instead of a one large buffet table you can have food stations to keep the guests moving.
6. CONSIDER HIRING A WEDDING PLANNER
While it is true that planning an intimate wedding is less stressful that doesn’t mean you have to go at it alone. You might be thinking “planning for a micro-wedding will be is easy” however, you still may find yourself getting overwhelmed or you might not have the time to plan the micro wedding of your dreams. This where a professional wedding planner can come in and take away some of that stress while still letting your vision come to life.
7. ALWAYS HIRE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Of course I’m going to tell you to not skip this step! No matter how small your wedding is it’s still a huge milestone in your life and should be documented with timeless and beautiful photographs. After you’ve narrowed it down to your top three photographers contact them about their availability and pricing. Once you’ve decided on who you want to be your St. Petersburg wedding photographer make sure you sign the contract and pay your deposit as quickly as possible. Photographers will not hold your wedding date without both of those two things being taken care of.
8. THINK OF YOUR RECEPTION AS AN ELABORATE DINNER PARTY
Just because you’re having a small wedding doesn’t mean you can’t have an stellar reception. One way to do this is make good use of the space. Your micro wedding for 30 - 50 guests might be held at a venue that usually accommodates 200 or more. So you can get creative with how you layout the tables, lounge area, photo booth, food stations, and drink areas as well. By do this you will have have more flexibility, think quality over quantity!
9: GET CREATIVE WITH ENTERTAINMENT
If your wedding is going to be a small and intimate celebration you you might not want or need a DJ. However that doesn’t mean your wedding needs to be silent or awkward. This is where having live music would be a great option. Such as a guitarist, flutist, or a small string band for soft music while you walk down the isle and playing in the background during dinner. This doesn’t mean you necessarily have to cut out a DJ all together. If you want the traditional bride and groom dance, father daughter dance, or a dancing reception then ask your favorite DJ if they have a package that allows you to hire them for a few hours (max 3) rather than a full day reception coverage. If you choose to not have a DJ but still want some sort of entertainment then this is where you can get creative. Having interactive yard games is a great way to keep the guests happy and not bored. Or if you want something creative then a wine tasting station, a photo booth cart, magicians, caricaturist, an artist doing a live painting, dancers or acrobats would be a very memorable and part of the wedding.
10. HAVE A DESSERT BAR
If a traditional wedding cake doesn’t sound like what you want this is where a dessert table with a large variety of individually desserts might be a better option for you. Choose single-serve desserts such as cupcakes, frosted bundt cakes, cookies, pies, or even candy!
Nina Bashaw is a Tampa Bay, FL based fine art luxury elopement photographer that believes in a in classic and timeless approach to photography. Although based out of central Florida she is available for worldwide travel.
follow us on social media
Comments