Events as important as a wedding are prone to mistakes. There’s just THAT much planning that goes in to such a monumental moment in time, that something is bound to go wrong. While you can’t control the weather, or your sister in law spilling wine down the front of her bridesmaid dress, or the caterer dropping a full tray of apps, there are plenty of things you CAN control.
Micro weddings pose some unique opportunities for missteps, so we’re guiding you through the most common micro wedding mistakes, and how to fix them if you’ve already made one.
Not Fully Committing
If you’re going to have a micro wedding, you need to fully commit to having a micro wedding. Some couples will be all about the idea, but when it comes down to it, they can’t fully commit to the idea of only inviting a handful of guests to their event.
When it comes to hosting a micro wedding, you need to be ALL in. A micro wedding means a limited number of guests. If you and your partner are unsure about this, then this is the VERY first step you need to take together before deciding on this wedding format. Sit down and make a list of the people you MUST have at your wedding. If that list is above 50 people, then a micro wedding may not be the best fit for you.
Also, once you have committed to a micro wedding, you need to stick to your guns. It can be difficult to explain to people why they may not have received an invite, but don’t feel pressured into extending invitations that weren’t agreed upon. This can quickly turn a micro wedding into a full blown wedding without even realizing it. A micro wedding is intimate by nature, which means that the near and dear that made it onto you initial list are the only ones who should be attending, and you shouldn’t feel one ounce of guilt over that.
Assuming You’ll Save Money
A micro wedding doesn’t automatically mean a budget wedding. Budget weddings are executed with careful planning and consideration. So unless you’re clearly making that a goal of yours, don’t go into micro wedding planning assuming that you’ll save money simply because you’re hosting fewer people.
Just like with a traditional wedding, the cost of a micro wedding can quickly add up. Especially if you’re leading with the assumption that you don’t need to follow any sort of budget because smaller weddings = less cost. Trust us, you’ll be in for a sad surprise when the bills start rolling in if you haven’t already created a budget to stick to.
While it IS possible to save quite a bit of money with a micro wedding, this needs to be a pre-planned goal before you begin booking the venue and other vendors.
Assuming it HAS to Cost Less Money
On the flip side of assuming you’ll save money, many people also assume that because they’re hosting a micro wedding, they shouldn’t be spending as much money as a traditional wedding (OR they should be downplaying the wedding elements). This is actually quite the opposite. Hosting a micro wedding gives you the unique opportunity to go all out on extras that you wouldn’t necessarily be able to afford if you were hosting 100+ guests.
Many couples choose to serve gourmet food, host their guests at an exotic destination, or go all out with decor because their budget goes further with fewer people and potentially less space to decorate.
As always, it’s important to establish a budget beforehand, but don’t let the idea of hosting a micro wedding deter you from planning the wedding of your dreams.
Not Giving Enough Time to Plan
One of the biggest mistakes people make when planning a micro wedding is assuming they don’t need much time to plan. While you might not need to start planning a year+ in advance like a traditional wedding, it’s still smart to begin your initial planning at least 8-9 months in advance.
This is especially true if you’re ordering a wedding dress. Just because you’re throwing a micro wedding, doesn’t mean that your dress isn’t still going to take 8-9 months to be ready (most dresses take 4-5 months to ship, and then 2-3 months of fittings and alterations).
You also need time to look at venues, find a caterer, and book vendors. The majority of these businesses are booking events multiple months out, so if you’re trying to plan a micro wedding in three months, you’re going to be hard pressed to find vendors you love, and will often be forced to choose your third or fourth choice on the list.
Choosing the Wrong Venue
While some traditional venues are micro wedding appropriate, many are not. There’s nothing worse than trying to fit your micro wedding into a massive venue. It simply feels out of place. Even if a venue offers a micro wedding package, or says the they’re able to host intimate weddings, it’s important for you to see the venue in person and get a feel for how your event would look there.
The point of a micro wedding is to create an intimate vibe, not to be swimming in the grand hall of some massive building. The last thing you want is to feel like you’re huddling in the corner of an enormous venue with tons of empty space surrounding you.
While it might take some time to find the perfect micro wedding venue, it’s worth the effort. Look at a variety of options, and don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Hosting a smaller wedding gives you a lot of unique opportunities that you may not have realized to begin with, like an Airbnb, a backyard, or even on top of a mountain.
Skipping the Photographer/Videographer
Ask any couple what expense was worth splurging for on their wedding day, and the vast majority will say the photographer. A photographer is an essential asset to any wedding, and a micro wedding is no different. Just because you aren’t hosting a giant shindig doesn’t mean the memories won’t be any less special for you. In fact, since you’re only hosting your absolute nearest and dearest family members and friends, the exact opposite could be said. Someone incredibly special to you will be in every picture, making them timeless treasures that you’ll keep forever.
That being said, it’s also important for you to pick the right photographer for your micro wedding. While it might take a little bit of research, find someone who is well versed in micro weddings and/or intimate weddings and elopements. These photographers have experience with smaller weddings, and know how to get the best shots (and yes, it is different to photograph a big wedding!).
The same also goes for a videographer. While we’d definitely say if you have to choose one, go for the photographer, we will say that a good videographer can produce a piece that you’ll watch over and over again. Like we said before, choose someone who have experience with smaller weddings, so that they know how to capture the unique vibe that you’ve created.
Not Asking For Help
A micro wedding is still a full on wedding. This means that there are quite a few moving parts, and a lot of planning that goes into pulling it off. Assuming that because you’re throwing a micro wedding you’ll be able to tackle the planning and execution is a big mistake that will leave you stressed out and exhausted.
One of the beautiful things about hosting a smaller wedding is that the people you love most are the ones who are attending. This also means that those people are more than likely jumping at the chance to help you out. Whether it’s with planning, research, accompanying you to vendor tours, or just giving you a safe space to have a mini break down, reach out to some select people you’ve invited and let them know that you’d love for them to be involved.
You can also look in to hiring a professional wedding planner as well. Be sure to do your research, and find someone who has experience and expertise in planning micro weddings and/or elopements. These planners know the ins and outs of small weddings, and they will also likely have contacts with vendors who also specialize in more intimate events.
Neglecting the Details
During a micro wedding, your guests have the opportunity to get up close and personal with all of the elements. From you and your partner, to the food, and even down to the make up you choose, every guest gets to see it all. Don’t neglect the details that will be more noticed with an intimate event, and even take it as an opportunity to make certain elements shine.
Add gold leaf to your wedding cake, have a professional chef cater a plated dinner, or hang sparkling lights from the ceilings. Many of these personal touches would be out of reach in a big venue, or go unnoticed with 200 guests milling around. But a micro wedding gives you the opportunity to make the little things just a bit bigger and brighter.