How to Plan a Chic Micro Wedding Without Breaking the Bank

Q: What is a micro wedding?

A micro wedding is an intimate ceremony typically attended by fewer than 50 guests, focusing on close family and friends and prioritizing meaningful moments over large-scale extravagance.

Q: How much does a micro wedding usually cost?

Costs vary widely: a very modest at-home micro wedding can run around $1,500, while a professionally catered event at a small venue may approach $10,000 depending on choices for food, decor, and vendors.

Q: Where can I host a micro wedding?

Micro weddings work well in nontraditional venues like private homes, backyards, small restaurants, art galleries, or destination locations — anywhere that accommodates a compact guest list.

Q: How can I save money on a micro wedding?

Trim costs by limiting the guest list, choosing family-style meals or potlucks, reducing floral arrangements, opting for beer and wine instead of a full bar, and selecting a smaller or unconventional venue.

Q: Do micro weddings require favors or guest books?

Favors are optional at a micro wedding. For guest books, consider creative alternatives like signing a picture mat, ornaments, tiles, or stepping stones that create lasting, personal keepsakes.

Published by

Clara

Feb 23

Micro Wedding Tips for a Chic, Affordable Day

Many wedding visions begin large — sizable guest lists, elaborate gowns, and hefty price tags.

But several influences have paved the way for a different approach to the big day: micro weddings. By keeping celebrations intimate, couples can preserve the ceremonial elements that matter most while dramatically lowering expenses.

Couples who marry later in life and prioritize goals like buying a home, along with the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact, have led many to reconsider the traditional big wedding. Choosing a small, private ceremony lets you and your partner honor one another on your own terms and within a realistic budget.

Below is a collection of ideas and inspiration for planning a micro wedding.

What Exactly Is a Micro Wedding?

First things first: what do we mean by “micro wedding”?

A micro wedding typically refers to a wedding with under 50 guests. Before the pandemic, limiting attendees to immediate family and close friends was a popular way to cut wedding costs.

A reduced guest list means you can select a smaller venue and consequently trim spending on catering, drinks, place settings, decor, and keepsakes.

That doesn’t mean sacrificing what’s most meaningful to you. With a smaller wedding, you simply eliminate the fanfare associated with a large crowd and concentrate your planning on the elements that truly matter to you and your partner.

How Much Will a Micro Wedding Set You Back?

If you think of a micro wedding as an elevated gathering for your nearest and dearest, the expense can be very reasonable. Budget roughly $1,500 for modest food, beverages and attire if you host the celebration at someone’s home or in a backyard.

Each added detail increases the price. Even a compact wedding with professional catering, drinks and florals at a rented venue could approach $10,000.

Still, that’s far less than many traditional weddings, which commonly reach or exceed $30,000.

Things to Consider When Organizing a Micro Wedding

With a micro wedding, many conventional wedding norms don’t necessarily apply. For a pared-down ceremony — a “minimony,” if you like — remember that small can be wonderfully meaningful.

Keep the Guest List Minimal.

Start your micro wedding planning with the guest list. You may choose to invite only your closest family and friends, or even just the two of you plus the officiant.

In some states, couples can marry without an officiant through a self-uniting marriage.

Whether your celebration includes a handful of people or only the couple, venues and vendors have adapted and can accommodate intimate ceremonies while helping you save money.

Be Inventive with the Venue.

With fewer guests, your venue doesn’t need to be expansive — and it doesn’t have to be a conventional wedding site. An art gallery might rent a cozy space, or you might reserve a private room at a favored restaurant. If a venue required minimum guest counts before 2020, those limits have often been lowered or removed entirely.

Consider a Destination Ceremony.

If you’ve got a case of wanderlust or have always dreamed of saying “I do” somewhere exotic, a destination wedding can be a wonderful option.

Destination weddings naturally tend to be micro weddings. Travel and lodging expenses for you and your guests typically mean fewer attendees than a hometown event.

Details Matter: Micro Wedding Ideas for a Small Gathering

With an intimate guest list, you can get creative about personal touches that make your wedding distinct and memorable. Browse these suggestions and tailor them to your preferences.

Food and Drink

Host a potluck. Seriously — invite guests to bring a dish to share at your reception. You’ll likely receive recipes that carry sentimental value, enhancing the warmth and intimacy of the day. To ensure a balanced meal, you might provide a main course like roasted chicken or ham and let guests bring sides.
Skip the full bar. Beer and wine are cheaper than stocking a full bar. And for a toast, guests will raise whatever they have, so consider passing on the champagne if you want to save.
Serve family-style. A micro wedding allows everyone to dine together instead of being spread across multiple tables. A family-style meal with shared bowls and platters fosters togetherness and conversation.

Decor

Cut back on blooms. Fresh floral arrangements can be pricey. Don’t assume you must decorate the entire venue with dozens of bouquets. It’s perfectly acceptable for the only flowers to be the bouquet carried by the partner.
Substitutes for flowers… Think fresh fruit, foliage, pinecones, candles, decorative spheres, or balloons. Purchase clear glass vases affordably from thrift stores. Ask a crafty friend to assemble centerpieces. Remember: originality can be beautiful and budget-friendly.

Favors

Here are some wedding favors that suit a micro wedding, depending on your theme and spending limit:

Flip flops. If your celebration is at the beach, flip flops make practical favors. Guests who arrive in dress shoes will appreciate a comfortable option. You can request shoe sizes ahead of time to ensure everyone is covered.
Custom luggage tags. Slightly pricier, but perfect for couples with travel-loving guests or for a destination wedding. Luggage tags are practical reminders of the special day.
Personalized keepsakes. Inexpensive items like beer koozies, tea sachets, soaps, bookmarks, or magnets work well as small mementos.
No favors at all. Favors are optional, especially at a micro wedding.

Guest Book Alternatives

Because micro weddings have fewer attendees, couples can choose unconventional guest book options. Some ideas that fit a range of budgets:

Picture frame. When you receive your wedding photographs, there may be one standout shot. Purchase a frame with a removable mat and have guests sign the mat instead of a traditional book. The signed mat will surround your favorite photo in your home.
Ornaments. If you or your loved ones collect ornaments from special occasions, provide ceramic or clear ornaments with paint pens for guests to sign. Each year you’ll display these ornaments and remember who shared your day.
Tiles or stepping stones. As you and your partner create your shared home, incorporate your wedding memories into the design. Set out tiles for guests to sign, then place them in a garden pathway or entryway as a lasting keepsake.

Article contributor: Jordan Mercer is a freelance writer and lifestyle blogger who contributes to Savinly. She writes about frugal living and creative celebrations attiny wedding budget.