The image above was taken by me at the stunning Oak Hollow Farms in Orland, CA. A stunning country barn wedding venue in Northern California.

Tips on Choosing Your Wedding Size

Nowadays microweddings are the new and hottest trend and it’s easy to see why. Costs are lower, travel is easier, stressors are *almost* nonexistent. First, think about the people in your life. Are there genuinely 200 people in your life that you would just be beside yourself if they missed out? Have a full-size wedding. Do you want to avoid hurting feelings? Have a full-size wedding. Do you have the budget to pay upwards of $50 per person for catering? $20 per invitation? $12 per save the date? The budget to rent 15 tables, 400 chairs, several table scapes…. you get it. The most important thing on your wedding day is that everything is exactly how you wanted it. After all, we only get to do it once if we’re lucky.

If you, however, just read all of that and thought, “Hailey, why the hell would I want that?” then let’s keep on reading about the benefits of a micro wedding. 

The Benefits of a Micro Wedding

#1 – Location. Obviously if you’re planning on travel it’s much easier to host a microwedding or elopement with a smaller group. And chances are you’ll have quite a few people traveling for your best day ever. A microwedding allows you to use resources that aren’t typically available to our big weddings like Airbnb’s, VRBO’s, restaurants, your own backyard, etc.

#2 – Costs. Hosting a microwedding is going to immensely cut down on costs. Remember those numbers I mentioned before? Those are real numbers; averages that brides paid in 2023. With a microwedding you’re only sending a few invites. And when those people forget to mail back their RSVP for your big day? No problem! Shoot those few people a text easy peasy.

#3 – Quality Time. On your wedding day, it’s commonly known that you’ve gotta greet folks. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather sit around a bonfire with everyone at my wedding than have to visit twenty tables with at least eight of my third cousins sitting around it. Therefore, a smaller wedding size means you get to enjoy every moment with the people who have had a key part in your lifetime. Speaking of which…

“But Hailey, who do I invite?“

Only the people who have witnessed your love story. Only the people who have been supportive of your love story. Only the people who have helped you write your love story. For us, it was 34 people. And we couldn’t have been happier.

The Bottom Line Is

Everyone wants a wedding day that reflects themselves. If you’re the type of couple that want to enjoy your wedding day surrounded by everyone involved in your life, a microwedding might not be for you. If you’re hoping to get some quiet, quality time with those that have been there throughout your entire relationship, then this might be a great option.

Want to see some elopements or microweddings I’ve photographed? Checkout my website, or head to this blog about Michael + Brandy’s Mountain Home Microwedding!