Don’t want to go bankrupt from your wedding? You might want to consider holding a micro-wedding instead
COVID-19 fundamentally changed the way we live: the proliferation of hybrid work arrangements, cashless transactions — and micro-weddings.
What are micro-weddings?
Micro-weddings refer to weddings with 50 guests or less, somewhere between an elopement and a small wedding. While elopements tend to be more simplistic, micro-weddings will have the same structure as a formal wedding — only at a smaller scale. While already gaining traction before COVID-19, the pandemic forced many couples to cut down their guest lists, which exposed many to the practice and normalised it. Since then, TikTok has kept the trend going. The #microwedding tag has over 190 million views, with many popularising ideas for what intimate micro-weddings could look like while emphasising the cost benefits.
Why are micro-weddings a trend now?
The micro-wedding trend is a converging of two larger forces. That of a desire to keep weddings cheap, and increasing individualism.
The former is nothing new: Singapore has always been home to the cost-conscious. Practices like mass weddings (where couples would pay $30-40 to participate) were popularly organised by groups like clan associations from the 1940s to 1960s, especially amongst the Chinese population. This practice continued into the 1980s, with tour groups offering mass weddings packaged with affordable honeymoons. Even for those with more intimate experiences, people would make compromises with cost in mind. For example, the Berinai ceremonies which formed a vital part of Malay-Muslim wedding ceremonies have become slowly phased out with cost and time in mind.
The latter has become a trend that’s been intensifying as socio-economic conditions have changed. Weddings have trended from communal, traditional affairs with 1000s of participants to smaller Westernised ceremonies with around 200 guests. Even for traditional ceremonies, couples are opting for personalised twists with curated playlists and custom vows reflecting their own stories. This trend has only intensified in recent years, with many opting for wedding ceremonies with more unconventional locations and features.
Where are people holding them?
The micro-wedding allows couples to have their cake and eat it too. Booking locations at restaurants or unconventional locations like Yakun outlets, abandoned factories and even a McDonalds while having a more intimate guest list means minimised costs. Micro-weddings usually cost up to $5,000, especially if other elements like wedding dresses or decorations include more DIY elements. Many people opting for these cheaper, cosier options cite the event feeling more personal. Those around them would be their closest family and friends, and meaning a more chill atmosphere to create memories in. All without the exorbitant financial and time commitment of a traditional wedding. Of course, there is the potential for disagreements with parental expectations which need to be navigated.
If having a cosy wedding sounds appealing to you, here are some suggestions for wedding locations!
ESPACE STUDIO
We are a bespoke wedding venue and studio space in Toronto. Visit one of our varied events throughout the year, or hire the space to host your own happening, photoshoot or wedding celebration. More than just a venue, visiting Espace Studio is an experience, one designed to inspire and revitalize. Multifunctional Studio with ample natural light. This space is designed to and focus on providing customized services and complete facilities for photography, video, commercial, artist, florist, workshop and event and etc.