Make Your Micro Wedding a Grand Occasion
It’s a frustrating decision to make, do you postpone your wedding due to COVID or do you cut your guest list down and keep your original date? Some clients really want to make sure that they have their full guest list, the reception party, the live band, and all that comes with large guest counts. For these couples, waiting until large gatherings are allowed again is the way to go. But what if you don’t actually need your dad’s boss at your wedding and you really wouldn’t mind uninviting your great aunt’s dentist? You want to get married on your original date. You’re tired of waiting and not knowing what the future holds for your wedding and just want to make the day special. In this case a micro-wedding is the perfect answer! But how do you make sure it doesn’t feel like a backyard BBQ? There are some small details you can incorporate to make sure this day feels so special for you and the closest people who will be attending this extra special day. Here are our top 8 tips…
1) Let there be music!
You may not have a dance floor to recreate that German Discoteque you went to your first year of school abroad but you can make sure you get your first dance as a married couple. Hiring a local musician to perform your favorite songs like brings a sweet and personal vibe to the occasion. In this situation, a DJ isn’t necessary and having your Spotify playlist on shuffle wouldn’t really be appropriate. Hiring a musician to serenade you down the aisle, add ambiance to your cocktail hour, and sing your first dance song is definitely a way to enhance those special memories.
Two of our favorites in San Diego include Still Listening Productions and Complete Events SD. If you want the full list, reach out to us!
2) Specialty Tabletop Goods
This is not just another family gathering, this is your day! The smallest details are going to elevate this from family dinner to an elegant event. We suggest finding and incorporating all that seemingly unnecessary tableware. Why? Because when else are you going to? When you don’t have to worry about providing silverware for 300 people you can go all out for those super special 20 guests. Oh ya, get nice chairs too … and cool table linens.
We adore Catalog Atelier and the insanely beautiful tabletop goods they carry.
3) A Personalized Paper Suite
Calligraphied place cards, a welcome note on each letter pressed menu, hand assembled invitations with layers of goodies filled with personal touches - the possibilities are really endless when it come to this. The paper suite is the perfect way to string your design together from first invite through to the wedding day.
Some of our favorites include Epoch Design, Four Things Paper, and The Idea Emporium
4) Goodness Gracious, hire a planner!
You may think it’s no big deal to manage a small gathering of people but A) do you really want this to be your responsibility as your preparing for your wedding? B) there are so many more details that can pop up last minute than you might imagine. It really doesn’t matter if you have 12 people at your wedding or 450 - the details can get overwhelming. You have to manage the rental company so that they are set and gone before the florist arrives, figure out the timing of the day, create a list of music, make sure the florist knows exactly where each accent arrangement is going, what time should the cake arrive so it doesn’t melt in the sun?, who is setting out the place cards?, which vendors need to arrive first to allow for the easiest load-in?, who is clearing the tables after each course is served or drinks are finished?, who lights the candles?, make sure the photographer knows which shots you want, when to time the ceremony so the photographer gets those golden hour shots, how to do we entertain people while we want to steal a minute together?, who is making sure the guests are in the right place at the right time and know what is happening next? ….
Do you want a text or knock on the door from every vendor while your getting your makeup and hair done? I don’t think so, and no, your mom doesn’t want to be in charge of all that either. Maybe you don’t need a planner assisting you 6 months or a year out from your wedding but at least the month of. They will handle the final details for contracts, make sure your floor plan is going to work to accommodate your guests, pull together the day of timeline so each vendor knows when to arrive and when to come back to pick up, and just be your overall support and day of cheerleader so you can focus on the fun and not the endless details of the day.
We have too many favorites but we are happy to refer based on your needs.
5) While you’re at it, hire the best photographer you can.
When I was 21 I eloped. I did not hire a photographer and the one photo that my mom took will never see the light of day because we looked horrible. Four months after our elopement we had a party for friends and extended family and again, no photographer. This was probably a better choice for us since I made every mistake in the book and everything was super ugly because I had no money, no guidance, no help, and didn’t know what the hell I was doing. Although sometimes I’m glad there is no photographic evidence of the horrible design mistakes I made, mostly I’m sad because I missed out on some really special family moments. DO NOT MAKE THIS MISTAKE. Since my wedding we’ve lost a handful of family members because that’s the reality of life. Weddings are a really rare time when all the in-laws get together, your favorite cousin gets to meet your husband’s hilarious uncle, your grandmother gets to see you dressed up in a real wedding dress instead of playing dress up in hers from 1952, there are so many small memories that are created … make sure you have them on film.
Again, waaay too many amazing photographers to list here but based on your style I have some great referrals.
6) Specialty Cocktails
This is something I suggest even for the large events, it’s really a cute detail and way to add some personality to the menu. Even if you’re not a drinker, there are a ton of amazing non-alcoholic drink recipes. A rose infused virgin mojito? YES PLEASE.
7) Cake, obviously.
Without having to pay for a cake and dessert display to feed a small army, you have the room in your budget for a small cake that makes a big impact. A lot of bakers are actually full on ARTISTS. What they can create can add a serious WOW factor to your list of special details and the flavors they come up with now … oh my mouth is watering. Yes, you eat it but can’t you enjoy looking at it first?
Cake is my second favorite thing about weddings so I have a long list of referrals but some that I always refer are Hey There Cupcake, Milly’s Fine Cakes, Jenny Wenny Cakes, Sweet Cheeks, and Peggy Liao Cakes
8) While we’re on the topic of food -
Get a good caterer. Food is something that creates memories through a variety of senses. A good caterer knows how to customize a menu, properly display and serve food according to COVID guidelines and weather (hot ranch on some wilted iceberg anyone?), and make sure the spread is BEAUTIFUL. Everyone has different needs and tastes when it comes to food and there are enough catering companies to reflect that - just make sure you do the tastings and get details on how the food will be served.
Some favorites include Elevation Eating, Miho, TOAST, and Wild Thyme
Surprise! There’s a ninth … flower the HELL out of your day, obviously
You’ve cut your guest list by 220 people - instead of 25 centerpieces plus head table decor, you need four centerpieces. What will you do with the balance of that budget?? I’ll tell you - you’re going to make your day a flower filled dream land. Yes, I know, I hear it all the time … The flowers only last a day. So does the food, the venue (if you’ve rented one), the musician, the cake - but it’s worth it because if you hired the best photographer you can and you’re going to get the photos and experiences to make the memories last FOREVER. Why skimp on flowers now? Why not do a hanging installation to make your dinner tables feel like your guests have entered a secret garden? Why not a flower path lining the aisle to where you say “I DO”? Why not a table lined with a garden scene or that amazing backdrop for a great photo opportunity. These are the photos that will be in your wedding album. This is your dream day come true. Let your imagination go wild and let your florist work their magic. You could even add that editorial style bridal portrait session and get a flowery throne for your goddess self.
