Microweddings Are Having a Moment

More and more couples are opting for weddings that are altogether simpler, smaller, and usually less expensive than more traditional large and elaborate nuptials. 
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Photography Courtesy of My Tiny Wedding

There’s no denying it: Minimalism is having a moment. From capsule wardrobes to Whole 30 diets, our culture is seeing the beauty in simplicity, and weddings are following suit. More and more couples are choosing microweddings—weddings that are altogether simpler, smaller, and usually less expensive than the traditional mega-fête of nuptials. 

“I get a lot of brides who tell me they start out planning a larger wedding and just change their mind midstream,” says Janet Carroll, co-owner of My Tiny Wedding, an all-inclusive wedding-planning company in Red River Gorge, Kentucky. 

Photography Courtesy of My Tiny Wedding

For some, cost is the motivation. Carroll says more young couples are footing the wedding bill themselves and don’t want the financial burden of a blowout bash. My Tiny Wedding packages start as low as $595 for the LuckyDuck package, which includes a ceremony, an officiant, 20 photos, and two guests. Even the company’s ultimate package, the Sandstone D—including everything from ceremony and reception to cake, flowers, photography, and 40 guests—is just $4,975 (not including food). 

That’s not to say all microweddings are cheaper. (Carroll says one of her brides showed up to her microwedding in a $25,000 dress!) But generally, they do entail less sticker shock. 

For other couples, the motivation of a microwedding is simply simplicity. “This generation is a little more laid-back,” says Carroll. “A lot of brides want to avoid their moms and everyone else getting involved.” 

So, is simple sounding appealing? Here’s how you start. First, give yourself a shorter time frame. That will immediately limit your options for vendors (which cuts your research and decision-making time) and reduces the temptation to pile on unnecessary details. Carroll says most of her weddings are booked no further than six months out.

Second, commit to a smaller guest list. That means Great Aunt Debbie from Minneapolis might not make the cut. And that’s OK.   

Third, set a lower budget—and stick to it. You’ll have to set priorities and make sacrifices, but you can do it. “At the end of the day, you’re still married,” Carroll says. 

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