Microweddings are bringing new meaning to the term “Big Day” – if you’re getting married in 2020 and trying to save some money, it’s a trend you might want to get familiar with. 

So what is a “microwedding”, and why should you care? Let’s take a look at the trend fueled by a desire for simplicity and intimacy, and examine the perks of incorporating microwedding elements into your special day to create a more intimate feel for your special day. 

Micro-wedding vs Eloping 

A microwedding is not an elopement. Elopements are typically organized by the bride and groom in secret, and are usually only attended by a few witnesses. They may take place in a courthouse or a remote location away from family and friends and often don’t require much planning. 

A microwedding, on the other hand, has all the structure and elements of a traditional wedding (a photographer, a meal, deserts, possibly a DJ) just on a much smaller scale. 

A microwedding is a unique cross between an elopement and a traditional wedding. 

While this may seem a bit extreme, there are some perks to using a microwedding as a formula to create a more intimate occasion, without leaving special friends or family out of the fun. How can you successfully incorporate microwedding themes into your planning efforts? Let’s take a look. 

The Perks

Overall trends towards minimalism and simplicity are fueling the shift toward smaller weddings, but the perks below don’t hurt either!

The Cost

The biggest reason many are turning to smaller weddings is obviously the cost. 

According to The Knot, “the average cost for a wedding in 2016 was $35,329, with higher averages in places like South Florida ($48,596), Chicago ($60,035) and New York City ($78,464).” That’s a lot of money. While it’s a major milestone in your life, many are deciding they don’t want to drop that kind of dough on one day. But they still want all the pieces and traditions of a traditional wedding. This is where you can use elements from a microwedding. 

By scaling back on guests, you can save money on food, deserts, a venue, table and chair rental, and more. And you don’t need to go as small as 15-20 people to start seeing cost savings! Many venues, like Crystal Gardens, are happy to help plan a smaller, more intimate day rather than an overly crowded event. 

With a guest list of 200 or so people, it can be hard to spend quality time with anyone on your guest list. You might have people flying in from out of town but you’ll barely get to say hello before you have to move on to the next person. A traditional microwedding simplifies your guest list by cutting it way down to 15-20, but you can capture that same feel without going that small (and you still get to invite all the people you want to invite!). 

With fewer people, you can get more time with the people who matter most. Instead of bouncing from person-to-person, and then being hit with major guilt later if you accidentally missed someone, you can relax and enjoy the day you decided to become husband and wife.

And with fewer people, some couples choose to spend more on things like food and experiences for their guests. A couple might choose to invite fewer guests so they can spend a little more on a quality whiskey and wine bar, or splurge on the desert.  

A smaller guest list can open up a world of possibilities!

Tip: Want a small wedding but still want to celebrate with family and friends? Try an intimate ceremony followed by a bigger celebration at a venue like Crystal Gardens. It’s a great way to get a small, romantic wedding but still celebrate with extended family and friends. 

Eliminates Decision Fatigue 

A giant wedding contains a lot of moving pieces. With a guest list made up of dozens of out-of-town guests, high school friends, and work friends, getting everyone where they need to be can get…complicated. You’ll need to make hundreds of decisions before the big day… don’t let decision fatigue take you down. 

A microwedding may need a lot of the same decisions as a large wedding (decor, types of food, bar, etc.) but it will require far fewer of them. And if you’re spending less money by inviting fewer guests, you can afford to take advantage of the planning services many locations like Crystal Gardens offer. Put your day in the hands of the professionals and cut back on the stress.

Be Prepared

While there are a lot of awesome reasons to scale back on your big day, there are still some things that will come up that you should be prepared for.

Be Prepared:

• For pushback: You might have family and friends who are upset that they won’t be invited to your big day. To be ready for this, just have a standard line you deliver to everyone about why this approach to your nuptials is important to you. 
• To give up a few things: If you’re cutting back to save money, be prepared to give up some things that might not make it into the final budget.  
• To expect the same prices from vendors: A photographer’s hourly rate will be the same (they will just have to be there for fewer hours) and some bakers might charge the same for a wedding cake no matter the size. Do your research so you’re prepared for the prices you might be quoted. 
• To register: You should still register, even if you’re having a smaller wedding. Those not attending might still want to honor your big day with a gift. 

If you want your big day to be big, then go for it. But if you’re looking to simplify, create an intimate space, and keep your day smaller, take some tips from the microwedding and let the Crystal Garden wedding planners help you create a worry-free, romantic, celebration.