Is Bigger Better? Micro Wedding Momentum Builds.

Karin with Jennifer Prince, Event Sales Manager at The Royal Hotel, Picton, Prince Edward County

Ask any couple who is in the planning process of a medium-to-large-scale wedding if they are enjoying the ride, and most, at some point, will quietly answer "no"; decision fatigue, jaw-dropping costs and tricky family dynamics can dim the shine of even the strongest flame of love. Enter another option, the "micro wedding".

A micro wedding typically involves only a couple's nearest and dearest: think immediate family and sometimes very closest friends. For some, this can be under 10 guests and at the upper end might include up to 50 (although to me, anything more than 20 guests falls into the "small" wedding category and isn't really "micro" anymore).

The micro wedding ceremony itself usually still follows the format of a typical larger ceremony including a vow and ring exchange, just with far fewer onlookers.

Imagine the freedom of planning a wedding on a much smaller scale; lower guest count allows increased flexibility on SO many levels. Starting with when you choose to get married, it is far more realistic to ask a tiny number of people who are super close to you to attend a mid-week wedding, which opens the door to lower mid-week pricing at many venues, not to mention significantly more available dates to choose from.

A smaller number of guests no longer requires a large dining area and adds the possibility of getting married at a restaurant, hotel or Air BnB. If excellent food and wine are your thing, imagine being able to afford a truly exceptional dining experience for a small number of friends and family versus a decent or good meal for a hundred or more people.

Last week, I officiated an adorable micro wedding at The Royal Hotel in Picton, Prince Edward County. The couple had worked with event specialist Jennifer Prince of "The Royal" to create a dreamy timeline.

They spent a luxurious night at the hotel before the wedding, waking up early to get ready before meeting their photographer, Amy Buck, to head to the Sandbanks Beach for some intimate couples photos.

From there, they went to Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area for a breakfast picnic, private vow exchange and a few more pics, before returning to The Royal to meet their 13 guests in the library for their 11am ceremony with me. It was meaningful, short and sweet; everything they wanted in a very stylish, private setting.

After the ceremony, they moved out onto the terrace for a mini-reception, while The Royal staff "flipped" the library from ceremony space to become a private dining room. A short time later, they were all seated in the library to enjoy a 3-course locally-sourced, seasonally-focused menu prepared by award-winning Chef Albert Ponzo and his talented kitchen team. After lunch, the couple eased into married life with an unhurried, meandering drive home after having celebrated their love their way.

I officiate approximately 50 weddings of all sizes each year, and am well into my 9th season of doing so; it has been my observation over time that micro weddings often have a much more intimate feel than larger incarnations of nuptials.

Anxious or shy couples fare much better when surrounded with only the folks they know well and love deeply. The flexibility of venue, day, and season, not to mention the potential cost savings, are all very compelling reasons to consider a micro wedding. Some couples still host a cocktail reception at a later date for their extended circle, but the best part of the whole idea of a micro wedding is that it is completely up to you!