What Does a Micro-Wedding Ceremony Look Like?

The beauty of planning a small-wedding (aka elopement) is that you have so much room for flexibility and personalization! The ceremony is no different. Generally speaking you’re going to get a group of 10-30 people together somewhere with a nice view, and maybe some privacy. You’re going to have a short and simple ceremony service, kiss, sign the license, then go somewhere to eat and celebrate! Let’s break it down…

Guest Count

This is a common question with small weddings, and seems to confuse people a lot, particularly with all the different terms like “Elopement” vs “Micro-Wedding”. There are no hard rules on the head count for either, but generally speaking the events we’re talking about are going to range from just the couple, to the couple plus up to 40 guests. At this group size you still have the casual vibe that gives you a lot of options and flexibility with your planning. Above 40 people, in my experience, is a bit of a crowd—you kinda just end up planning a regular wedding with less people.

Ceremony Site

There is really no rules! I’ve planned small weddings and elopements in countless different locations. Parks, mountaintops, beaches, forests, rental homes, boats, hot air-balloons, whatever you want! All you need is a space that can fit your group, offer some privacy, and has awesome views for photos.

Ceremony

Many couples have a hard time breaking free of the notion that their ceremony can be anything they want, and they aren’t bound by any cultural or religious expectations. For small weddings you simple need an officiant (friend or family member is fine, I have a guide to teach them here) who is going to read through a short script talking about love and marriage. You’ll also exchange vows, “I Do’s”, rings, and kiss! Just like a regular wedding, with less moving pieces and less time wasted. You can also get creative with the ceremony and add in readings from your friends, or a unity ceremony!

The Vows

You guessed my answer already —There is no rules, do whatever you want! Personally I like to have the couple repeat some of the traditional “I promise to always love you…” vows after the officiant, then if the couple wants to say something of their own, I have them write what I call “Love Letters”. This format tends to be more natural for couples, since you basically just get to say whatever you want to each other instead of tying to follow the concept of traditional “vows”.

The Marraige License

This may go without being said, but yes, small weddings are perfectly legal! You just have to get the marriage license and have your officiant sign it accordingly after the ceremony.

Processional & Recessional

This depends on the group size and preferences. Many small groups don’t have a bridal party standing up front, and generally just start with the groom and officiant already in position, and then the bride walks down (with or without an escort). Of course you can certainly have your bridesmaids and groomsmen do the whole traditional walk as well! Just make sure to have someone on a Bluetooth speaker. You don’t want to walk in silence.

Speeches, First Dance, & Cake Cutting

Many people are drawn to micro-weddings because of the option to skip out on some of the more traditional aspects of the day that they aren’t interested in. With that in mind, feel free to chop out any of these traditional elements! If you are looking to include these things, but don’t plan to have a traditional reception venue, consider incorporating these elements into/after/before the ceremony. I’ve had lots of my couples go to the to of a mountain, do the ceremony, do a short first dance, have their friends/family do the speeches, and even cut a small cake for photos, before heading down to a local brewery for dinner.

Reception

Most micro-weddings aren’t held at traditional ceremony/reception venues, so normally groups simply go to a local restaurant, brewery, or do a backyard reception. The reason for this is you really don’t need a dance floor and the traditional reception elements with such a small group. However, if your group is getting north of 40 people, or you just love dancing, considering trying to find an event facility that can provide a dancefloor!

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Why Micro-Weddings are Awesome…

Cost

Obviously, inviting less than 20 guests will cost significantly less than inviting 200. Apart from people, you can also cut on many other non-essential things to save money. This makes the budget one of the primary reasons why you should consider opting for a micro wedding.

Personal Experience

These types of celebrations give you more opportunities for a personalized experience, including the chance to spend more time with your loved ones. Having fewer people attending your event would mean that you will get to spend some time with each and every one of them, which adds to the personal and intimate feel.

Freedom

Large marriage celebrations usually come with many formalities and requirements. But when it comes to micro ones, you are allowed to think outside the box. These types of affairs give you more flexibility to use your creativity and come up with unique ideas.

Less Stress

There are many ways that a small wedding can reduce stress, and we’ll give you an example of the most obvious one- the guest count. Planning for 20 and 200 people is very different. And we are sure that simply stating these numbers already gives you an idea of how easier and less stressful it would be to organize an event for fewer people. There are fewer menu choices, fewer things to manage, and less stress to deal with.

Get Creative!

When you plan a more intimate affair, you can easily experiment with ideas and include or exclude different traditions. If you and your partner aren't traditional, consider choosing a theme for you and your guests so that they can dress accordingly. It can be an incredibly fun experience for all of you!