There are a lot of decisions to be made when getting married but first you have to start with the style of wedding that’s right for you. A small, intimate wedding also known as a micro-wedding may be the perfect fit for you and your fiancé.
When you think of a wedding, what comes to mind? Quite possibly you envision the big, traditional wedding with a beautiful bride and a dapper groom surrounded by 200 of their friends and family at a swanky soiree celebrating their love. But what if the guest list gets cut by half or even three-quarters? Mr. G and I had a small, intimate wedding and wouldn’t change it for the world. No matter the reason for considering a small wedding – the pandemic, a tight budget, or honestly it just suits you as a couple – don’t automatically rule out a small wedding to celebrate your love.
How did you decide to have a small wedding?
Mr. G and I decided that a small, intimate ceremony was the best decision for us, personally. While we wanted more than anything to celebrate with all 200 of our friends and family, after weighing the pros and cons (yes, we hung up a large sheet of paper on the wall, drew a chart…everything) a micro-wedding felt more our style. I could have all of the beautiful wedding details I had been dreaming of and there didn’t feel like there was as much pressure on the day. Some of the other pros on our list included the money (we were paying for the wedding ourselves), more focus on us (we love to travel and were more excited about the honeymoon), and our schedules (sometimes work just gets in the way).
What will my friends and family think?
Your friends and family will love you and be supportive of you no matter how you decide to celebrate your love. I’m not going to lie and tell you there weren’t some tough conversations with our friends and family. I also can’t tell you I didn’t cry over some hurt feelings. But, what I can tell you, over 90% of those we told about our upcoming wedding said 2 things: 1) Looking back on it, we wish we would have done that! 2) That fits your relationship / personalities so well!
Do I have to give up my dream wedding?
A small wedding at City Hall may not be the wedding you’ve dreamed about since you were a little girl. But, a small wedding doesn’t mean it can’t be elegant and full of the details you’ve always wanted. Micro-weddings started gaining popularity last year and now with the world completely changed in the midst of a pandemic, elopements and micro-weddings will grow even more in popularity.
If you’ve always dreamed of having flowers everywhere – do it! Again, a small wedding does not have to mean cutting out other aspects of the wedding. We kept most of the traditions of a large wedding, but did make sure to make the day our own. We didn’t have any attendants and only invited our immediate family – parents, siblings, and their children. Our day even included many of the same vendors a wedding of 200 would: photographer, venue, hair and makeup team, florist, cake designer, reverend, and more. And the day turned out perfect – we were married in front of a beautiful fireplace accentuated with candles and flowers surrounded by our loving family just like I had envisioned. The cake cutting tradition was also one I couldn’t pass up, so we made sure to have a ‘cake and punch’ type of reception.
Do you regret not having a big wedding?
Not one bit. We went with the decision that felt right for us. If you do think you can’t bear to have a wedding without a big reception. Why not have a small ceremony and then a reception or party at a later date? Or, maybe you know in your gut that it’s best for you two to postpone your celebration for a few months. There are multiple solutions and you’ll find the best one for you and your fiancé!
Remember – at the end of the day – the main focus of the wedding is your relationship, your love, and your journey. Nothing else matters and the details will all fall into place.
Vendors:
Photographer: Elizabeth Nord Photography; Venue: Barrington’s White House; Floral and Decor: Mayfield Flowers; Hair & Makeup: Bridal Brigade; Gown: David’s Bridal; Formalwear: Jos. A Bank; Tie: The Tie Bar; Monogram: Empress Stationery; Stationery: Bride; Cake & Sweets: Vanille Patisserie; Officiant: Chicago Wedding Guy; Drinking Glasses: Dish & Decor Vintage Rental
