Smoky Mountain Micro Weddings – Going Tiny

Smoky Mountain micro weddings are here to stay. In the last few years, we’ve seen a trend in downsizing. People are doing this in many different aspects of their lives. We’ve heard a lot about the tiny home movement — which Ian and I began participating in several years ago out of necessity. People are downsizing the way they eat, the way they buy, and trying to manage their footprint. I think the micro wedding is a natural extension of this. 

The first thing we probably need to address is the difference between elopements and micro weddings. 

When I think of elopements, I think of people running off to get married spontaneously. In the past there was a stigma associated with this that I think has somewhat gone away today. Elopements are a stress-free way for a couple to get married without having to worry about a ton of details. We help with that at our venue by offering some included decor and services to make things super easy.

Like elopements, micro weddings can be just the couple, but they also might include a few friends or family. I’ve seen differing opinions on exactly what constitutes micro — some say less than 10 and some say less than 50. I think either way is equally valid. Also, like elopements, micro weddings sometimes happen much more quickly than the traditional wedding–within a few months instead of 1-2 years of planning. The big difference between an elopement and a micro wedding are in the details. Most couples that choose a micro wedding want all of the details of a regular wedding but on a smaller scale. They want the flowers, cake, photography, and such but without having to set it up for 150 people. 

Reasons for a Micro Wedding

There are a lot of great reasons to go smaller for your wedding….

1. Obviously a big reason (no pun intended) to go small is cost. It’s difficult for many of us to justify spending tens of thousands of dollars on one day no matter how special. And, that’s not to say there’s anything wrong for those that do want to. It’s just not practical for everyone. That could be the cost of a new car or a downpayment on a house. So, for those that are more budget conscious, this is a great way to get the experience without shelling out the big bucks. 
2. Another benefit is that you can splurge on certain things because you don’t have to have enough for an army of people. This would be the quality vs quantity idea. With less guests to consider, you can make the details for those guests more special. For instance, instead of having to do a buffet for 200 people, you might be able to afford a sit down dinner for 10. Or, instead of inexpensive $2-$3 wedding favors like a cd, you might go a little swankier and bundle it with a music gift card so they can enjoy your music and theirs. 
3. Another pro for a micro wedding is limiting the outside options you have to factor in. When you’re planning a large wedding, it’s often the case that everyone involved thinks they need to add their input on what’s going to happen especially if they’re helping to fund the wedding. This can often lead to the couple having to compromise in areas they’d rather not. It can create friction in families, and might make you consider eloping. Without so many cooks in the kitchen, you can focus on making the wedding day exactly what you want it to be. Maybe that means you get married out of town, or you wear a black wedding dress, or you play Metallica when you walk down the aisle. It can be a lot easier to make those non-traditional decisions when you aren’t getting a lot of pressure from outside influences or having to worry what your great aunt is going to say to you in disapproval. 
4. If you’ve got a small guest list, your wedding and the days around it can be a chance for your guests to spend some quality time together to celebrate the two of you. It can be difficult when you’ve got a large number of people to get any real one on one time with any particular person. If you’re hosting a wedding with 200 people, you’re going to be making a lot of small talk with distant cousins that you aren’t really close to and not getting to enjoy any time with your best friend or sister. 
5. With less schedules to plan around, you could potentially have your wedding on a non-peak day to have a chance at getting a lower rate with your venue or some of your other wedding pros. Not everyone has different rates for different times of the year or different days of the week, but some do. 

Tips for a Micro Wedding

Here are a few things to think about when planning a micro wedding…

1. You might have a few unhappy friends or family members when they find out you’re going small and they will be excluded from the guest list. Stay confident. Explain that this is your wedding, and that this is what you want. If they care, they will understand. If you’re willing, you can share lots of photos and the video to help them feel a part of it. Maybe, you could even do a live feed depending on the venue.
2. Focus on your must haves first. Whatever is most important to you, make that be where you put your time and energy first so that you have it exactly the way you want it. Then, if you have to compromise on anything, it will be the aspects of the wedding that aren’t your number 1 priority.
3. There is still enough going on in a micro wedding that hiring a coordinator might be a good idea. They will help the flow of the day go smoothly, let everyone know where and when to go during the ceremony, and help with decor, set up, and clean up so you aren’t having to stress out about the details. 
4. It’s still a good idea to create a registry. Just because you’ve decided on an intimate ceremony doesn’t mean that your distant family or work friend wouldn’t want to gift you something for your wedding. To make sure that you don’t end up with 4 of the same thing, registries are key.

At Chapel in the Hollow, our focus is on elopements and micro weddings. Our couples book the property for 1-3 hours, and we offer an officiant, photography, coordination, and soon videography services that can be bundled together to make things a little easier. We also welcome off-site wedding pros to allow our couples to create the experience they want. Most of our couples choose the 1 or 2 hour package and bring their cakes and extras for photos then go elsewhere for a dinner or small reception. We look forward to help you plan your Smoky Mountain micro weddings or elopements!! To get started, check out our calendar to see if your date is available. 

Hear our conversation with Lindsay from the Bridelink on their youtube channel…