Micro Wedding 101 – Make it Luxurious

So you want the intimate, low-key vibe of an elopement, you may be worried about the weather (hello PNW folks, I heard that!), you want a convenient location for loved ones, a beautiful space to get married in, and a luxurious feeling to your micro wedding? Say less. I gotchu.

Tons of my couples don’t want to skip out on having a luxurious wedding, but still want the relaxing, intimate feel of an elopement. With that in mind, I’ve decided to write the ultimate guide on how to have a luxurious micro wedding.

Picking The Right Location for a Micro Wedding

In the business world, you’ve probably heard the term “location, location, location!” thrown around like it’s nothing. It’s actually really important for weddings, too. I hate to say it, but a location can make or break the feeling of a wedding.

But – you don’t necessarily need to blow a ton of money on a huge venue when you’re having a micro wedding. This will save you some stress, and money to splurge on other vendors (like photography, catering and florals)!

Here’s a BUNCH of tips and questions to find out if the location you’re considering will work for your luxurious Micro Wedding;

• Make sure the space is big enough to hose the number of guests you’re considering. Is there enough room for small chairs, so your guest can sit comfortably while they witness your ceremony?
• If not, is there enough room for them to stand in a half-circle so they can witness the ceremony, and I can photograph around them?
• Has the place you’re checking out hosted a wedding or elopement before? Check out their website, all their photos, and their instagram. If you’re on their instagram, be sure to check their tagged photos as well. But you’re looking at an AirBnB, you may need to contact the owners.
• Maybe you’re a little introverted and would rather say your vows in private (totally okay)… is there a nearby, convenient location for us to adventure to? I include location scouting and assistance in selection in all of my packages, so I’m trained to help you figure this out!
• Is the interior and exterior designed well, or is it out of shape and possibly tacky? What’s the furniture inside like? Is the scenery outside photogenic and can you see yourself hanging out there?
• If you’re looking at an indoor space, natural light is still incredibly important and helpful. How big are the windows? Do they actually let in a significant amount of light? The owners should be able to let you know when the most light comes into the main space.
• Is there space for a reception/celebration? If you want to dance, is there enough room for that? How about a large deck or back yard? A place for a fire pit?

Vendor Selection for a Luxurious Micro Wedding

Because I’m a photographer, I’m going to come out and state the obvious. Hire a badass photographer! Chances are, this will be your biggest investment for a micro wedding. And it should be! You have no idea how many times I’ve heard the story that somebody let their friend photograph their wedding for free – and never got their photos back. Or, the photos sucked. You’ll be looking at these photos for the rest of your life, and so will your family and friends. It’s critical that you hire a photograph you connect with on multiple levels.

How do you pick the right photographer?

First and foremost – how do you FEEL when you’re looking through their portfolio? Chances are, this is how you’ll feel when you’re looking through your wedding gallery. Can you see yourself in these photos with their style?

Another, often overlooked, thing to look out for – do you think you connect with their personality? Chances are you’ll be spending the entire day (& then some) with your photographer. So you want to make sure you connect with them! It can really enhance your entire wedding experience when you feel like you’re just hanging out with an old friend. If you love their photography work and think you’ll connect with them based on their website and social media presence, submit an inquiry. The photographer should try to get you on the phone for an initial phone call, and that’s a great opportunity to feel things out with them.

Other Vendors to Consider for a Micro Wedding

Vendor research, recommendations, and coordination assistance is included in all of my packages, so it only makes sense that you get more information on the right vendors here.

The venue or location you’ll be getting married at

I covered this above, so I’m going to skip it here and let you scroll back up if you want to re-read it!

Planning and/or day-of coordinator

Hiring a planner and/or a day-of coordinator can help everything get pulled together without you stressing about all of it at once. It gives you a professional guide/assistant for making sure the timing, flow, and details all work well. A lot of my couples opt to have me stand-in as the day-of coordinator, and I usually act as the planner as well though!

Hair & Makeup

These days there seems to be an even split between hair and make up artists that go on-site and ones that prefer in-shop. As far as I know, the main difference is how many people will be getting their hair and makeup done. If it’s just you, having an onsite hair and make up artist will not only speed up the process, but will ensure your hair and make up fit the overall aesthetic, and mood of the day. Some of them stick around for touch ups, so don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Wedding Attire

Picking the right wedding attire is a very easy way to add a huge level of comfort to your wedding day. For both feminine and masculine presenting folk, make sure you try on your wedding attire! Cotton blends tend to hold up best for most of the day. If it has a little bit of stretch to it, that’s a good thing. Sit down in it, walk in it, do some high steps and bend over (lol) like you’re picking something up. And honestly ask yourself if you’d be comfortable rocking your fit all day long! Need some more specifics? I have several blogs and resources I keep in my back pocket for helping couples that book me.

Florals

Pay attention to your color palette! The colors you choose to align with your florals can really tie everything together. It’ll make EVERYTHING that much more photogenic. Even if all you get is a bouquet and/or some boutonnieres! For a truly luxurious feel, get your arch decorated and your table scape done up with flowers!

Catering

For elopements and micro weddings in more remote locations, it may be harder to find a catering company or kitchen that’ll be able to service you. BUT! There’s hope. Hiring a private chef is always a solid option. You often get more freedom and choice over what you’re picking, and you’ll get to have a more personal relationship with your vendor.

Reception & Celebration

As most people know, the most common form of celebration is everybody dancing their ass off (which I’m here for). When it comes to celebrating, there’s quite a few traditions in the wedding industry. Such as a bouquet toss, garter toss, first dance with the mother/father, the list goes on. I’m here to tell to you that you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to or doesn’t resonate with you.

Your wedding day should 100% be about the things that you want to do, no matter what that looks like. If that means eating until you can’t see straight, popping a bottle of champagne and relaxing, DO IT. Even if that means exploring the streets of Seattle to find a cool microbrewery to hangout in, DO IT!

You could also have a bonfire and roast marshmallows, play yard games with your family, or skip it all and just hangout. The choice is yours!

My Final, And Biggest Tip – Make It A Get-Away Experience

Make It a Destination Wedding

You could save a ton of money on your Honeymoon by making it a destination wedding, and combining the two of them!

Some of the most gorgeous places you could choose from include Italy, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, Iceland, France, South Africa, New Zealand… The list goes on, and the possibilities are truly endless. Travel is included in all of my packages, so check ’em out here!