Hello 2021. We have to admit, we didn’t expect 2021 to look quite like this when the world shut down last March. As planners who are obsessed with planning every detail and creating backup plans for backup plans, 2020 definitely gave us a run for our money. We love to find beauty and joy in everything we do, so we have to admit that something really beautiful came out of all the changes last year: a true love for planning a micro wedding.

Last year, we had many couples downsize their guest list and create the weddings of their dreams on a much smaller scale than they originally envisioned. Fortunately, the most important things remained the same: the person they married, the way they felt exchanging their vows, the rolling feeling that you get in your stomach before you see him on your wedding day for the first time (PS: he still cries, regardless of the guest count). As 2021 begins, we want to share a few pieces of advice in you are looking to (intentionally) plan a micro wedding.

Georgia Wedding Planners

In case you aren’t yet familiar with Borrowed & Blue, allow us to quickly introduce ourselves (so you know a little more about who’s advice you are taking). We are a team of wedding planners based in North Georgia, Atlanta, and South Carolina (our home office is based in Cornelia, Georgia right amount the breathtaking North Georgia mountains). You can meet our team wedding planners here! We have become known for customizing each wedding to the couple hosting – no two people are the same so no weddings should be the same either.

If you love stunning wedding inspiration as much as we do, be sure to peek at our portfolio here. We also offer custom rentals and decors so if you are dreaming of stunning tablescapes, make sure to connect with us here. Last but not least, if you’re in Cornelia, you can also rent our space if you are planning a party, bridal shower, cooperate luncheon – whatever you have in mind. As you can tell, we love to help you celebrate.

The First Step of Planning a Micro Wedding

If you are leaning in to the idea of a micro wedding, we can guess that spending quality time with your closest family and friends is important to you. This first step is going to be the hardest. Sit down with your fiancé and create your guest list. Typically, under 50 people is considered a micro wedding but don’t feel any pressure to fit your wedding inside a box (we certainly don’t!). After creating your guest list, you can then go on to the more exciting wedding planning tasks like choosing a venue that will be the perfect fit for your list.

Because so many 2020 weddings postponed, you might want to consider a more unique wedding venue. You may find traditional venues are booked up. Don’t worry about trying to do it all right now, a wedding planner can help you with finding a venue, and everything else! We also encourage you to talk to your closest family and friends to let them know what you are planning, and potentially spread the word if you have a large family that might be anxiously expecting an invitation. Another benefit of 2020 – it’s way easier to break the news that you are keeping it small this year!

Reallocate Your Budget to Save Money & Splurge on Details

You have probably heard before that the easiest way to save money is by cutting your guest list. While many parts of your wedding budget might be fixed regardless of your guest count (like photography, or your venue), a majority of other expenses are tied directly to the size of your guest list. Of course, your family and friends celebrating with you are worth every dollar spent but if you are the type that is obsessed with all of the gorgeous and intricate details you see on Pinterest or in wedding magazines, you might find they are a lot more accessible with a smaller guest list. Intentionally choosing a micro wedding might just allow room for both savings and more than a few extra splurge worthy details.

When creating a budget for your micro wedding, we would encourage you to take a similar approach as a regular wedding. First, you and your fiancé need to decide what is most important to you. Don’t rely on online wedding calculators to tell you to only spend 12% of your budget on florals if you have always dreamed of a secret garden style wedding. It’s also okay if you don’t know what to budget for things, our next recommendation would be to hire a wedding planner, so you can contact us here to connect.

Create a Relaxed and Intimate Atmosphere

If you want a relaxed and intimate atmosphere, we don’t need to leave it to chance. We don’t believe in staged photos. When you have a smaller guest list, we have more freedom to curate the experience you want on your wedding day. This can mean a relaxed timeline, so that you can attend cocktail hour with your guests, or even taking family and wedding party portraits before the ceremony (after the first look). We recommend adding comfortable lounge furniture to make guests feel right at home. If you want a more casual feel, consider adding catering options like family style dining or appetizers instead of a formal plated dinner. We can anticipate the buffets are going to be out of the question for a while!

If you are considering a zoom wedding (or another way for guests to attend your wedding virtually), make sure to hire someone to manage the camera during the ceremony. Don’t leave anything to chance. And of course, we would love to remind you that when it comes to creating a relaxed and intimate atmosphere, do not forget to hire a wedding planner. There is truly no other investment that can give you the peace of mind to be present on your wedding day.

Planning a Micro Wedding in 2021

Our hope is, that this has left you inspired and excited to plan your micro wedding in 2021. Although things were so uncertain in 2020, we are all walking into 2021 with a much better understanding of how to intentionally plan a micro wedding from the start. Don’t think that a micro wedding won’t absolutely wow your guests – we can promise you that more than one couple were absolutely in awe of what we were able to help them put together once they decided to downsize their guest list. If you are looking to plan a wedding in 2021 and are in need of a wedding planner, make sure to connect with us here. As a team of 5, we are ready and excited to help you celebrate in a joy-filled way. Congratulations!