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Micro weddings are totally trending and we’re so stoked to highlight all the things that make them unique and how you can take advantage of alllll the benefits of having a smaller guest list. We recently wrote about small wedding ideas covering how ideas in general and today we’re covering how to continue the party with awesome ideas for your small reception.
There are a lot of blogs highlighting micro wedding ideas generally, but we’re really diving into things to do specifically for the reception part of your event.
Similar to the ceremony, micro wedding receptions can be just like a traditional size wedding, but just on a smaller scale. What we absolutely love about the reception aspect of an intimate celebration is that there are less mouths to feed, you will have more money to go around and spend on other really cool things if you want, or you can just keep it in your bank account.
There is not one part of the reception that is required so feel free to throw out tradition and have the party that best suits your personality!
One of the most common mistakes is couples trying to cram too many things into their reception. We skipped about half of what was on the list and still felt like we had really limited time with our 38 guests. So, word to the wise: just be super mindful of how much you try to squeeze into your micro wedding timeline.
Micro weddings can fit into many places! Pro tip: Couple one of these reception locations with a unique location from our list of ceremony ideas, and you have a pretty cool, non-traditional wedding. You're Invited WI, who provide all-inclusive micro wedding packages, suggests considering an Italian Coffee Shop for your special day. And Gabby, the photographer behind Gabby Bridge, recommends really cool alternative spaces such as a bowling ally or old movie theatre. Here are some more small wedding venue ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
If you want help thinking of totally non-traditional places to have your reception, check out our blog: How to Find a Unique Wedding Venue.
There is no limit to small wedding food ideas when you have fewer guests to feed. You could even cook your own food if you wanted. Pampas Picnics, a wedding planning team in New Jersey, suggests "build your own" stations for cocktails or charcuterie boards. And Amanda of Amanda Matilda Photography suggests considering a mobile bar for those off-grid locations. Here are a few more cool ways to feed your guests.
Feel free to forego the traditional wedding cake and choose something reflective of what you love, such as these creative small wedding dessert options:
Don't miss our full list of the best small wedding cake ideas (and some unique ideas that aren't cake, too).
Gone are the days where you have to have 10 round tables, a sweetheart table, and a seating chart.
When you think of centerpieces, you might think of florals. But you might not be thinking of other options that could not only set your reception tables apart from everything else you've seen, but also serve as keepsakes and even conversation starters!
It’s easier to record all the happenings when there are fewer people in attendance at your reception. Consider these ideas to preserve the memories of the entire day.
This might be one of my absolute favorite ideas to date! Spirit & Sound is part audio guest book, part documentary crew. They interview you and your guests about your love story, capturing the best anecdotes, wishes, and dreams. Then, they use state of the art recording, music and mixing gear to create an audio time capsule to listen to over and over. We harness the power of audio, and the voice, capturing the best parts of your love story in the most intimate way.
Their engagement package involves sitting down with the couple to tell their story on tape (think of the couples in When Harry Met Sally). And our wedding package is a day-of guestbook, where they tell the story of your wedding day through interviews with the couple, attendees, and recordings of the ceremony.
Learn more: Spirit & Sound
Choosing to have a smaller wedding can sometimes free up funds for other expenses, like entertainment. Go beyond the DJ with these creative micro wedding reception entertainment ideas to add to the experience.
Having your wedding guests participate in some part of the ceremony or reception is a great way to not only keep them entertained, but make them really feel like they’re a part of the event. You're Invited WI suggests a cigar bar or a live illustrator.
In some cases, for the same or less money than you would spend on a traditional wedding, you could consider having an weekend wedding or even a weeklong event which is much easier when you have a small wedding. There are many options across the US where you can rent an entire resort or campground to house all of your guests, or you could all just rent spaces near to each other and assign one of them as the gathering place like we did.
For our wedding, we were able to have the VRBO where we got married for the entire week, which also turned out to be a great place to host everyone every night. We hosted dinner a few nights, went to live music at the nearby ski resort one night, had fly fishing, hiking, via ferrata, hot springs, spa activities, and mountain biking. We encouraged everyone to enjoy the incredible area during the day while providing a space for everyone to gather at night. We kept it super simple, providing drinks every night and burgers a few nights when we knew people didn’t have dinner plans.
Be sure to plan activities that bring everyone together during the event while also allowing time for everyone to explore and enjoy their time as many of them will be using this as a vacation.
Micro wedding receptions don’t have to be simple, or boring. In fact, they provide an incredible opportunity for really intentional connection and celebration. By incorporating elements that are unique to your love story, you’re sure to have party that’ll you’ll remember for years to come.
If you need more help planning your micro wedding, check out our blog, Planning a Stunning Micro Wedding.
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