Do you want to avoid a large and expensive wedding? During the Covid-19 pandemic, more couples than ever before decided to move forward with intentionally reduced wedding plans. These weddings took many forms, all of which continue to rise in popularity as affordable, romantic, and manageable alternatives to traditionally-sized weddings.

Which small wedding choice is right for you? Here's what you need to know about the most popular.

1. Micro-Weddings

A micro-wedding is, as its name suggests, a minimized version of a regular wedding. It typically caps the guest list at around 50 people, allowing couples to enjoy most of the traditional trappings of a wedding but with much less cost and stress.

The ceremony is generally very similar to most other weddings, although the reception can be very nontraditional. This is because a micro-wedding reception provides more venue options, food options, and opportunities to splurge with your budget. 

2. Minimonies

The coronavirus pandemic's social distancing restrictions gave birth to a new wedding trend: the minimony. Minimonies are very limited in size, often including fewer than ten participants. The couple generally selects a small sampling of wedding traditions, such as sharing a cake or having a first dance, but forgoes the majority of elements. These ceremonies can be held virtually anywhere and may be very short if you want. 

Minimonies are very focused on the couple rather than the party. Some couples plan a more standard size reception or vow ceremony at a later date to accommodate friends and family. 

3. Destination Weddings

The old idea of eloping has often morphed into the modern destination wedding. This type of wedding allows the couple to avoid the big stressors of wedding planning — such as family drama, party planning, DIY work, and extra expenses. Instead, you choose a location for the ceremony and invite only a select group to participate. There generally is no real reception, although most couples celebrate in their own way. 

4. Elopements

A true elopement is the smallest wedding you can have, often limited to the couple and their legally-required witnesses. Elopements provide an additional element of spontaneity and romance that stems from the idea of running away to have a secret ceremony — even if they aren't actually secret or unplanned any more. 

Where to Start

A minimalist wedding can be the perfect answer to many wedding challenges. And you can still have the romantic ceremony you want with those who mean the most to you. Start planning your small wedding today by touring ceremony venues in your target area. You're sure to find the right place to exchange scaled-down vows no matter what you want from your big day. 

For more information on wedding ceremonies, contact Russo's On The Bay in Queens, NY.