Micro Weddings, Elopements, and small ceremonies | Minneapolis Wedding Photography
Micro Weddings Aren’t New,
Just More Visible and Viable Now
In today’s covid-19 climate, smaller weddings such as micro weddings and elopements are gaining traction.
“There are no rules.“
This is something I've said over and over to couples regarding their wedding and its details. Well, there’s one(ish) rule: you have to apply for, sign, and mail in a marriage certificate to get married (legally). Everything else on your day or days is bonus, and can be just for you two.
I've always loved photographing wedding celebrations that are outside the box. An elopement, intimate backyard wedding, civil ceremony, family- or friend-only gathering, additional ceremonies for different cultures, a local cocktail party after eloping elsewhere, or a Sunday brunch wedding are just the versions I can think of off the top of my head. While these weddings aren’t new, the new term for them rising to the forefront of the wedding industry is the "micro wedding."
"Micro weddings" are a type of wedding that have been around a long long time: a shorter, scaled down, typically one-location wedding. There are usually fewer or even no additional guests, and typically no wedding party - it’s all about you, the couple. [Note: this is just my definition]
In my experience, a micro wedding timeline could include:
Portraits of the couple, and the couple with family/friends (if present)
A short ceremony
Champagne toast (optional) and signing the marriage license
More portraits and/or mingling before the couple and guests continue the celebration elsewhere (or not).
I've photographed a timeline like this in just one hour of coverage, but a few hours can yield even more wonderful results.
Micro weddings are a great option that can be tailored to you and documented beautifully.
Especially in today's current climate, micro weddings are the first form weddings are taking as we return to gatherings and celebrations. While they've always been an option (not just following a pandemic), more couples are thinking about, planning, or re-planned their wedding as a micro wedding.
Looking forward is a good idea, too. Particularly as 2021 dates start to book up with vendors and venues (and oh, my, will they ever!), a micro wedding is perhaps a way still book professionals that may not be available for a full-scale wedding on a given day. With a micro wedding, it's also easier to get married on, say, a Thursday. Or why not Tuesday night?
Every day is a good day for a wedding.
So what might this look like for you? Have you been thinking smaller versus bigger in light of the COVID-19 pandemic? What are your top priorities for your day and why - really think through the “why” part.
I practiced what I preach.
For our own wedding, my husband and I chose to have a smaller backyard ceremony on the lake where his parents live on one Friday evening, followed by a larger party in Minneapolis (kind of like an extended cocktail hour with a food truck) the following Friday. I've always liked Friday weddings, too - then you have the whole weekend ahead!
Because we chose to forego some big stuff, we were both able to honor our top priorities and then some.
My husband Tim valued good food and good music. For the ceremony event, our sister-in-law baked bars. My mom and I had baked my grandma's chocolate chip cookies (my favorite) while she (my grandma or "Nanny") supervised aka bossed us around. A friend made lasagna and brewed beer and cider. It was a lakeside picnic with good food and good company. Then for the reception in Minneapolis, GastroTruck nailed it, along with an encore of the bars and cookies. Tim also arranged to have live jazz music, for the win.
My top priority was - surprise! - photography, and man did we get lucky. Prior to the wedding, we did a portrait session (in wedding attire) in LA with the esteemed Jerry Ghionis. Long story on that but I've admired his work since just getting my business started, and attended a workshop of his many years ago. Then for both wedding events themselves, the incredible Eliesa of Photogen Inc. graced us with her skills and pizazz. Wow wow wow, are we ever happy with the professionals we entrusted our events with.
Another priority for me, having photographed many many weddings, was to have a unique dress and ring: navy and custom-designed respectively for a "check-check." Many more details (like flowers I didn’t think I wanted but were perfect by Kindred Blooms) and personal touches I loved - but I won’t go into all of them here (too late?).
All this to say, again: there are no rules.
You can keep your wedding true to who you are, and have it represent the two of you as a couple.
This is true for weddings of any size, so I suggest you start by asking:
What are your top priorities? Or what would you really miss if it weren't there? What can you forego (for me, cake never stood a chance)? What do you maybe assume is required that actually isn't? These answers are different for everyone and every couple. And if it's right for you, then it's right. Seriously.
But since I'm the one writing this...
No matter what size or form your celebration takes, I suggest investing in photography if it’s a top priority. Hire someone you trust and respect. When it comes to prioritizing photography, another thing I say is: "I'm definitely biased, but I’m also right." Everything looks its best - or better - when photographed professionally, in my (again, biased) opinion.
I'd love to be there to document the two of you and your wedding, however in or outside the box you want to go. I offer a la carte pricing for shorter days, and custom quotes for the extra outside-the-box-ers. Feel free to send an email or fill out the contact form on my website. In the meantime, happy planning and please love each other extra hard along the way.
