You’ve likely seen mention of a micro or “intimate” wedding as a wedding type… Heard about someone who had a “minimony”… OR, saw something on Instagram about eloping… But what the heck are these???
This article will give you a bunch of key info to help you in your wedding journey! It will:
- Break down the differences between a micro wedding, a minimony, and an elopement,
- Give quick questions to help you decide about which one is best for you, AND,
- Includes suggested wording to explain why you chose your wedding type in a way that shows love but firmness in your decision?
You’ve got this!!! Let’s go! 🎉
Wedding Type #1: Micro Wedding or Intimate Wedding
Let’s first acknowledge that all things are relative. Why? Because technically,
A “micro wedding” is a more traditional-feeling wedding, just with 50 people or less.
Maybe it’s just me, but 50 is not a tiny amount of people, especially when plopped down in one place at the same time. LOL.
Or, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of an “intimate wedding.” Is that the same thing as a micro wedding?!?
While there are no formal rules,
Intimate weddings in my experience tend to be more aligned to weddings or elopements with about 10-20 total guests.
So, although the the difference in group size can definitely change the feel of your wedding, the “why” and how to explain your desires for these kinds of weddings are very similar. We’ll cover them together here, for ease in reference😊
Why Choose an Intimate Wedding?
While micro weddings have been increasing in popularity over the last 5+ years, the shift gained a ton of traction with couples during the pandemic years. But, the trend has absolutely had staying power! Why?
BENEFITS: A staple pre-pandemic, micro weddings offer a beautiful blend that continues to be a good solution for lots of couples.
- Special LOVE for your guests.
- Micro weddings aren’t just about keeping guest counts down, it’s also a LOT about changing guest experience.
- BUDGET.
- Couples may have planned a budget (or, been willing to spend) for a much larger event, only to realize that having 100, 150, or more guests in attendance feels like something they just aren’t interested in doing. This leaves them in an interesting spot…
Option A — Spend the money we’d saved, allowing us to provide a fuller, more high-end experience for our fewer treasured guests? Or…
Option B — Spend only what we’d planned per person, and save the rest for something else awesome?!
Depending on what matters most to you and your partner, you can definitely come out ahead with a micro wedding or intimate wedding as your wedding type:-)
- FLEXIBILITY.
- Smaller guest counts mean greater options for venue, food, experiences, etc.
- And, the smaller the crowd, the more the flexibility in structuring your event schedule & flow so you can better enjoy your time with those who were so carefully selected to attend.
IS A MICRO WEDDING or INTIMATE WEDDING FOR ME?
What’s right for others may not be right for you! But if you can’t imagine your wedding experience without a party and being surrounded by loved ones, or if any of the below feel right you as a couple, a micro wedding could be a good wedding type option for you:
- We can’t imagine our wedding without our friends and family there. Coworkers & old friends aren’t required, but there’s definitely a core group of folks we want there!
- We’re here for the party 😉 Even though it’s a smaller group, the social aspect of the celebration is really important to us.
- We’re excited for there to be fewer folks to mingle with, so we can spend more time with each of them.
- We’d be happy to use the investment we’d planned for a big wedding to make our guest experience at the wedding even better, or to pull that extra spend back to something that makes us happy:-)
YES! LET’S MICRO WEDDING!
If you’ve decided that a micro wedding is the kind of wedding for you, it can be uncomfortable to explain “why” you are choosing to possibly limit someone’s access to what they thought they could/would be participating in.
While every conversation is different, sometimes, all you need is the seed of a response to get you going. So, feel free to try the below on for size:
We love all of you, but as we started planning, we realized that the big party, fanfare & traditions, and, being center of so much attention just wasn’t for us. So, we’ve decided to have a micro (intimate) wedding instead, with a much smaller group of attendees!
It’ll be different than the big party lots of folks envision when they hear “wedding,” but we love we’ll be able to say “I do!” in a way that feels right for us.
The good vibes and well wishes we’ve been getting from everyone are amazing — we totally feel and appreciate the love you’ve all given us!”
Wedding Type #2: Minimony
Borne out of necessity in the swirl of 2020, a “minimony” is a term coined by The Knot.
Our friends at the bastion of all things wedding industry defined :
A ‘minimony’ as “a mini ceremony held with your loved ones, or simply a moment of commitment shared between yourselves.”
Whether held in a living room at a couple’s house, in the backyard of a family member or friend, or anywhere else near home, these intimate ceremonies of 10 or fewer folks had originally been designed to let you say “I do!” sooner.
