A Guide to Planning Your Dream Small, Intimate Wedding
With the current restrictions and people becoming more personalised with their wedding plans, small weddings are rising in popularity. No longer are we looking for ways to invite our third cousin, twice removed. And, no longer are we willing to pay money for estranged friends we haven’t seen in many years. Planning a smaller wedding may seem less challenging but it takes nearly the same amount of preparation. This is why we’ve pulled together this guide to help you do just that.
How many people attend a small wedding?
Also known as a micro wedding, small and intimate wedding celebrations are attended by a minimum of 30 guests. Legally, you require two witnesses to get married here in the UK so the rest of the guests will be those you have chosen to spend your special day with. Having such a small guest list allows you to bring together those who truly get your relationship. It could be close family members who have watched you and your loved one grow together. Or, it could be the friends around you who are close enough to be your brothers and sisters. Whoever you choose, there is a unique beauty in having a small and intimate wedding.
What are the benefits?
At the time of publication, restrictions in the UK impact the number of guests who can attend a wedding. However, aside from legalities, there are many reasons why a micro wedding may appeal.
- Cost – Planning a smaller wedding with a smaller venue, fewer decorations and fewer accessories will significantly reduce your budget needs.
- Intimacy – For some, being in front of a large crowd isn’t what’s important. It’s muttering those two special words in front of people that, you know, will feel the love just as much as you do.
- Relaxed – With fewer people to organise and worry about, you and your small group of guests are sure to have a much more relaxed day.
- Socialising – It’s so much easier to spend time with, and enjoy, every single one of your guests when working with a smaller group. You’ll have time to talk to them and make memories.
- Fewer Restrictions – With larger weddings, there are strict guidelines on timings to make sure everyone is seated or in the right place at the right time. These go out of the window with smaller weddings – you can flow through with greater ease.
Is a micro wedding for you?
Should you significantly drop your guest numbers and opt for a micro-wedding? As with any decision of this magnitude, the choice is entirely up to you. We recommend considering how this smaller celebration could benefit you.
- Perhaps you’re desperate for a location wedding but know many of your guests won’t be able to make it.
- Perhaps you’re not overly close to family or don’t have a large circle of friends.
- Perhaps you need to control and minimise the budget as much as possible.
- Perhaps you’d rather budget more money towards other areas, such as entertainment or the dress.
- Perhaps large crowds feel very intimidating to you or your partner.
- Perhaps you’re conscious of your carbon footprint.
Any of these reasons may be enough to make a micro-wedding the new celebration of your dreams.
How to plan your small micro-wedding
Once you’ve decided that an intimate wedding day is on your list, now comes time to plan. With fewer guests, you’ll likely find things easier and less stress-filled to plan. But it’s still important that you cover all areas so that you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour. Let’s look at them here.
Choosing a venue
It’s true that you have more versatility when it comes to finding a venue for fewer people. However, you also may have to give up dreams of that large stately home. To make a profit, many venues have a minimum capacity. This won’t stop you from finding a beautiful and equally cherished venue. Think outside of the box. Many art theatres, restaurants or gardens allow weddings for small numbers – bonus points if the venue has particular meaning to you and your other half.
Invite the people you care about
Make sure that the people you invite are those you simply couldn’t get married without. Don’t feel obliged to extend an extra invitation. Consider whether, in 10 years from now, you’d be upset that someone didn’t come to your wedding. If not, then they probably aren’t essential to your big day. Your guest list is entirely personal to you, so whether that means 30 or 60 guests, just make sure each and everyone plays a very important and cherished role in your lives.
Ignore Plus Ones
Offering everyone a plus 1 is great when you have the guest capacity to handle it. However, micro-weddings are designed to be intimate. Consider not having them for your guests. The beauty of this in smaller settings is that everyone is likely to know each other and understand your reasonings.
Consider the importance of a bridal party
If you’re whittling down your guest list to those closest to your heart, consider whether you need a bridal party. Again, it’s an entirely personal choice but this could be a good way to save on costs if you’re working on a small budget. You could give a special title to one guest and have them alongside you when you tie the knot.
Micro-weddings are predicted to continue rising in popularity. The intimacy and eco-friendly nature mean they perfectly align with today’s couples. If you’re looking to celebrate with a small group of friends, a marquee erected in a garden or special location could be the perfect spot. If you would like to speak to a member of our team about the options, please do get in touch with Carron Marquees today.
