<\/p>\n
There seems to be a growing divide in wedding extremism. As always, over-the-top, lavish, multi-day destination weddings are popular as ever, with ceremonies being situated among a jam-packed itinerary of luxury activities and d\u00e9cor.<\/p>\n
Conversely, a growing number of couples are at the opposite end of the spectrum, choosing minimalism as a way to let their special day speak for itself.<\/p>\n
At the core, however, is the desire to celebrate exactly the way the couple wants, with no expectations and a YOLO sort of attitude\u2014one that certainly sprang from the uncertainty, isolation, and restrictions of the pandemic. Also at their core: luxury (though the word luxury in small-scale weddings takes on a different form than that of extravagant destination weddings).<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s easy to understand the mindset behind an all-out extravagant affair, it might take a moment to see why couples are choosing to downsize the pomp and circumstance of their big day. Let\u2019s take a closer look at these small-scale weddings and see what makes them shine.<\/p>\n
Downsizing the big day<\/strong><\/p>\n The three main types of scaled-back weddings are micro-weddings, elopements, and pop-up weddings.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a bit up to interpretation what makes a wedding \u201cmicro,\u201d but the defining element is that this wedding is much smaller than average. McKenzi Taylor, founder of the Las Vegas wedding coordinating company Cactus Collective Weddings, defines a micro-wedding as 50 guests or less. Basically, a micro-wedding has all the features of a traditional wedding but on a much smaller scale.<\/p>\n Anna Treimer, founder of Wildly Connected Photography, says that elopements are a bit harder to define, because many couples define them differently. Some couples invite up to 20 guests while others have none, making the day about them and their partner alone. While the mere mention of the word “elopement” may conjure up images of sneaking off and tying the knot in a glitzy Las Vegas chapel, these days, the stigma of elopements is fading away as this type of wedding becomes more elegant and intentional.<\/p>\n Finally, pop-up weddings get couples in and out of a brief ceremony that takes place in a temporary venue, set up and broken down by a single wedding coordinating team. This allows multiple couples to get married at the same venue on a date that could otherwise be difficult to book due to limited availability. Pop-up weddings often have a theme, with d\u00e9cor set up, a bouquet and boutonni\u00e8re provided, and an officiant, a photographer, and a coordinator on-site to take care of everything. The couple merely signs up for one of the slots and shows up for a stress-free, simple ceremony.<\/p>\n As for the festivities around the ceremony, these are often downsized as well. Couples often swap out receptions in favor of dining out or hiring a private chef to cook for them at a vacation rental. The simpler each aspect of the wedding, the better.<\/p>\n Why less is more<\/strong><\/p>\n While there are many reasons now to minimize a wedding, the initial trend spiked because it was simply the only option. During COVID, couples had to make the difficult decision to either push off their wedding indefinitely, waiting months or even years to get married, or else scale completely back to make the ceremony safe for all involved and satisfy capacity restrictions. Additionally, supply chain issues made it necessary to cut back on d\u00e9cor and supplies.<\/p>\n Based on these circumstances, Treimer says, couples began to realize the upside to inviting fewer guests and having less on their pre-wedding to-do lists. In a way, COVID normalized small-scale weddings.<\/p>\n These days, minimizing a wedding is a move of empowerment. Traditional weddings, Treimer points out, come with a lot of external pressures and expectations. \u201cNo matter what they [decide], someone in the family [will be] upset… [or the couple is] worried about keeping people entertained…. You shouldn\u2019t have to worry about that on your wedding day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Some of Treimer\u2019s couples now will get closer to the finish line, realize that their special day is becoming more stressful than enjoyable, and scrap the whole thing, opting for a minimal approach instead. \u201cI just want to give them the biggest high-five!\u201d she says. \u201cPeople are realizing that doing things outside of a traditional wedding allows you to do what feels right for you. If first dances don\u2019t feel good to you, or you have a strained relationship with your family, who wants to have a first dance with your parent in front of hundreds of people?\u201d Small-scale weddings allow the freedom for a couple to express themselves as they are. \u201cHaving those smaller weddings opens up the door for you to basically do whatever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n Another upside of small-scale weddings can be the cost, though not all small-scale weddings run on a tight budget. For those that do, ditching the excess and investing only in the essentials can save couples a decent amount of money that can be put toward a honeymoon or life together. Taylor says that given the current economy and inflation, with angst and anxiety around cost, she doesn\u2019t see this scaling back going away anytime soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n Plus, Taylor notes, \u201cPeople are looking for quality over quantity,\u201d pointing out that to-be-weds are craving great experiences, and those who can\u2019t necessarily afford large-scale luxury usually end up sacrificing people or the budget to create a semi-luxurious feel. By starting off small, dollars aren\u2019t necessarily stretched thin and instead can be invested in a few high-quality touches that make the day feel luxurious.<\/p>\n Sustainability also plays a role in smaller weddings: with less d\u00e9cor, less invitations\u2014less of everything\u2014small-scale weddings create less waste. Pop-ups are especially eco-friendly, reusing the same wedding set and props for multiple ceremonies.<\/p>\n Finally, in this age of quick turnarounds, small-scale weddings can allow for a sooner wedding date from the time of proposal, easing the stress of finding a venue and planning a ceremony and reception in a short amount of time. To wit, the New York Times<\/em><\/a> <\/em><\/strong>published an article on \u201cFlash Weddings\u201d\u2014weddings that \u201care usually planned within three months or less\u2014sometimes within a week. They are typically less pricey since they are frequently held at no-cost locations like parks or beaches, with less formal decorations. They also involve fewer guests and can happen any day of the week.\u201d With many couples working on short timelines, small-scale weddings are the realistic way to make a ceremony low-key yet memorable.<\/p>\n