Guide to Organising Micro Weddings

Micro weddings were a popular phenomenon this summer. As the lockdown was lifted, the government initially relaxed restrictions on small ceremonies, allowing up to 30 people to attend. Boris Johnson has now announced that, from the 28th September 2020, this number will be reduced to just 15 attendees at the reception.

With the right group of guests, a wedding of this size can still be an epic celebration. This guide outlines our top tips on organising a successful micro wedding. Starting with some of the more practical stuff, we’ll move on to explore how you can still make it a special day in spite of the reduced numbers.

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How to organise a micro wedding

When planning a socially distanced micro wedding, it’s just as important to think about the safety of your guests as their enjoyment of the big day. With this in mind, we’ll first cover points like the venue, food, and weather before thinking about how you can make the event that bit more spectacular.

1. Pick the right venue

Where possible, pick a wedding venue with lots of outdoor space. Inviting 15 guests to socialise in a confined indoor space would be a risky move given the current climate, and the UK government recently updated its official guidance to state that small ceremonies and receptions must take place in a COVID-19 secure environment.

Before you book a venue, it’s worth consulting the most recent official advice to make sure that it adheres to all of the regulations: understandably given the situation with coronavirus, there are strict stipulations on things like the venue’s ability to track and trace, as well as their use of floor markings and the handling of cash.

During the colder months, it’ll also be essential to have at least some indoor facilities at your disposal. Having a warm inside space to retire to will be a definite advantage if you plan to get married during autumn or winter, but just make sure that the rooms are large enough to accommodate everyone whilst allowing for social distancing.

As you may already have heard, normal wedding venue considerations fly out of the window when it comes to organising a COVID-19 secure micro wedding. Whilst you’d usually be interested in the size of the dance floor and sound system, the ban on dancing and playing loud music means that you don’t have to worry about these things any more.

2. Experiment with food and drink

Other than the venue itself, the food and drink on offer at your reception will be one of the most significant elements of the big day. Although a buffet-style meal is ruled out by the government advice that staff should serve the food at a micro wedding, there are still plenty of COVID-safe options for you to explore.

With fewer mouths to feed on the day and costs kept down, there’s room to experiment with your menu. Through our recent experiences of providing gazebos and marquees for micro weddings, we’ve seen some seriously avant-garde approaches, including off-the-wall tableware and even interactive meals that guests deconstruct themselves.

Given that a micro wedding is already pretty unconventional, you could opt for a completely non-traditional approach to the wedding breakfast. Many newlyweds have taken the opportunity to splash out on a lavish meal – as you might have seen in the news, some couples have invited Michelin-starred chefs to cook at their weddings!

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3. Prepare for the weather

When planning an out-of-season wedding, there’s always the chance that the weather could take a turn for the worse. Protect your guests from sudden downpours and keep them warm by providing covered, heated outdoor zones. A few pop-up gazebos and some infrared heaters should do the trick for a party of just 15. You could also get creative by buying in some festival-style waterproof ponchos for your guests to wear.

4. Provide some unique entertainment

With reduced numbers and so many measures in place to protect your guests, you’ll need to plan carefully to ensure that the atmosphere doesn’t end up feeling too sterile. Consider using the extra budget at your disposal to liven up your micro wedding with some unique entertainment, making the day more memorable for you and your guests.

You could also think about possibilities like fireworks, performers, or even an outdoor pop-up bar offering bespoke cocktails. These will keep all of your adult friends and family busy throughout the day, but if any kids will be there with parents, you might want to look into some child-friendly activities as well.

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We hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to organising a socially distanced micro wedding. If you’d like to discuss the plans for your upcoming wedding and find out how we could help, don’t hesitate to get in touch.