Little wedding, micro wedding, elopement-style wedding, whatever you want to call it, smaller weddings are becoming more and more popular in New Zealand.
With living costs increasing, the allure of the lavish, opulent, big wedding day is becoming less appealing. We're also all so busy these days, not everyone can fit in the time to plan a grand affair.
Smaller weddings have their own advantages over larger affairs. So let's dive in and explore six reasons why couples choose to celebrate with a little wedding.
1. Little weddings are more affordable
Putting it simply, decreasing the guest list brings down the total cost of your wedding day, by a lot. It's one of the quickest ways to make your wedding more affordable. Catering costs come down, you can consider smaller venues with a lower price point, and hiring costs will decrease with less items required like chairs, glasses and decorations. Overall, a wedding with a lower guest list will cost you less.
2. Spend more time with people you actually like
Minimising the guest list means the people who are there will be the ones you really want there. Your biggest supporters, the people who have been there with you through it all, the ones you love most. Your day will be spent sharing quality time with your favourite group of people, and not rushing around trying to say hi to everyone and thank them for being there.
There's only so much time in the day. A little wedding means you'll spend more of that time celebrating with your closest friends and family. Your wedding is exactly that, your wedding. Spend it with the people you actually want to.
If bringing the guest list down is a major challenge for you, you could think about having a more intimate ceremony and inviting a larger group to the reception or party afterwards. That way you can have the best of both.
3. Finish your wedding day feeling alive, not drained
At most of the weddings I've been to, by the end of the day the brides are absolutely shattered, standing there with glazed eyes barely holding up their head as they say goodbye and thank you to all of their guests. There is so much pressure put on the wedding day, it's totally understandable if the couple are tired by the end of it. Having a more intimate wedding means there's less people to talk to, less people to make the rounds with, less pressure on you to 'be on' for everyone. You're more likely to finish the day feeling bright and bubbly - hopefully with a glass of bubbly too!
4. Be more creative
Spending less on the overall wedding means you have more wiggle room in your budget to incorporate some nice little touches to really make the day yours. Also, with a smaller guest list you'll spend less time and energy planning , so you'll have more brain-space to think of funky, creative details. You can make the entire experience truly reflect who you are as a couple. Interesting details are easier to incorporate with a smaller group - think a signature cocktail, interesting décor, a non-traditional activity, you can do anything!
5. Save time and go fuss-free
Creating an event for a smaller number is easier, plain and simple. The logistics are less complicated, there are less people to manage, and there are less variables that can go wrong. You don't have to spend six months to a year planning - you can throw it together in a shorter amount of time and with less fuss in the lead up and on the day. If planning is not your strong suit, or if you want to get married sooner rather than later, then a little wedding could be the answer.
6. Be more sustainable
With a smaller wedding, you're more likely to have a smaller footprint and cause less impacts on the environment. There'll be less waste, a smaller number of vehicles travelling to and from, and if you choose to have a pop-up wedding then you'll be sharing resources too. By celebrating with a smaller group of people, you're choosing a more sustainable option for your wedding day.
So there we have it - the six main reasons for having a little wedding. Save money, stay relaxed, be more sustainable, and share a day that truly reflects who you are as a couple.
No matter what size your guest list, if you remember the reasons why you're getting married and stay true to yourselves, then you'll have an awesome day and your guests will have a great time too.
- Brie, The Little Wedding Planner
Thanks for the thoughtful article. I have found smaller weddings to be a lot of fun. So much more personal and intimate with room for creativity. Certainly creates more lasting memories.