Thank the pandemic for helping make weddings smaller. The current trend of micro weddings – 50 guests or less – started shortly after COVID began, according to Springfield wedding planner Corrine Mayfield, co-owner of Shawfield Events & Design. "We saw micro weddings really take off after the start of the pandemic, when people were forced to have a smaller guest list. But then it became the preference of a lot of people to have more intimate weddings," she said. "Micro weddings keep your budget low and allow for the personalities of the couple to shine, so it's more personalized."
Today's average wedding costs about $30,000 for 150 guests, according to Brides magazine. Micro weddings can cost one-third of that, typically between $10,000 to $15,000.
"With a large wedding, most of the couple's time is taken up with talking to guests and thanking them for coming," Mayfield said. "With fewer guests, they can enjoy the event with them. It doesn't feel so formal."
Micro weddings are popular for second marriages, according to independent Springfield wedding planner Vicki Howard, but are also part of a larger downsizing trend. "People don't want to spend the money for a huge wedding. They take the money they'll receive (as gifts) and buy a home or go on a nice trip." Some of Howard's couples wanted the best of both options and had a micro-wedding, then a large reception later.
With fewer guests, you can be more creative about where you celebrate and how. Locally, Howard has planned a micro wedding in the Brinkerhoff Mansion. Mayfield has seen a lot at park district sites and private homes, "even places that hold sentimental value to the family," she said, such as a vacation home.
Other options include barns, art galleries, theaters, vineyards or restaurants. Some of her couples chose to get married at the courthouse, then have brunch at home or a small venue. Others had backyard weddings. If you're using any space besides your own, you'll need to get permission to use the location and pay any necessary fees.
A big benefit to small weddings is you can make the celebration more personal. Each guest can play a role in the event. You and your guests can play games together, for example, and take a group photo, something that's impractical with a lot of attendees.
Along with your guest list, your budget for decorations and flowers will likely be lower, too. Some couples use those savings to have a high-end meal, such as steakk and lobster. Others want to make their micro celebration less formal. "We're seeing a lot of family-style grazing tables rather than meals, so it's an elevated party," said Mayfield.
Another trend is combining a micro wedding with a destination wedding. Couples sometimes pick up part of their guest's travel or lodging costs, using the money they save by having a smaller guest list. One couple who posted about their experience on Reddit did that by paying for a large rental house for themselves and all 17 of their guests. Another had a beach destination wedding and paid for a sunset cruise for everyone immediately following the ceremony.
Small weddings sometimes have themes, such as rustic, Hollywood, cowboy, beach, the season of the year or any interest the couple has in common. Star Wars theme with light sabers, anybody?
While there are many advantages to a downsized bash – fewer thank you notes! – there is one big challenge, said Mayfield: the guest list. If you're a couple with a big family or lots of friends, this can be a struggle. But remember, the day is about you, what you want and what you can afford. If you want a more intimate, personal affair, approach your guest list this way, suggests Junebugwedddings.com: "Which guests can you not imagine your wedding day without?"
"The benefit of the micro wedding is for the couple who really has the strength to do what feels right to them and not fall prey to standard wedding conventions," said Mayfield. "If large, over-produced weddings don't fit with your personality," plan a small one, she advised.
A downsized celebration also lets the couple focus more on themselves. "I feel that sometimes people spend too much money on the wedding and not enough on each other, and they can end up in a divorce before the wedding is paid for. I've had that happen before," added Howard.
If big crowds aren't your thing, if you'd like to spend less, if you want a more intimate wedding day and possibly less stress, consider a micro-wedding. Sometimes the best things really do come in small packages.
Tara McClellan McAndrew is a freelance writer in Springfield.
