As a wedding photographer, I want to keep it real with you. Planning a wedding can be expensive, exhausting, and can suck all the fun out of your big day before it even arrives. I’m sure you and your partner have joked about running away to Vegas to just “get it over with”, but is that really what you want? Your wedding day should be special and memorable. If you’re not ready to throw all wedding traditions out the window and want to keep things small and simple, I have a solution for you: a micro wedding.
What is a Micro Wedding?
A micro wedding is an intimate affair with no more than 50 guests–often immediate family and super-close friends only. This means you can keep all time-honored traditions that make a wedding but on a much smaller scale! Think of a micro wedding as a cross between an elopement and a big traditional wedding!
Should You Have a Micro Wedding?
Couples choose to have micro weddings for various reasons. Some couples prefer to keep their guest list small and have a more intimate celebration, while others love how much money you can save and less wedding planning stress! With a micro wedding, you can focus more on the smaller details to make you and your guests feel special!
What Are Some of the Benefits of a Micro Wedding?
- It’s a great middle-ground between an elopement and a traditional wedding. Micro weddings are perfect for couples who love the intimate feel of an elopement but want more loved ones present. Why should you have to choose between two people or two hundred?
- More room in the budget. The costs for a micro wedding tend to range from as low as $1,500 to $10,000. That is significantly less than a traditional ceremony and reception! A traditional wedding is estimated to be well over $30,000 according to The Knot. This leaves room for focusing on the details of your wedding and making your guests feel special.
- A more meaningful experience. Opting for a smaller wedding allows more time to connect with guests individually and make real memories with them. Couples typically invite their closest family and friends to celebrate. Imagine how special you would feel as a guest to be included in that!
- Vendors LOVE you. Tons of wedding vendors love when they get to work on smaller weddings. This will allow them to offer a more personalized experience to you and your guests.
“With fewer guests comes less work, fewer opinions and people to please, less budget required, and more options in terms of spaces to celebrate,” says Jove Meyer, owner and creative director of Jove Meyer Events.
Best Venues for Micro Weddings
It is smart to find and book your dream venue first! Then you can tailor your guest list to fit all of your favorite people! With a micro wedding, you can get creative with venue choices. Here are a few of my favorites:
- A favorite restaurant, bar, or winery (book a private dining area or rent out the space for a night)
- A garden, greenhouse, or a dreamy backyard
- A beloved travel destination
- A ranch, barn, or a rooftop overlooking the city
- A cozy mountain chalet
If you decide to do a destination wedding, be sure to check up on any marriage laws in the country! Officials may require that couples bring specific documents, like their birth certificate to receive a marriage license.
Oregon Micro Wedding & Couples Photographer │Mark Gowen
If you have made it this far and you’re ready to start planning your micro wedding, let’s chat! Email me at hello@markgowen.co or follow me on Instagram at @markgowen! I am ready to capture your love story and create an experience you will never forget.
Check out a few of my favorite micro weddings
