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Weddings

10 things you need to plan the perfect micro-wedding

Tiny weddings are a way of life right now.

Minted photo board and invitations, mobile bar Credit: Minted, Beer & Bubbles

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Wedding season is back—but not everyone is excited to jump head-first into the celebrations. Understandably, some soon-to-be-married couples are finding themselves a bit apprehensive when it comes to sending out their wedding invitations.

After nearly three years separated from our nearest-and-dearest, some still preference smaller celebrations, and in that case, there's a simple solution. Micro-weddings, or mini-monies, refer to weddings with 50 guests or less and allow for social distancing guidelines to be followed while still celebrating with those nearest and dearest to you. Creating a tiny version of the full-scale wedding you had in mind is the perfect way to say “I do” that’s still got all the sparkle and excitement you deserve, minus all the worries and the big expenses of a traditional wedding.

With that in mind, Reviewed has pulled together the top ten things every couple needs to plan for the perfect micro-wedding for you and your significant other.

1. Gorgeous wedding invitations

three minted invitation samples with flowers
Credit: Minted

Find the suite of your dreams with Minted's wide selection of designs

When you’re inviting fewer people, naturally, you’ll need fewer invitations, but that doesn’t mean they still shouldn’t be beautiful. We love Minted, a stationery company that allows you to choose from hundreds of wedding invite suites, along with Save The Dates and Date Change notices (which very well might be needed in these times), that are customizable so they’ll feel bespoke. Having trouble deciding? With its free sample kit, you can take stock (pun intended) of all the different luxurious papers and various letterpress options so you can choose the combo that’s right for you.

Get wedding invitations from Minted

2. An alternative (and cheaper) wedding gown

three women modeling BHLDN wedding gowns
Credit: BHLDN

Say yes to the dress!

Sometimes a small wedding calls for an alternative wedding gown to better mesh with the new plans. BHLDN, Anthropologie’s wedding label, has every kind of dress imaginable from ballgowns to bohemian-style, and most are ready-to-wear (there’s even a section on their site called "Last-Minute Bride!") Plus, if you’re looking for that in-shop experience, you can book a virtual styling appointment to help you get that perfect fit.

Get a Wedding Dress from BHLDN starting at $149

3. A portable, yet loud Bluetooth speaker

ion sport bluetooth speaker from two angles
Credit: Best Buy

Pick a playlist and let it play all night long

With less than 50 guests, it doesn’t make sense to shell out for an expensive DJ. Instead, try this large, portable Bluetooth speaker that’ll play all of your favorite tunes from a distance of up to 100 feet. It pairs with laptops, tablets, and phones and is water-resistant for all you poolside vow-exchangers. Reviewers love that it even has USB ports for charging devices and comes with a microphone (now you can be the DJ), setting it apart from other speakers of its kind.

Need to make a playlist? Consider doing so on Spotify, which is the best music streaming service we've ever tested.

Get the ION Audio Block Rocker Plus from Amazon for $159

4. An alternate wedding venue

An Airbnb house and a wedding couple
Credit: Airbnb

Think outside the venue box

Fewer guests mean cooler venue options. Skip the overdone function rooms and try your luck looking through home rental sites like Airbnb and VRBO for a truly unique place to say "I do." Most rental properties require an additional fee for having a wedding there, but even with this extra cost, it’s likely still cheaper than a traditional venue. You’ll also find more flexibility when it comes to dates and locations. Do some research to find the best Airbnb venue in your state, or search around the country for even more options. Before you book, make sure you also read about Airbnb's coronavirus policy, including how cancellations work and how hosts are required to clean properties between bookings.

5. DIY flower arrangements

woman holding bouquet of flowers, ceremony setup
Credit: Bloominous

Everything you need for gorgeous wedding flowers sent right to your door

Intimate weddings call for smaller floral arrangements, but you can save even more money by arranging them yourself. Bouqs gives you all the tools (ie: flowers, ribbon, vases, and hardware) you need to create gorgeous and professional-looking bouquets and displays on your own—you just need a little creativity and an inspirational Pinterest board. Feel free to call the wedding party over for a socially-distanced arranging session before the big day so everyone can get in on the fun.

Shop all flowers from Bouqs

6. A super sentimental photo board display

Minted collage photo board hanging in a room
Credit: Minted

Share memorable moments with your guests

Not only does Minted do invitations, but you can also create photo collages featuring you and your loved ones to display at your minimony. Choose your favorite photos of you and your beau through the years and upload them into a fun arrangement—like this adorable heart shape. You can select from five different sizes and choose the frame style that best matches your wedding mood board. Each photo art piece is professionally installed with plexiglass and has included hanging hardware, so you can display it in your home for years to come, too.

Get the Heart Snapshot Mix Photo Art from Minted starting at $29

7. Unique bridesmaid dresses

women modeling bridesmaid dresses
Credit: Fame and Partners

Styles and cuts that are flattering for every bridesmaid

It’s likely that as your guest list got smaller, so did your number of bridesmaids. Lucky for you, that makes choosing and purchasing bridesmaid dresses that much easier. Fame and Partners is an online-only retailer that features gorgeous, custom-made dresses and outfits your whole bridal party will adore. You can have each member of your party pick their preferred style, fabric, pattern, and size, and everything is shipped right to their door. It doesn’t get much easier than that.

Shop bridesmaid dresses from Fame & Partners starting at $189

8. Single-serving desserts everyone will love

a tablescape with a miniature cake on a plate
Credit: Sarah Hannam

Get creative and decorative with some single-serve sweets

Staying compliant with COVID restrictions can be stressful at times, but there’s a silver lining: the adorable single-serve desserts you can serve at your mini celebration. You can get creative with petit fours, cupcakes, cake in a jar, mini pies, macarons, a curated collection of truffles—the list goes on. Since they’re served individually, these desserts can also double as the wedding favor or the escort cards for a truly unique touch. Want some options you don't have to make yourself? Baked by Melissa offers its delicious mini cupcakes in three-pack party favors and Cheryl's Cookies has a cookie tray that can feed the whole party. We found both were delicious and completely worth it after testing a variety of gourmet food gifts.

9. A truck that brings food and booze

mobile bar truck
Credit: Beer & Bubbles

Personalize your reception with your favorite food and drink

Instead of hiring a caterer or bartender for your micro-wedding, consider renting a food truck or mobile bar for some extra charm. Your close friends and family will be thrilled at the prospect of having one all to themselves, and it’s also a great way to personalize the event. Some trucks can be rented on their own, but most require an attendant to be present for serving, which can help minimize crowding in one place. Services like Roaming Hunger can link you up with food trucks in your area, but make sure you look at all the required special event, parking, and fire code permits before you consider booking.

Book a food truck from Roaming Hunger

10. Customizable lawn games

Large versions of connect four and Jenga
Credit: Uncommon Goods

Keep your guests entertained while staying socially distant

Who doesn’t like giant versions of classic games? Entertain your guests with customizable lawn games from Uncommon Goods that can feature couple names, the date of the wedding, or pretty much anything you want. Personalize them even more by asking guests to write notes on different boards and blocks as an alternative guest book. The best part: when spread far enough apart, the outdoor games will keep everyone distanced while they socialize, though they still should be wearing masks.

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