There appears to be a growing divide on wedding extremism. As always, glitzy, extravagant, multi-day destination weddings are popular, with the ceremony taking place during an itinerary packed with extravagant activities and decorations.
Conversely, more and more couples are on the other end of the spectrum choosing minimalism as a way to express their special day.
But at the core is a desire for couples to celebrate the way they want, with no expectations and a YOLO attitude born of the uncertainty, isolation, and restrictions of the pandemic. And at its core, it’s about luxury (though luxury in a small wedding takes a different form than it does in a luxury destination wedding).
While it’s easy to understand the thinking behind thoroughly extravagant events, it may take a while to understand why couples choose to scale back the glitz and atmosphere of their big day. yeah. Let’s take a closer look at these small weddings and see what makes them special.
Downsize your big day
There are three main types of scaled-down weddings: micro weddings, elopements, and pop-up weddings.
What makes a wedding “micro” is up to interpretation, but the deciding factor is that this wedding is much smaller than average. Mackenzie Taylor, founder of Las Vegas wedding coordination company Cactus Collective Weddings, defines a microwedding as one with 50 or fewer guests. Basically, a micro wedding has all the characteristics of a traditional wedding, but on a much smaller scale.
Anna Treimer, founder of Wildly Connected Photography, says elopement is a little difficult to define because it varies for many couples. Some couples invite up to 20 guests, while others do not invite any guests and spend the day with just the couple and their partner. The word “elopement” may conjure up images of escaping to a glamorous Las Vegas chapel to get married, but these days, these types of weddings are becoming more elegant and purposeful. Over time, the stigma of elopement is fading.
Finally, a pop-up wedding involves couples attending a simple ceremony in a temporary venue, prepared and facilitated by a single wedding coordination team. This allows multiple couples to get married at the same venue on a date that would otherwise be difficult to book due to limited availability. Pop-up weddings have a theme, decorations are set up, bouquets and boutonnieres are provided, and a host, photographer, and coordinator are on hand to take care of everything. Couples simply register for one of the slots and attend a simple, stress-free ceremony.
Festivals surrounding the ceremony are also often reduced in scale. Couples often choose to swap receptions and eat out or hire a personal chef to cook for them at their vacation rental. The simpler each aspect of your wedding, the better.
Why less is more
There are many reasons to keep weddings to a minimum these days, but the original trend skyrocketed simply because it was the only option. Due to COVID-19, couples are either postponing their weddings indefinitely and waiting months, even years, or otherwise making the ceremony safer for everyone involved and limiting capacity. We had to make the difficult decision to scale back completely to meet our needs. In addition, supply chain issues meant we had to cut back on decorations and fixtures.
In light of this, Treimer says couples are realizing the benefits of inviting fewer guests and cutting down on their pre-wedding to-do lists. In a sense, the coronavirus has made small weddings the norm.
These days, keeping weddings to a minimum has become an empowering movement. Traimer points out that traditional weddings come with a lot of external pressure and expectations. “No matter what, they [decide]someone in the family [will be] upset… [or the couple is] I’m worried about whether I can entertain people. You don’t have to worry about that on your wedding day. ”
As some Treimer couples near their goal, they realize their special day is becoming more stressful than fun, so they scrap everything and choose a minimalist approach instead. Some people do. “I just want to give you the best high-five!” she says. “People are starting to realize that they can do something outside of a traditional wedding that feels right to them. If the first dance doesn’t feel right, or if your relationship with your family is strained, Who wants to have a first dance with their parents in front of hundreds of people when they have a wedding?” Smaller weddings give couples the freedom to express themselves. “Throwing these small weddings allows you to basically do whatever you want.”
While not all small weddings are done on a tight budget, another advantage of small weddings is that they are expensive. By doing so, couples can save a significant amount of money that could be used for a honeymoon or cohabitation by throwing out excess items and investing in only the essentials. Given the current economy and inflation, Taylor said he doesn’t expect this downsizing to go away anytime soon, given the fears and uncertainties around costs.
Taylor further points out that “people are looking for quality over quantity,” and those getting married are hungry for great experiences, and those who can’t necessarily afford large-scale luxuries are often He pointed out that something would be created at the expense of people and budget. A halfway luxurious feel. By starting small, you don’t necessarily have to spread your money thin and can instead invest in some quality touches that will make your day feel luxurious.
Sustainability also plays a role in small weddings. Smaller weddings with fewer decorations, fewer invitations, and less of everything mean less waste. Pop-ups are especially eco-friendly, reusing the same wedding sets and props for multiple ceremonies.
Finally, in this age of quick response, small weddings allow you to decide on a wedding date more quickly from the time of proposal, find a venue, and plan the ceremony and reception in a short amount of time. The stress of doing so will be reduced. In other words, new york times published an article about “flash weddings.” Weddings are “usually planned within three months, sometimes within a week.” They are usually held in free locations, such as parks or beaches, and are usually inexpensive because they don’t have much formal decoration. Additionally, there are few guests to participate and it can be held on any day of the week. ” With many couples working on short schedules, a small wedding is a practical way to make your wedding both low-key and memorable.
small wedding plans
“An elopement planner may sound like an oxymoron, but it’s not at all,” says the WeddingWire article. As mentioned above, elopements have moved from spontaneous courthouse marriages to simple but purposefully elegant and minimalist ceremonies. Planners remain invaluable for couples downsizing their weddings. A planner will figure out the type of elopement, coordinate the location, work within the couple’s budget, connect the couple with the right vendors, help with design, and cover insurance costs. We check legality, create timelines, and provide support.
The legal aspect itself is important, but one that couples may not be aware of. For example, an outdoor elopement or ceremony requires permits for both the ceremony and filming and photography, along with an application fee. “A lot of people think of elopements as some sort of glorified portrait shoot where you can set up a table in the woods, but who cares?” Traimer says. says. But ignoring her permit could result in a fine, she warns. Legal requirements vary by state and location, so planners can reduce stress for couples by understanding and addressing the legal aspects of their ceremony.
Venue owner and former planner Donna Liston (Lumbermont Events), who caters small weddings, agrees that a planner is essential to a successful wedding.
“Just because it’s a small wedding doesn’t necessarily mean you’re on a small budget,” she says. “Many couples today want to make their event more intimate and meaningful and are planning smaller weddings. These couples also want to enjoy their day without stress. That’s where a planner is essential.”
Liston recommends using impactful language in your marketing and not minimizing the experience you offer just because you’re small. He should use words like “intimate,” “stress-free,” and “romantic,” and avoid words like “micro,” “small scale,” and “budget.” Small weddings are just as important as large weddings, so market them with the same enthusiasm as your average or large wedding. They are also often held on weekdays or Sundays, which means they can make up for the days you would normally not be booked, potentially generating significant profits.
According to Liston, the best way to approach planning a small wedding is to know why it’s important to your client. She asks the client her three questions.
- What is a dream wedding?
- How much is the budget?
- What are your priorities?
And be prepared to respond to whatever answer the client gives you.
“Don’t make assumptions and really listen,” Liston encourages. “Our job is to help couples focus on their priorities and have the wedding of their dreams within their budget. We tell our couples, ‘If it’s not important to you, don’t do it.’ If that’s what the client wants, we can work with them to get creative and start a new tradition.
With small weddings gaining traction, you may decide it’s time to add weddings to your company’s plans. By being creative and understanding each couple’s reasons for downsizing, you can turn a small ceremony into a big, memorable experience.