Creative Micro Weddings: Practical Advice
If you’re planning to go ahead with your 2021 wedding, this post is perfect for you. As it stands, large weddings are a little way off at the moment. While this is the case, a micro wedding is the ideal solution for those of you still keen to get married. In fact, the micro wedding is growing in appeal with many couples now preferring it to a big wedding. Of course, a micro wedding may not be what you thought your original wedding day would look like. The great news is that you can still plan a creative, joyful and personalised wedding; one that you and your guests can get really excited about.
Side note: one of the greatest benefits of a reduced guest list is the saving you can potentially make whilst still going all out. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how far your money can go. With careful planning, your original fund can go towards a spectacular micro wedding with enough left over to channel elsewhere.
Let’s get planning…
Work From the Guidelines
Before you start planning, be sure to stick to the current guidelines because that’s the only thing any of us can be sure of at any given time. By the time your wedding comes around, these restrictions may have been relaxed. Do keep up to date with the guidance. It’s changing regularly. If you have a planner onboard, they’ll be able to support with this; your planner will keep on top of the ever changing regulations, keep you right and ensure a safe environment for you and your guests.
Self Care
Most couples experience moments of stress during wedding planning. It’s arguably more of a rollercoaster when planning during a pandemic. Therefore, make peace with the fact that by choosing to plan a 2021 wedding, you’re making a decision that could see you need to adapt your plans at short notice to come into line with current government guidance. In making that commitment, it’s essential to look after your own well-being. Uncertainty and enforced change can be emotionally draining; even when you’ve prepared for all eventualities. For some, that might mean being diligent in doing that online yoga class. For some, it might be retreating into a good book for 30 minutes. For others, it might be heading to the hills for a run. Whatever works for you, be sure you make it an essential part of your routine in order to help alleviate any stress your wedding planning might throw up.
Roll Your Wedding Over Two Days
A genius idea that I can’t take credit for. More couples are choosing to have a larger number of guests by spreading their wedding festivities over a few days. There’s nothing stopping you from having a family day one day with a friends day the next. I even know of folks who are having a family day and two separate friends days in order to accommodate all of their original guest list. Their budget is exactly the same as their original one day larger sized wedding yet they’re able to enjoy a three day wedding!
Include the Guests You’ve Had to Uninvite
Asking those originally invited to no longer come is possibly one of the hardest parts in all of this. Be reassured that your friends and family will be sympathetic to this. This is a situation that has nothing to do with you. Your loved ones know this. A number of my couples still want to include these guests and there are a few ways this can be done in a meaningful way. Send them a hand-written note expressing your disappointment at having to decline their original invitation whilst expressing your excitement at them being a part of your day, albeit at a distance. Most couples I’m working with are live-streaming their ceremony and are hiring a professional videographer to take on this responsibility. One of my couples plan to share a paper copy of their vows along with their wedding breakfast playlist with virtual guests. If budget allows, a miniature of their favourite tipple and maybe some sweets or Bare Bones chocolate to eat and drink following on from your live-streamed ceremony is a lovely touch.
Reassure Your Guests in Advance
Understandably, some of your guests might be nervous about a wedding; even a micro wedding. Everyone has their own emotional response to Covid so it’s worthwhile acknowledging their concerns in advance and help create excitement around your plans. Send out a wee ‘get ready for our wedding’ pack. An obvious start point is a note highlighting what you have in place to keep folks safe. Make it beautiful by getting a skilled modern calligraphy artist onboard: Brahmin Lettering and Porter & Bramble are legends. A sketch of your venue along with the seating plan(s) would also be handy to have. I have lots of other ideas around this topic which I’m helping couples with.
Signage to Establish Intention and tone
It’s worthwhile establishing your Covid ‘rules’ from the outset. It’s unsurprising that people can forget safety practice so having beautifully crafted signs can gently, and politely, reinforce what you’re expecting from your guests. Having a wedding planner means that you don’t have to worry about enforcing the rules. They can do that for you, leaving you to kick back and relax.
Welcoming Socially-Distanced Seating Arrangements
This one seems a bit too obvious but it’s worth revisiting. Help your guests maintain their personal space with strategic seating. Chairs will need to be distanced. You can cluster a household together. Beyond that basic principle, a planner can help you ‘work’ your space into a delightful and welcoming ceremony environment. It can be done and you’ll find your planner will have some incredible ideas for seating and styling. A similar point applies to your meal seating. A trestle table is a firm favourite for micro wedding couples. This style allows all guests to be seated at the same table and can be arranged to ensure social distancing is established. Go all out on styling too to create a greater sense of intimacy between you and your guests.