Lockdowns, assembly size restrictions and other limits that were common during the pandemic for everyone’s safety could be neutralized by a little bit of technology and a dose of flexibility. You know that Zoom wedding trend? Yeah, that’s this wedding type!
Why Choose a Minimony Wedding Type?
BENEFITS: While the limits on assembling we saw during the pandemic are no more, a minimony might just have staying power. Why?
- They can be FAST.
- Get your marriage license. Decide your close-to-home ceremony spot. Coordinate an officiant & witnesses as needed in your state.
- Decorate with houseplants and order delivery of a bouquet from Farmgirl Flowers to hold/wear as your wedding florals.
- Wedding garments or not, the choice is yours!
- And… BOOM. You’re ready! It could be as straightforward as that!
- FLEXIBILITY.
- Some states still allow an online officiant as celebrant to make your fully virtual minimony marriage legal! Check your local laws on virtual weddings.
- If virtual isn’t an option, decide on hiring a justice of the peace or similar to come to you.
- Simplicity, but, more personal than just a quick courthouse ceremony
- LOVED ONES can still attend.
- Minimonies (as defined) can have up to 10 guests, so you don’t have to celebrate alone!
Looking for a virtual option?
Rad! With a virtual minimony as your wedding type, you may be able to have even more of your crew join the celebration vs a traditional in-person wedding.
Not everyone is able or willing to travel, even now. So, favorite aunties, grandparents, far away loved ones all benefit with a virtual option as they can still experience your day in this special way!
While a number of couples turned to Zoom, there are specific companies out there that provide live-streaming of weddings. For real! Modern-day solutions for modern-day needs. 😉
IS A MINIMONY FOR ME?
Countless couples have turned to a minimony as their wedding type solution since 2020. If any of these feel right to you as a couple, a minimony could be a good option for you:
- Waiting be damned! We want to be married now, NOT later.
- We’d still like a traditional, full-size wedding later, so this is an appetizer to the main dish.
- There are loved ones & guests we would like to see at our wedding. But we’re not sure how (or if!) they’d travel to us.
- Guest experience is less critical to us. We think they’ll be happy for us no matter how we involve them.
YES! LET’S MINIMONY!
If you’ve decided that a minimony is for you, it can be hard to explain why you are choosing something that’s a bit new, and possibly very non-traditional if you choose a virtual event!
While every conversation is different, sometimes, all you need is the seed of a response to get you going. So, feel free to try the below on for size:
[OPTION 1] “It’s a silly word, ha, but yeah, it’s basically a mini ceremony at our house with just a couple of local friends to serve as our witnesses. We booked a local justice of the peace to come officiate 🙂 It’ll be tiny, but we’re super excited to be able to say ‘I do!’ and celebrate knowing you all are sending us good vibes 🙂 We have a virtual guest book if you want to leave us a love note in celebration—that would mean the world to us!”
[ALT OPTION-if you’re doing video!] “It’s a silly word, ha, but yeah, it’s basically a mini ceremony at our house with just a couple of local friends to serve as our witnesses in person with our officiant we hired. But we want to share with all of you too, across our network spread to the winds!
So, we’re going to offer a virtual option so you can all watch our ceremony live from wherever you are! It’ll be a little different than we’re all used to with weddings, but we’re super excited to be able to say ‘I do!’, AND still share the moments with all of you. More details to come, but we hope you’ll log on and join us — that would mean the world to us!”
Wedding Type #3: Elopement
I want to bust up the biggest myth, right here: an elopement does NOT mean you have to run away and do this thing alone!
An elopement is so hard to define because it is so infinitely variable, based on the couple. But, in the new, modern view of eloping,
An “elopement” is choosing to marry in a place and in a way that is focused on the couple, with up to 15-20 guests (or, no guests at all!).
From the more traditional courthouse ceremony, to a multi-day backpacking vow reading, to a helicopter-accessed ceremony spot, to a beautiful, adventurous wedding location with family — there are truly no rules.
The surprising twist is that an elopement isn’t uncool anymore! Lol😉
Elopements can be thought of now in reference to a more grand adventure, a personal experience, or your ceremony plus your honeymoon rolled into one! (PS: read about some common elopement myths we’re busting here.)
Why Choose an Elopement or Adventure Wedding?
BENEFITS: Stress levels, cost, and experiences catered to the uniqueness of your relationship with your partner all make elopements the right choice in type of wedding for many couples. Why?
