Chic tablescape in warm neutrals and copper

We’ve all been navigating the waters of quarantine for a few months now and if we’ve learned anything, we’ve learned this thing is unpredictable. Planning *anything* more than a week in advance is super stressful for fear of getting our excitement smooshed yet again. So while a lot of us want to be surrounded by lots of friends and family on our wedding day, that’s obviously not likely possible for the foreseeable future. That doesn’t mean you can’t get married — it just means that your vision has to adjust a little.

First things first — how small are we talking? Here’s how we define small:

Elopement: The couple and a witness/officiant/photographer (sometimes these are a surprise or last minute but you do you!)

Sculpture Among the Tables — *Smaller weddings often allow for really unique venues. (Everhart Museum, Scranton PA: https://everhart-museum.org/)*

Petite Weddings: 25 people or less

Micro-Weddings: 50 people or less

Mini-Matrimony: Mini vow exchange or commitment ceremony

Sequel Weddings: After a mini celebration, some couples choose to go full force at a later time.

Now that we established how small we’re talking, here’s my 15 favorite things about mini weddings (which will still stand true beyond the time of quarantine):

1. Introverts Unite! — Are you shy or just not a fan of big groups of people? That’s reason enough for having a small wedding. You should feel comfortable at your own party, quarantine or not!

2. Planet Friendly — It’s no secret we all need to make big changes toward sustainability. Big weddings often mean lots of travel, favors, paper, and trash in general. If minimizing your environmental footprint is at the top of your list, that’s a great reason to celebrate small.

3. Budget — Let’s be real for a second. Budget is probably the number one reason why people consider going smaller. But even if it’s not the driving force (thanks COVID), it can be a super nice bonus. Plus, even if you planned on a larger wedding but now have a smaller one in mind, you have a lot more budget to work with. Super luxe welcome bags and a limo service are just two examples of really special touches that your guests will love. Some couples offer to cover the cost of lodging and travel. No matter what you do, your guests will know you went out of your way to make them feel taken care of and appreciated.

4. Achieve #HoneymoonGoals — Do you have dreams of Bali nights? Me too. If a far-off destination was slightly out of reach, you might be able to shift more of your budget to the honeymoon and less on the “party” — a great way to relax somewhere you’ve always dreamt of, even if you have to push it off til travel restrictions are eased.

5. Location, Location, Location — You instantly have more choices beyond a ballroom or tent. Art museums, your favorite restaurant, or maybe even a treehouse (!) (https://www.treehousepoint.com/).

6. Fancy Invitations — You knew this was coming, right? I sometimes have to be the Crusher-of-invitation-Dreams when a guest list is well over 300 and the budget can’t support thick acrylic invitations with gold foil and velvet envelopes. Fortunately, a smaller guest list might mean you can get those chic invites you always wanted! This is also code for: consider letting your stationer run wild. Trust me - we all have show-stopping, luxurious invitation ideas swirling in our heads and we’re just looking for the right couple to design them for.

7. Gifts — Not for you… for your guests! Three-hundred tiny little bottles of wine can instead be ten full-size (!) champagne bottles with hand painted florals and greenery cascading down the sides! Dreamy, right? Don’t forget each guests’ name will be calligraphed across the top… because you can if you only need ten! You can spoil and thank your very favorite people. They’ll appreciate your thoughtful gesture more than you think.

8. DIY — Any DIY you think you’d like to tackle is way more manageable when you need a smaller quantity. Even if DIY isn’t your thing, smaller quantities of wedding to-do’s will be easier to manage, especially during this period of delayed shipping and stock issues.

9. Creative Freedom — No longer are you feeling pressured by tradition with a huge event. Smaller weddings often allow more creative freedom to tailor the ceremony and reception to what you both think is important.

10. Socializing — Weddings of 100+ make it nearly impossible to have any real meaningful (masked!) conversation with your guests. Downsize your guest list and you’ll be able to say more than “Hi, thanks for coming!” to the most important people in your lives.

11. Reception Style — Upgrade your decor. Table linens can go from standard white to vintage linen or hand-beaded... from paper place cards to stunning Carrara marble tile. There’s lots to consider so ask your stationer or planner to help you with some ideas that match your wedding style.

12. Less Intensity — Planning a smaller wedding requires less time, point blank - wedding planner or not. You can spend your extra time binge-watching the Office for the fourth time (or fifth, if you’re like me).

13. No Decision Fatigue — In the beginning, making decisions about what you’d like for your celebration is fun. After decision #1224, you are exhausted and ivory shiny tablecloths are “fine.” Decision fatigue is a real bummer but with a small wedding comes less of everything else, too.

14. The Guest Experience — It’s super hard to replicate the amazing experience you are expecting and planning for your guests when there’s 300 people involved. Less people = more manageable results and less opportunity for something to go wrong!

15. Less Risk — The most obvious reason to go small, but a great one. Perceived risk is something we weigh constantly now — from going to the grocery store to having family cookouts. Whether you have compromised love ones or just want to be as safe as possible, smaller weddings are the least risky option if you’re looking to get married any time in the near future. Let’s all celebrate safely — wear a mask, wash your hands, and be married.

Lastly, if you really have your heart set on a larg(er) wedding, please don’t compromise for the sake of anyone else! Do what’s right for you both.