MICRO WEDDINGS
Let’s face it, big weddings aren’t for everybody. And just because you want to do things on a smaller scale doesn’t mean that your wedding can’t be absolutely amazing.
Small or intimate weddings are typically those with 50 or fewer guests in attendance. A micro wedding is generally a wedding of 30 or fewer guests. I happen to love photographing micro weddings and intimate weddings. From a photographer’s viewpoint, less can definitely mean more. Here’s a few reasons why:
BEING PRESENT
I have photographed a lot of weddings in my day. One of the things I notice about huge weddings is that the couple rarely gets a moment to catch their breath. Being pulled in many directions, following a carefully crafted timeline full of formalities, and being where your wedding planner tells you to be can overwhelming for some. A micro wedding affords the couple the opportunity to slow things down. really be present in the moment and fully savor the full experience of the day. Slowing things down results in less stress and less stress means more smiles…..and that’s a very good thing for a photographer!
ONLY THE VIPs
A micro wedding means that only the very most important people of your life are in attendance. When the couple looks out onto their wedding they see only people who they generally have a very deep connection to. This lends itself to having way more opportunities for a photographer to capture genuine, authentic moments between loved ones. There are no random guests, 3rd cousins twice removed or parents’ friends that you’ve met only once vying for your attention. Rather, the small micro wedding guest list creates an experience where quality far exceeds quantity. As a NYC micro wedding photographer, I always feel like I’m peaking behind the curtain into the most intimate of family gatherings…..and it’s always a wonderful thing.
Need inspiration on creating a micro wedding guest list? Check out this article from Junebug Weddings.
CREATIVE FLEXIBILITY
A NYC micro wedding (or anywhere for that matter) enormously expands your venue options. When your guest list isn’t 100-300, you will find yourself with a lot more creative freedom in planning where to have your micro wedding. From parks, to your apartment, a backyard, your favorite neighborhood restaurants and hotel suites - the logistics of planning an intimate wedding are not nearly as challenging as they would be planning something for 250 guests. As such, you are able to be more creative in when, where and how the wedding takes place. When I’m photographing a NYC micro wedding, I love it when the whole party decides to travel together from the ceremony location to the reception, giving me amazing opportunities to capture impromptu moments and portraits in the unlikeliest of places. You can find a lot of resources on line for NYC small wedding venue inspiration.
