There are so many reasons to choose an intimate tiny or “micro” wedding over a big wedding day — and I want to help break down what that might look like so that you can begin dreaming up your own special day!
Let's start here…
WHAT EVEN IS A MICRO WEDDING?
Well, if you’ve been planning a wedding leading into the year 2020, then you probably know this phrase! Micro weddings (or sometimes called Minimonies) bloomed out of this crazy COVID-19 season of weddings. These intimate days have been a lifesaver this year, and also a catalyst for something SO incredibly special. They’re essentially a wedding day that usually have no more than 30 or so guests, and are either somewhat reflective of a normal wedding day’s events — OR — they are designed fully and completely unique to you, casting aside any traditional norms that you feel don’t fit (my favorite kind of day)!
WHY A MICRO WEDDING?
There’s something so special about boiling down a day to the details that matter most to YOU. These tiny wedding days give room for your creativity to go wild — you can build this to be anything you want and need. Micro weddings are a dream for lovers of all things nontraditional, there are no expectations and the day is flexible in both timeline, events, location, and overall feeling.
These kind of days are truly about presence over perfect — they are about being laid back and soaking up all the precious moments with your partner, family, and close friends who surround you and celebrate you. These are the days that are about a walk through the forest as your ceremony, a champagne shot cheers to “seal the deal,” and about chasing each other with sparklers barefoot on the beach. No two days look alike, because no two couples are exactly the same. It’s about the forests, deserts, clifftops, oceans, or whatever space makes you feel most YOU.
ps. scroll to the end for a few examples
A FEW TIPS //
INVITE LIST - Spend some time thinking about WHO you want there. Then, maybe you can create a website with details to share with everyone who isn’t able to attend the intimate event. Perhaps that even means hiring a videographer to create a reel of your micro wedding to share with everyone who couldn’t be there.
DAY OF EVENTS - This is somewhat similar to an elopement, in that you get to structure what components make up the timeline of the day. That could look like nothing about your day has traditional aspects to it, or that could mean you pick and choose what pieces you want or don’t want from a “normal” wedding day. For example, for my sister in law’s micro wedding, they chose to to do their ceremony as a “journey” through the woods — they walked trails from one marked location to the next, each space was a piece of the ceremony where one of their friends or family would speak. This was a super unique exerpience, one that was so memorable and sacred. See below to check out the full day!
VENDOR LIST - Choose vendors who you feel like “complete” the vision of your day. Have a favorite sentimental restaurant? Order from there! Want a unique installation of florals? Hire a creative florist who can bring that to life! Bring in the people who will be there for you, guide you, and support you through the process.
MAKING IT MEANINGFUL - This is what matters. Make sure you are creating a day that is meaningful to you — from the biggest to tiniest details. Things like, do you want to share a meal together? Is there music that creates a special atmosphere? This is an excerpt from BRIDES editorial about creating a more personal environment for everyone there… “while you’re thinking about adding those meaningful touches, do so for your guests, too. ‘Write handwritten notes to every guest to place at their seat…’ ‘Or consider hand-painting each invitation instead of having them printed.’ It’s much easier to add those really special touches for 12 people than it is for 200! And since you’ve gone through the trouble of narrowing your guest list down so far, you’re guaranteed to have a super-close connection to every guest, making those little touches all the more meaningful.”
LOCATION IDEAS //
This is probably a great place to begin. The “where” for your special wedding day. Micro weddings are great in that they allow for a bit more flexibility as far as space and location. First, start by talking with each other, where do you envision yourselves getting married? What is the backdrop? What is the setting? Once you follow those trains of thought for a while, then it’s time to dive into the more practical side of things — finding the EXACT location. A few places to check out are…
Hipcamp — Great for finding large properties, awesome if you want to make a whole weekend event out of it! Typically they’ll have space to either set up tents, trailers, RVs, etc.
Airbnb — Similarly great for long weekend events! Make sure you always double check with the host about having small events on site. Airbnbs offer so much with property, a space to get ready, a kitchen, bathrooms… they are so great for small weddings!
Peerspace — This is a place to search for smaller, nontraditional venue type spaces. This might be a good spot to look too if you’re feeling more urban vibes.
Want more specifics or something off the grid with AMAZING views? Message me!! I have a whole list!
DECOR INSPIRATION //
This is where creativity gets really fun — you can go as much or as little as you want with this! One thing I’ve been sharing with my couples lately is — ETSY — get. on. that. There are so many amazing artists and designers on there that are running tiny businesses and making incredible things!! You can find things from invite paper goods to gorgeous wedding dresses and attire. You can even find super unique things like handmade velvet ties or customized wedding jewelry. It’s endlessly amazing. Not only are you finding special details, but you’re also supporting small businesses.
Here are also some Pinterest Boards I’ve put together with fun decoration ideas to get inspired —
Ok so… we’ve chatted about Micro Weddings.
DO YOU WANT TO SEE A FEW INTIMATE WEDDING DAYS?
click on the galleries below to experience the full story and get inspired!
PAIGE & BRENDEN
A-Frame Cabin Wedding at Mt. Rainier
KAYCI &
DALLIN
An intimate Oregon coast wedding
HILARY & THANI
Intimate, Whimsical Forest Wedding
MALLORY & ROBBIE
Urban, Portland Tiny Wedding
IAN & AMALIA
Tropical Maui, Hawaii Tiny Wedding
CARLEE & AARON
Rocky Beach Front Tiny Wedding
PAUL & AMANDA
Portland, Waterfront Intimate Wedding
ALYSSA & SANTI
Redwood National Forest Tiny Wedding
Call it what fits best — intimate, tiny, or micro wedding — this day is ALL YOURS and so incredibly special! Let’s piece your ideas together and make some magic!
I have so many resources to help you structure this day effortlessly, I’m here for the journey of it all — so feel free to reach out with ANY and ALL questions!
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