Micro weddings are in right now and we are obsessed. They take away the stress of a large wedding with lots of guests and can be the perfect solution if wavering between eloping and a traditional wedding. A micro wedding has a guest count of about 30 people, some more and some fewer than that.
There are so many pros and cons to consider when deciding your guest count and wedding vibe. Here are a few things to consider:
Pros:
Increased Intimacy - With fewer guests the bride and groom have increased time to spend talking and laughing with their absolute favorite people in the entire world. There aren’t as many guests to cater to and it can add to a more personal atmosphere. Everyone gets several moments with the couple and it truly turns the attention to them.
Cost-effective - smaller weddings = more savings! Now you can spend the money you saved, by not having an increased guest count, on other areas of your day that may be more important to you.
Flexibility - Increased flexibility is highly valuable on a wedding day and means that there will be less stress all around if something goes wrong. With not as many people to notice or care, rooms can be re-set quickly, decor and other items can be rearranged promptly and changes can be made on the day of the event with less man-power. Increased flexibility is a win for both the couple, the guests, and the vendors.
Focus on Details - With a smaller guest count it’s so much easier to pay attention to the details of the day including the decor and personal touches that make a wedding day so special. With increased intimacy, favors mean so much more and those details make the day a personal experience.
Enhanced Guest Experience - Guests appreciate attending weddings with a smaller guest count because they feel important to the couple as they understand that a micro wedding was a specific choice. It’s easier to indulge in vendors that increase the guest experience at the event with fewer guests to cater to.
Naturally, a micro wedding isn’t going to work for everyone due to family dynamics or other reasons. Here are several factors that micro weddings won’t be the perfect fit for you:
Cons:
Limited guest list - Having a smaller guest count could mean excluding certain family members and friends that really do mean a lot to the couple but just don’t mean as much as someone else. This can be hard for people to understand and could be a deciding factor to increase your guest count to something larger.
Perceived less formality - With a smaller group and a more intimate setting, some guests may view the event as less formal than a huge affair. To counteract this, please let your guests know of the dress code for all events in order to increase the air of formality. A wedding ceremony and event can still be a formal affair regardless of guest count.
Less traditional - A micro wedding isn’t traditional and some of the typical wedding traditions may not make sense. For example, if you want a dance party a micro wedding may not work great if your favorite family members aren’t big dancers or partiers. Or, if you want a traditional bouquet toss to single ladies but you didn’t invite any, you may need to put a creative spin on the traditions.
Potential for less support - As vendors, they may not think that they need to have as many staff on site or bring as much support with them as they would for a typical wedding and this can cause potential issues if problems arise on site because there will be fewer people available to fix things. This isn’t always the case or a problem but it could be so be sure to read over contracts carefully to guarantee that you’re getting the best service possible for your big day.
Micro weddings are a fantastic way to show those that care most about you that you care about them as well. Giving them an intimate experience is so valuable in this day and age when quality time isn’t quite as valued as it should be. When making your guest count, don’t be afraid to go small!
