Each year over 250,000 couples get married in the UK. So many of these couples plan big, extravagant weddings that end up costing more than a deposit for a home and can often leave couples in debt before they even begin their life together. It’s no wonder that over the past few years, there has been a huge rise in the number of couples choosing to have a ‘micro-wedding’.
One study undertaken by ‘David’s Bridal’ showed that a large number of couples shared one regret when it came to their wedding: ‘we invited too many guests’. It’s easy to get caught up in the planning process and end up inviting people who you really aren’t close to, either out of guilt or the chance to have a big wedding.
So, what is a ‘micro wedding’ anyway?
Well, depending on where you are in the world, a micro wedding is generally considered to have a maximum of 20 guests, more if you’re in the US. Micro-weddings are also different to ‘intimate weddings’ which usually allow for up to 60 guests.
Before the pandemic, micro-weddings were already on the radar and were predicted to become a huge trend for years to come and when COVID-19 hit, micro-weddings soared in popularity, mainly because of government restrictions and guidelines that had been put in place.
Why should I consider a Micro-Wedding?
Well, for one thing, it’s going to cost you a lot less than a large or even intimate sized wedding. Instead of paying for 50, 100 or even 150 guests, you’ll only be paying for up to 20 people to attend your wedding.
Having a smaller number of guests on your wedding day also allows you to actually interact with everyone and not feel rushed to make sure you say hello to hundreds of people within such a short space of time. Another thing many couples agree on, is that your wedding day will fly past, and what should seem like enough time never actually is. A micro-wedding offers more time and less stress.
Not only are you going to save money and get to chat with all of your guests, but you’re also going to spend a lot less time doing the actual planning part and in turn, the planning process will seem like a breeze. No bride or groom zilla’s here!
Micro-weddings are all about the couple, and by inviting less guests it’ll be such a meaningful occasion. Your ceremony will be the highlight of the day, which is really what it’s all about anyway. It’s not about the cake, the drinks, the flowers or the elaborate entertainment. Your wedding day is ultimately about you and your partner beginning a new chapter of your lives together in a marriage.
How do I plan a micro- wedding and can I book The Waltham Barns?
The hardest part of planning a micro-wedding is finding a venue that will not charge the earth for a small number of guests, or even finding one that doesn’t have a ‘minimum guest’ policy. Luckily, The Waltham Barns offers the perfect space for small weddings and doesn’t ask for a minimum number of guests. We love all weddings big or small and during the last year have helped many couples tie the knot during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To start planning, you first need to get the most important parts nailed down.
- Choose a date
- Work out your budget
- Book your venue & registrar
These are the easy parts. The hard part will be working out who you want to invite to your micro wedding. You’ll need to check with your events team and/or the registrar about how many people you’re allowed to invite. As it stands, weddings are on hold but late last year couples were allowed to invite up to 30 guests and before that it was 15, so it really depends on what the rules are at that moment in time.
From there, you can start planning your beautiful micro-wedding.
If you’re interested in chatting further with our events team about if a micro-wedding is for you, or to discuss options of hosting your own micro-wedding at The Waltham Barns, simply get in touch via the details below. We can’t wait to start planning your dream micro-wedding.
[email protected] | 01245 362210
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