- COST.
- Eloping can save you thousands (and I mean thousands!). If budget is a logistical consideration on your celebration because you want to spend your money smarter and more meaningfully, eloping is an attractive alternative.
- And, it’s one that won’t feel like a “lesser” celebration than a traditional wedding would be. You’re still incorporating things that have special meaning to you!
- EXPERIENCE and ADVENTURE.
- Having an elopement could be that excuse you need to visit a bucket list destination or finally try that thing you’ve been wanting to do for years. And what better way to do it than with the love of your life at your side?!
- The STRESS of planning can be way less…well, stressful!
- I won’t say that planning an elopement will be stress-free. If you’re traveling or bringing a few of your crew with, coordinating the pieces can still be a little to handle!
- But compared to the tiny details of a more traditional wedding type (invitations, seating charts, RSVPs, planning for food and seating/dancing/entertainment for a hundred or more, etc), you’ll have a lot less to deal with when you elope.
- INTIMACY.
- You don’t have to elope totally alone — but whether you want to, or would still rather have your crew tag along, elopements are great for that more private celebration that keeps the focus on you, your partner, and your love. ❤️
IS AN ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT FOR ME?
Elopements have become wildly popular over the last few years, having taken a STRONG foothold during the pandemic.
BUT, just because it’s all the rage, doesn’t mean it’s right for you! If you really love the idea of an elopement as your kind of wedding, here are some things you might be thinking:
- A traditional ceremony doesn’t feel like it fits my partner and I.
- We’d rather do something that feels really special for us instead of trying to fit into what a wedding “should” be.
- We’re craving an adventure! We love to be out exploring new places or have a favorite special place, and exchanging vows somewhere amazing sounds like the best day ever.
- We’re excited for there to be very few folks to celebrate with, so we can have actual quality time with those we do invite!!
- Or: we’re excited for our vow exchange to be just the two of us, as that feels safe and beautiful to us.
- We’d be happy to use the investment we thought we’d want/need for a big wedding to instead book a trip that includes some amazing activities as well as our ceremony!
YES! LET’S ELOPE ADVENTUROUSLY!
If you’ve decided that an elopement is for you, it can be uncomfortable to explain “why” you are choosing a wedding type that still holds a negative connotation for a lot of people.
While every conversation is different, sometimes, all you need is the seed of a response to get you going. So, feel free to try the below on for size:
For our ceremony, we’re going to [travel, do x/y/z], and are [taking this time for just us [OR] working on incorporating our immediate family into a part of the adventure! ]
We’re so excited, as we can’t really picture ourselves enjoying all the formalities & stress of a traditional wedding.
So, this feels right to us, and we took comfort in knowing you all love us, too, and will celebrate us no matter what our elopement looks like! We’re really looking forward to such a unique wedding experience!”
IN SUM…
It’s ok to feel uncertain or worried when you’re thinking about a wedding type different than what seems “normal” or expected!
Change is hard. Adapting and accepting takes time and mental energy for you, your partner, and the folks you love 🙂 Hang in there, you’ve got this!
If you need more guidance on breaking your wedding plans to family, check out additional advice for you here. If you’re stoked to get started on planning your non-traditional celebration, I can’t wait to talk more with you!
Let’s first acknowledge that all things are relative. Why? Because technically, a “micro wedding” is a more traditional-feeling wedding, just with 50 people or less. Lol, that can still feel like a lot of people!
Intimate weddings in my experience tend to be more aligned to weddings or elopements with about 10-20 total guests.
Borne out of necessity in the swirl of 2020, a “minimony” is a term coined by The Knot.
Our friends at the bastion of all things wedding industry defined a minimony as “a mini ceremony held with your loved ones, or simply a moment of commitment shared between yourselves.”
Whether held in a living room at a couple’s house, in the backyard of a family member or friend, or anywhere else near home, these intimate ceremonies of 10 or fewer folks had originally been designed to let you say “I do!” sooner.
PSA: an elopement does NOT mean you have to run away and do this thing alone!
In the new, modern view of eloping, an “elopement” is choosing to marry in a place and in a way that is focused on the couple, with up to 15-20 guests (or, no guests at all!).
From the more traditional courthouse ceremony, to a multi-day backpacking vow reading, to a helicopter-accessed ceremony spot, to a beautiful nature scene with family — there are truly no rules for these adventure weddings.