Stand Out Ceremony Spot
Transform the area of your ceremony into a truly beautiful spot. You can achieve a sense of intimacy as well as making the aesthetics a delight for your guests. Your wedding planner will have a plethora of suggestions best suited to your space. Pampas grass, hand-written sign, festoon lighting, outdoor rugs can all be used to create a focal point. Sustainability is always to be encouraged to hire rather than making a one time purchase. Companies like Brolly Bucket and Virginias Vintage Hire are my go-to hire companies.
Flowers by Vintage Gathering
Transport Your Guests
Public transport is allowed. If your ceremony and reception venues are in different locations, you could consider hiring some form of public transport to take your guests between the two. This is a fantastic way of kick-starting your party. Why not start your playlist on the journey and share a drink?
Entertaining Your Guests
This is the area couples are struggling with the most. Many feel saddened at the prospect of forgoing a big party. That needn’t be the case. Smaller weddings ARE just as fun. It’s all about perspective. Before we move on, let me make a couple of points on this. Remember, the essence of a wedding is the people. Your people. You will be gathering with an intimate group of those you love the most. Conversation is always freer and easier than in a big crowd. You’ll have more time to therefore you’ll get to speak to everyone. Your conversations will be longer and better quality.
You might still be keen to inject a little structure to your day so here’s a list of a few ways you can do this without it being too formatted:
Music is allowed. There’s plenty of alternative options to the traditional wedding band that I can help with here
An end of evening fireworks display is proving popular with lots of couples and this needn’t break the bank
What about having a few contactless games? Current favourites include limbo, charades, Simon Says, and, of course, musical statues
Who can resist churros or a chocolate fountain? This can be Covid compliant by following a few simple steps including having your guests picking up a shot glass to catch the chocolate sauce in - double-dipping is officially banned
Wine tasting; gin tasting; coffee tasting…you get my point
Dinner party games: Who am I?
Kick the Party Off With A Cocktail Hour
The traditional drinks reception could elevated to a cocktail hour. For cocktails, look no further than The Dispensary Bar. Nothing adds excitement quite like a dry ice cocktails post ceremony along with a hot air balloon! This could be coupled with a mobile piano bar like the inimitable Rusty’s Travelling Piano Bar.
Have An Incredible Meal
GO ALL OUT! This is always going to be my biggest piece of advice to couples who are opting micro over a big wedding. You’re going to save a significant amount on your budget by reducing your numbers. Nothing will create a stand-out day in the same way as a stand-out meal. You no longer have time constraints so it’s probably worth adding an extra knock-out course. Inject longer breaks between course. There’s no rush! Be sure to work with your caterer to elevate your original meal plan. Going all out here for a smaller number of guests will cost you far less than an a nice meal for a large group of people.
Confetti
As it stands, hand held confetti isn’t advisable. Don’t fear! You can still include confetti. There’s two easy alternative options because incorporating confetti into your wedding day is simply a must in my book. It’s such a happy, high energy event which allows your photographer to capture this wonderful moment. Instead of holding confetti in your hand and throwing it are: confetti canons and packaged confetti which you throw from the packet directly. Make sure you check that your venue allows confetti and opt for biodegradable confetti and packaging.
Sparkler Exit
Similar to confetti, sparklers are a high energy moment and a brilliant way to mark the end of your wedding day. Social distancing needs to be adhered in normal times when executing a safe sparkler exit so it’s an entirely reasonable option.
Show Stopping Cake(s)
Who doesn’t like cake? No-one. That’s who! Well, go all out. You can eat cake for days can’t you? There’s nothing stopping you from having a cake table with a whole range of your favourite types of cakes. Why stop at cake…you could have cupcakes, doughnuts, brownies, really anything else that takes your fancy.
Play Pre-Recorded Speeches
This is another brilliant way of including guests who can’t be with you. Firstly, you could have a few folks send a video to be played on your wedding day. Hand this duty over to someone else to ensure it’s a surprise on the day itself. Beyond that, you could pre-record your speeches to be shared with your guests who can’t be with you on the day. Upload them somewhere like Vimeo or YouTube and share the link with them.
Invest in Photography + Film
Another absolute must. Many couples opt to book a photographer rather than a videographer too due to budget. You might find you can afford both now and I’d always recommend that couples have at least one of these two. Whatever you do, make sure you have someone whose style and approach you love. Many photographers are offering flexible pricing for micro weddings by offering an hourly rate. You’ll also have more flex in your schedule so you can take some time with your photographer and videographer to create some incredible memories. As your numbers are smaller than originally intended, you could even include pockets of guests to be involved if you fancy.
