Here to Stay: Microweddings

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Host an intimate wedding at Durham’s Belt Line Station. Photo by Kivus & Camera

Small-scale events aren’t going anywhere. Learn why and where to host them.

By Emily Pack

Microweddings – weddings with fewer than 50 guests – became a popular alternative at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many couples who downsized their weddings were happy with the intimate event they hosted. Some couples even said that they would not have had it any other way. As COVID-19 continues to be a factor in event planning, local wedding professionals have accepted that smaller shindigs are here to stay ... and maybe that’s not a bad thing. Here’s why:

“When you have a microwedding, you have more options for your event,” says Joye Speight, owner and chief event designer at Virtue Events. “You have the ability to make sure that all your guests are safe and

Sally Oakley Weddings & Events planned this Raleigh wedding at Saint Mary’s Chapel. Photo by Azul Photography

you have more opportunities to craft a unique experience by adjusting your budget to include custom features, like the tabletop you always dreamed about. … The best designs are when the couple is intentional about telling their story through every part of their event, including food and beverage displays, decor and entertainment.”

“If there is one thing we have seen an increase in within the last year and a half, it’s more intentional decision making in terms of guest

lists,” says Meagan Culkin, owner of Magnolia Collective Weddings + Events. “We even had several couples who chose to have a small wedding in 2020, and when it came time to reschedule their larger celebrations, they opted to skip them, since the smaller celebrations were more in line with what they had wanted in the first place.”

LESS IS MORE … MEANINGFUL “One of our favorites is the use of family china for place settings,” says

The Parlour at Manns Chapel co-owner Aimee Flynn. “With a smaller guest count, a grandmother’s dishes can add a level of intimacy and is a perfect way to honor someone. We love seeing this sweet detail.” 

This intimate June 2021 wedding took place at The Parlour at Manns Chapel. Photo by Krystal Kast Photography

“We had one couple who chose to host their wedding and reception at the bride’s parents house with a total of 19 people,” Meagan says. “Because they had such an intimate guest list, we were able to serve a four-course meal complete with a personal chef. They hired a string quartet and a sommelier for the reception, and the entire evening was spent sharing stories about the couple and just enjoying time with their favorite people. In almost 10 years of business, it remains one of my favorite weddings we ever had the privilege of planning.”

MICROWEDDING PLANNING TIPS “Let’s debunk the myth that intimate weddings are less expensive,” Joye says. “The more custom your event gets, the more you will spend. Remember that most caterers have a guest count or minimum spending limit (a 20-person minimum or a $2,000 minimum, for example). You will still have to pay your vendors their rate based on the amount of time you have them engaged.”

“People are much more in tune with their mental health these days, and it is simply not enjoyable for every couple to be placed at the center of attention in a room full of 200-plus people who they may or may not have a close relationship with,” Meagan says. “If your wedding day is something that you need to ‘make it through’ because you are too uncomfortable being the center of attention all day, a more intimate celebration with your closest family and friends is an excellent option!”

“The biggest challenge for couples seems to be an obligation to invite everyone they know, or they feel duty-bound to add friends and coworkers of their parents,” Aimee says. “Cutting guests may seem tough at first, but if 2020 and 2021 taught us anything, it’s that the list of those who are most important to us became clear. We counsel our couples to find the courage to consider this and create an event that is all their own. We encourage them to examine their lifestyle. When they aren’t required to subscribe to the traditional expectations, the challenges fall away, and the inspiration begins.”

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