Small Weddings are the next BIG Thing!

Senior Event Manager, Glynis Keith (@CaterGrrrl) shares her thoughts on Micro Weddings…

The concept of Micro-Weddings (or fun-sized like the mini versions of my favorite candy bars!) is nothing new.  But, in the aftermath of Covid-19, it may just be the newest trend in nuptials. 

Over the past decade Micro-Weddings have been steadily growing in popularity.  Couples cite many reasons for choosing a smaller celebration – from economics to just wanting a more intimate experience.  Now you can add government restrictions on gathering and traveling as reasons to consider this option.

What is a Micro-Wedding

A Micro-Wedding is loosely defined as any wedding with 50 or fewer guests.  That’s it!  The rest is left for the creative bride and groom to define for themselves. And, with a smaller guest list the options for creating a celebration that reflects your personal styles are practically limitless.

Spaces once considered too small for larger weddings could be just perfect for your micro-wedding.  Do you want to get married on a mountaintop or in a garden? How about an art gallery or a yoga studio? Under a tent in your own backyard or on a nearby farm?  Your favorite brewery, a public park, a boat or an urban rooftop? 

Your ceremony can be as traditional or non-traditional as you want!  Imagine a ceremony where all of your guests have a front row seat as you exchange your vows, or, giving everyone present a reading to recite. 

And, speaking of guests, a smaller wedding gives you the opportunity to really connect with each and every person in the room.  Here’s how I break it down – Let’s say you have 200 guests for your 5 hour wedding.  Subtract 30 minutes for the ceremony and an hour for the cocktail hour.  That leaves you with 3 ½ hours for your reception.  Or, just over 1 minute to spend with each guest!  With fewer than 50 guests in attendance you’ll really be able to let each and every one of them know how very special they are. 

Sometimes, the budget is the driver of how large or small your wedding will be.  Fewer guests can add up to a lot of savings.  But, more often, brides and grooms are choosing to go all out for their micro-weddings while still saving money when compared to a much larger wedding.  According to The Knot 2019 Real Wedding Study, the number of guests at weddings has decreased year over year, but, the amount of spend per guest has increased.  Fewer guests give you more spending power to go BIG on style, whether it’s a designer wedding gown, top-rated entertainment, a 6-course plated dinner, over-the-top florals, top-shelf liquor and more. 

At Catering by Seasons, we’ve been partnering with some of our favorite venues and vendors to create small events that have a HUGE impact.  From amazing plated meals to backyard barbecues – no matter the size, we’re always big on FLAVOR.

There may be a surge in micro-weddings in 2020 and even into 2021 due to current world-wide conditions.  But, really it’s a concept whose time has come and I believe will just gain in popularity with or without a pandemic.  It’s the perfect example of less is more!

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