The pandemic has robbed us of many things, the biggest of which is big events and gatherings. While it may certainly feel like a loss—many of us miss concerts and other large-scale gatherings, after all—it can also be a gift, depending on how you see it.
One of the biggest industries affected by the pandemic was the wedding industry, with industry professionals having to find ways to pivot and still provide couples with a day they will never forget, despite gathering restrictions. If there is an upside to all of this, it’s that we were able to prove that it’s still possible to have an incredible wedding, even if you’re limited to fifty guests and less.
We also learned that you could do many more things with a micro wedding than a regular one. If you’re getting married this year and your state might impose a gathering restriction soon, here are some unique and creative micro-wedding ideas you and your spouse-to-be can try.
Opt for one long, family-style table
Instead of opting for small round tables, go for a long, family-style table that can sit all of your guests. Ask your event rental vendors if they can place all their resources, creativity, and styling on that one long table instead of opting for smaller tables that won’t allow for interaction.
A long table can help all of your guests feel included, and it will allow them o get to know the other people in your life. Long tables will help keep everyone together, especially at an intimate wedding where the whole point is to enforce relationships and love for family. Just make sure that everyone is safe by making sure that everyone is seated at least six feet apart.
Have a sunrise wedding
Having fewer people on your wedding day means that you will only be having guests that are near and dear to you and your betrothed, which means these are the people who would be willing to wake up at the wee hours of the morning to be at your big day. If you and your fiancé are morning people, or if the sunrise holds a lot of meaning for the both of you, then why not tie the knot under these conditions? The photos will certainly look incredible thanks to the golden hour, and the wedding will be finished so early, you and your new spouse will have the rest of the day to celebrate in privacy.
Give everyone personalized wedding favors
Another special idea you can do at a micro-wedding that you can’t necessarily do at a bigger wedding is to give everyone personalized wedding favors or gifts. Because you will be sure to know every guest at the wedding, you will have more insight into what type of gifts would make them happy, or they would be able to find a use for. Because there are less than fifty people, you and your spouse-to-be will have more time and financial resources to buy special gifts for them. Bonus points if you and your fiancé can give them handwritten notes to thank them for coming to the wedding.
Choose an unconventional venue
Because there will be less than fifty people, you may be able to get away with having them trek to the mountains to watch you get married or even spend a day in the woods to celebrate your big day with you. Some ideas of non-conventional venues include:
- The woods, like somewhere in Big Sur
- A recording studio or music store, if you and your fiancé love music
- Local cafes, if you have a love for your town or neighborhood and want to support small businesses
- A national park with a lake
Lean into the intimacy by making it more meaningful
One thing that smaller weddings have that large-scale weddings don’t is the feeling of intimacy and coziness. Lean into this feature by not skipping the more meaningful parts of the ceremony like your personalized vows and even honoring your parents or families. It’s not about making your guests cry; it’s about ensuring that you and your fiancé get to make the wedding more meaningful for both of you, whichever way it’s achieved.
Final Thoughts
If you are an introvert, letting go of the idea of having hundreds of guests at your wedding might be hard, but know that you will be letting go of plenty of drawbacks as well. Give a micro-wedding a chance, and you might find it would be the most magical wedding you can have.
