The micro wedding......... not something I would have thought I would be writing about.
But then I didn't see what half of 2020 has been throwing at us, so there you have it and here we are!
Now there's a few angles I could come at this. You may be wanting a micro wedding and that may have been your plan all along. If that's the case I love that, but in this blog I'm going to focus more on switching your planned larger wedding, to a micro wedding.
I have had many brides reach out in the last few days to request this blog post and topic. With the government guidelines having just changed to a 15 guest wedding again for the next 6 months, it has sent a ripple of panic across all brides from now until Spring 2021.
Now I'll be honest, I've had a wobble and a little wallow. This is a tough time and my little corner of the wedding industry is clinging on and trying to withstand the beating we are getting. But I've had time to reflect and find my stride again. I'm feeling positive. I think this 6 month time frame is a very rough time frame. I feel it more likely buys the government time. It gives time to find a vaccine and most importantly it gives us a little roadmap and something to work on, because not knowing what was going to happen a week ahead, was pretty damn stressful! So for that I am grateful. I can create a 6 month plan for my business and for my couples.
Now I'll be honest, I've had a wobble and a little wallow
So what I want to say before I dive into this topic is..... use this as a plan! A back up and an option. So that if it does become a reality, you know what to do, you've got ideas and you won't have a crippling overwhelm take over! Being prepared is the best form of defence.
If you are supposed to get married in the next 6 months and plan to continue with that plan under the new guidelines, then this all still applies, but it is your reality, so let's make it bloody epic!
Overview
So let's assume you have a wedding date booked for more than 80 guests and now you are looking at how to switch your planned wedding to just 15 guests. But still want to have the celebration you planned.. but at a later date.
Here's what I think....
Firstly speak to your venue. The likelihood is you booked a beautiful venue to host a larger number of guests and you might be worried that it won't have the same vibe with a small amount of guests. See if you are able to postpone your wedding. The wedding that you have already planned. See if there's a possibility of postponing it to the same date a year later and look at booking a celebrant for the day. You can renew your vows and have the ceremony and reception as planned.
Original Plan: In one year:
Civil Ceremony + Reception at venue ------------> Celebrant led ceremony and reception
Church Ceremony + Reception Venue -----------> Celebrant led ceremony and reception
Now as you can see above. My thoughts are the same for whether you have planned a church or civil ceremony for your postponed wedding.
However what will differ is how you legally get married with your micro wedding this year. So thats what we are really going to dive into!
Civil Ceremony- Micro Wedding Locations
Ceremony:
If you had planned to get married at your venue, you will need to have an open conversation with them. If you are postponing, they may not allow you to get married there legally on a separate date as well. That's technically two bookings. You may however have a lovely venue who understand the situation and are happy to be flexible. It is totally up to the venues to decide how they want to go ahead. You will also need to speak to your registry office and see what the options are. Can you change the venue to a registry office, does it need to stay at the same place or may you loose your booking if you do that? There are a few variables here and each council and each venue will have different views and may be doing things slightly differently. So start the conversation and don't forget that venues are under a lot of pressure at the moment, so kindness goes a long way (they will understand that you too are under a lot of stress!).
Once you have a legal location sorted for your ceremony, you can now suss out how to host your micro celebration.
Church Ceremony Micro Wedding Locations
Ceremony:
If you have already planned a church ceremony, continue as planned.
Reception Venue - Micro Wedding Locations
Reception:
Let's assume that you have a COVID secure venue that is happy for you to postpone, but also happy for you to have your small legal ceremony on your original date. That means you can have a wedding of 15 people and this does not include those working (photographers, planners etc). Your reception will only comprise of a sit down meal.
So the options as I see it are again dependant on how flexible your venue is. If you are unable to have the ceremony at your original venue, you must not have 15 guests for a reception held at your own private residence or gardens, this will then fall in line with private gatherings and the rule of 6.
What you may wish to do, is visit a restaurant for your reception, to celebrate your marriage or follow the rule of 6 and have just family for a meal at home after the ceremony.
Another idea would perhaps be to celebrate across the weekend and have a few meals, where the rule of 6 is in place. Then you can celebrate with both sets of families or your close friends and it makes the whole thing feel like a bigger celebration.
There are quite a few variables here, so it's working out what suits you best and how you want to do it. you may decide to just book a restaurant the 2 of you and have a gorgeous really amazing meal, somewhere you've always wanted to go!
Style It Up
When it comes to style, you may be asking... what do I actually do?
Again, these are just my thoughts, but this is what I would do.........
Go all out on the ceremony!
This is your legal ceremony, this is the day you officially say I do. So say it in style. Have the most beautiful bouquet for yourself, if you're having bridesmaids and groomsmen, then have beautiful bouquets and button holes made for them.
Have a beautiful arrangement created to the entrance of the ceremony, whether thats an arch or some gorgeous urns, so that you can have really pretty photos when you come out of the church or ceremony location (you will unlikely be able to do this at a registry office).
If you've had large urn arrangements created, these can then be moved to decorate your table for your sit down meal, wherever you have decided to host it.
In regards to the reception / sit down meal. If you are hosting it at a venue, then you still have every opportunity to style the table up beautifully. Get looking on Pinterest for ideas, style include flowers, upgrade your crockery and glassware and spread candles everywhere! Make it intimate and romantic!
Summary
To summarise. Your micro wedding doesn't need to be bland, it doesn't need to feel tame and have no essence. It can be full of love, filled with romance. Make it all about the atmosphere, because with a small group of people that you really care about and that care about you and your day, the atmosphere will be electric!
Lauren xx
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