Micro Wedding vs Elopement | What Are The Differences?
We’ve talked about wedding trends gearing more towards more intimate get-togethers. You may be asking yourself, what are the differences between elopements and micro weddings? Of course, both have similar elements but let’s talk about the key differences so that you can better decide your personal wedding planning journey.
Check out our post about micro weddings (What is a Microwedding) for a more in-depth breakdown of the pros of that choice. To do a quick run down, it’s important to note that a micro wedding is essentially a heavily scaled-down version of a traditional wedding. With a small guest list of 50 people or less, a couple can decide to make a wedding as customized or personalized as they wish within a smaller budget and fewer limitations.
An elopement originated as a secret wedding with an exclusive number of attendees. At one time, those who opted for elopement were considered ashamed of their relationship or ostracized from their families. The modern definition of elopement is a nontraditional, intimate, and intentional way of going through a wedding ceremony. Elopements are known to be done with minimal planning with little to no fuss. This type of wedding started as a taboo decision yet has transformed into a new and embraced experience.
Kaitlyn Brown | The Daydreamer Diaries
The main difference between a micro wedding and an elopement is that a wedding focuses on the guest experience vs. an elopement focuses more on the couple itself. Although micro weddings concentrate more on the couple than a traditional wedding, it is still a planned party for a group of people. With that being said, there are no rules to elopement. You can plan a party as big, small, intimate, or inviting as you want. It is entirely up to what type of experience you want. Taking elements from both types of weddings is okay to create a party that fits your unique vision. In this space, we invite you to break all the rules that don’t apply to you.
Let’s break down the differences a little bit further:
Ultimately, elopement is the most intimate experience with no pressure to invite unwanted guests. If a small guest list is your jam, this is a fantastic option for those who don’t want to deal with the hurt feelings of people who didn’t make the guest list. An elopement is the way to go to ensure that the experience is entirely about you and your partner.
Kaitlyn Brown | The Daydreamer Diaries
Conversely, a micro wedding allows you to celebrate with people who mean the most to you if you have an itch for a good party. It gives you the feeling of a traditional celebration with the complete creative freedom to make it your own unique experience.
An elopement usually comes with less personalized planning. Location is usually the most significant decision about eloping. Especially if you elope in a destination location, you are letting go of the minute details that a traditional wedding may include. This is a fabulous option for those who may not enjoy party planning or care about every minute detail.
A micro wedding still takes planning. Although the planning process is much easier, you are still taking into account making the experience enjoyable for your guests. In fact, a micro wedding is the way to go if you are passionate about making the party the most customized experience for everyone in attendance.
Cost is a big difference in experience. Although both weddings can be done on a budget, elopement-style weddings are the cheapest, depending on how you decide to do it. You can run to the courthouse for as little as $100 or less. However, you can make your elopement a destination vacation which is a valid option.
Kaitlyn Brown | The Daydreamer Diaries
Micro weddings still take some budget and planning. Although you can save a big chunk of change, you’re still investing in the party. Some couples opt to spend their entire budget on their micro wedding like they would a traditional-sized wedding. Again, it all depends on how you want to spend your budget.
As you can see, there are some heavy similarities between elopement and micro weddings. However, the experiences are just different enough when you look at what types of things are prioritized. There is no wrong way to plan a wedding, especially a nontraditional wedding. Again, I encourage you to take the elements that serve you and leave out the rest. If you want to elope with 20 people, do it. Who needs labels for their celebrations, anyway? At the end of the day, it’s your wedding, and your happiness and memories matter more than anyone else.