How to Plan the Ultimate Micro Wedding
DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER // INTIMATE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER // FLORIDA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER // NEW MEXICO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
More and more couples are gravitating toward micro weddings, not only because they are budget friendly, but more so due to them craving a more personalized and intimate experience with their loved ones for their wedding day. A micro wedding is best described as a scaled down version of a traditional wedding. This kind of celebrating is perfect for couples that want to have an intimate celebration and a thoughtful guest experience. Due to being a budget-friendly alternative to big weddings, couple’s can invest more in vendors and elements that they truly care about and speak to them! They can even host their wedding at smaller and more unique venues that a larger guest count could not accommodate!
When it comes to planning a wedding, regardless of the size, it is an undertaking and can be hard to navigate! So how about we talk about it? Budgets, possible location options, how to narrow down your guest list, and various vendors to enhance your wedding day celebration—we’re going to get into all of it! Hopefully this will give you some insight, direction, and inspiration for your wedding planning journey!
Table of Contents
5 Steps to Planning a Mirco Wedding
Step 1: Establish Your Budget
Step 2: Choose a Location/Venue
Unique and Romantic Micro Wedding Venue Ideas
Step 3: Find Your Photographer
Step 4: Make Your Guest List
How to Narrow Down Your Guest List
Things to Remember…
Questions to Ask About Each Guest
Step 5: Choose Specialty Vendors
Specialty Vendors Create an Incredible Wedding Experience
Decor: Event Designer, Florist, Rentals
Food/Drink: Food Trucks, Private Chefs, Mixologists
Entertainment: Live Band, Tattoo Artists, Fireworks
Are you ready to start planning your Mirco Wedding?
5 Steps to Planning a Micro Wedding
1. Establish your budget
2. Choose a location/venue
3. Find your photographer
4. Make your guest list
5. Hire specialty vendors
Step 1: Establish Your Budget
The average micro wedding is $10,000-$15,000, while the average cost for a traditional wedding is $30,000. Of course budget isn’t the only appeal to having this type of scaled down wedding, but it’s certainly a bonus! Break down your budget based on where you’re hosting, how many people will be attending, things you have to have, and things that you want to splurge on! Typically photographers are the biggest part of your budget and unlike traditional weddings where location is the other chunk of your budget you have more wiggle room with the location cost for a micro wedding!
Step 2: Choose a Location/Venue
Fewer guests equals more unique wedding venue options to choose from! Some locations don’t need much dressing up, because the location is already so beautiful and speaks for itself or it becomes a part of the wedding day experience. Pick a location that speaks to your personality as a couple, will accommodate the number of guests you’re considering, and will enhance your wedding day as a whole.
Unique and Romantic Micro Wedding Venue Ideas
Botanic gardens
Museums
Historic Estates
Wineries
Lodge/ B&B’s
National Forests/Parks
Airbnbs (check out this blog detailing how to host an airbnb mirco wedding!)
Step 3: Find Your Photographer
It is NEVER too soon to find your wedding photographer, especially if they’re a more popular wedding photographer! Typically they book anywhere from 9-18 months in advance. Photographers are also a wealth of knowledge from recommending vendors they’ve worked with in the past, helping you structure your day, and have resources to help you with planning different aspects of your wedding. I may know a pretty amazing photographer that takes incredible photos, loves to help planning, and is overall pretty cool. You guessed it—it’s me!
Step 4: Make Your Guest List
How to Narrow Down Your Wedding Guest List
Typically a mirco wedding is under 50 people, BUT that’s not a hard rule. The focus is on scaling down a traditional wedding and creating an intimate experience for your guests and you! Now comes the hard part… actually making the list. I know, the idea of narrowing down your guest list can be intimidating, so let me help you out!
Remember that…
…ultimately this day is about you.
…the people there should enhance your experience.
…you can always celebrate with more people after the fact.
…this is an intimate celebration and people will understand your decision.
Questions to ask yourself about each guest you’re thinking of inviting to your wedding:
Would I miss them on my wedding day?
How involved are they in my life?
Do they know both my partner and I?
Is there a sense of obligation to invite them?
Are there any negative emotions attached to our relationship?
Step 5: Choose Specialty Vendors
Specialty Vendors Create an Incredible Wedding Experience
One of the exciting things about hosting a micro wedding is that you have room in your budget to splurge on specialty vendors that will really make the day an unforgettable and special experience for everyone attending. Why not spoil yourselves and spoil your guests a bit!? Between decor, food/drinks, and entertainment there are countless vendors worth incorporating into your day!
Decor
Whether you want the whole kit and kaboodle or just a little extra spice there is a decor vendor out there to personalize your wedding space, bring your vision to life, and create a gorgeous setting!
Event Designer
If you have a specific vision that you want to bring to life then an event designer is a must! They can outsource different materials needed, help you work on your budget, wrangle other vendors, and perfectly set up everything on your wedding day!
Florist
Although florals are often given, many couples take advantage of the extra room in their budget to incorporate more flowers whether that’s through an arch, statement pieces throughout the event site, picture walls, and lush table florals.
Rentals
Whether you need beautiful seating, an altar, table settings, or tents there are beautiful and stylish rentals available. Typically couples will ask family or friends to help them transport and set things up on their wedding day!
Food/Drinks
Calling all foodies! Instead of hiring a traditional caterer you have so many fun options for your micro wedding to make the food and drinks a part of the wedding day experience.
Food Trucks
Why choose between chicken, fish, and veggies when you can hire a food truck or two with delicious menus of your favorite foods! Not only is it delicious, but it’s so fun for your guests and makes for super cute photos!
Private Chefs
If you’re looking to have a smaller micro wedding than why not have a big sit down dinner, family style? A private chef can create a specialty menu for you with multiple courses for you and your loved ones to enjoy!
Mixologists
Instead of your traditional beer and wine wedding, you can hire a mixologist to make cocktails off of a menu you craft together or create specialty drinks for your guests on the fly!
Entertainment
With there being less people in attendance there is more downtime and less commotion so couples will opt for things to entertain everyone during the cocktail hour and reception!
Live Band
Smaller live bands are a great option for couples that want to have a romantic feel when they walk down the aisle, to give their reception some pep, and to get their guests dancing—it creates a fun environment for everyone!
Tattoo Artist
A newer trend for couples is hiring a tattoo artist for their micro wedding during their cocktail hour and reception! They’ll work with the artist to create a specialty flash sheet of very small tattoos that will take less than 30 minutes each.
Fireworks
Talk about ending the night with a bang! You can hire someone to put on a fireworks show for you. There is something whimsical and enchanting about them that everyone is sure to enjoy.
Are you ready to start planning your Mirco Wedding?
Truly there are countless ways to personalize a micro wedding and incorporate different aspects that will make it an unforgettable experience for everyone! If you’re going to celebrate your love, why not make it the party of a lifetime with all of the things and people you love most? Throughout the wedding planning process I hope you have fun and are building excitement for the wonderful day you have planned. This is the time to celebrate your hearts out, so make it count!
Wanna send me an invite or hire me to capture your wedding day celebration?
[…] weighing your options? Here’s a guide to How to Plan the Ultimate Micro Wedding, including unique location ideas, guest list advice, and a planning […]