What used to be known as the ‘Big Fat Indian Wedding’ — brimming with Bollywood glamor, designer decor, and eye-catching, multi-course buffets — has now given way to a new trend in India, the Micro Wedding or Small Indian Wedding. In the aftermath of the pandemic, the trend for intimate weddings has become increasingly popular, with many couples opting for a smaller celebration of their love.
Whether it was Varun Dhawan and Natasha Dalal or Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, even Indian celebs opted for smaller, more private ceremonies. This wedding is a more intimate affair, with only close relatives and friends attending, and usually set against a backdrop of a beach or a majestic valley.
What is a Micro Wedding?
The word “micro” means “small” and “minimal”. A small indian wedding or the “Micro Wedding” is an intimate event with a maximum of 50 guests, often immediate family and close friends only. It includes everything that a traditional Indian wedding has to offer. Everything stays the same, from the gorgeous venue to the photographer and the décor, although on a small scale.
Imagine celebrating with your closest friends and family while you get married and start a new life together. Isn’t that pure? A micro wedding is the new normal and a must-have for the couple who wants to spend most of their budget on small details.
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How to Plan Your Micro Wedding?
This list will help you plan your micro wedding to the last detail.
Trimming the Wedding Guest List
The only thing that makes it hard is zeroing in on the number of guests and keeping it at 50, which means that only 25 people from each side will be on the guest list. In other words, only close family members, such as grandparents, siblings, best friends, etc., will be invited. If you have a few extra seats, include one person from your immediate family that you cannot imagine your big day without.
A carefully planned guest list with only your closest family members and friends will ensure a successful slimmed-down wedding. People who know each other come together to celebrate the union of bride and groom, making blessings authentic, not just ceremonial. Also, the fewer people on the guest list, the easier you can plan, especially for destination weddings.
Choosing That Special Venue
With a micro-wedding, the venue is one of the most important things to consider. It sets the tone for your entire celebration, highlighting your love story against a stunning backdrop. Intimate events are distinctive; the venue plays a significant role in that.
Pick a destination or venue that has some significance or meaning attached to it. Maybe it is where the family is from, where the couple first met, or it may be a country the couple always wanted to visit. The arrangements you create can be elegant and comfortable. Whether it is a remote countryside estate or the warmth of a heritage home, your venue becomes an essential part of your wedding story. When the guests are at the wedding in a place special to you, it adds to the overall experience.
The Arrangements: Food, Music, Decor
When you plan a small wedding instead of a big one, you have more space to personalize every detail. Whether it is customized welcome boxes, itineraries, or return gifts, these types of weddings emphasize individuality and elegance. You can work with local vendors to curate menus that feature regional flavors and ingredients, and the details can be as per the preferences of the wedding couple. Decor can display a unique atmosphere that reflects the personalities and love stories of the bride and bridegroom.
The three most important things to have at any wedding, no matter the size, are good food, great music, and beautiful decor. Food is the foundation of any celebration, and dancing makes it fun! As you would expect, people love flowers and stationery, but those are essential for a micro wedding. Use the extra you save on skipping the unnecessary and add more beauty to the arrangements.
Wedding Attire for I Do
If you want to break from the conventional, it might be a good idea to consider the wedding outfits that would work best with your personal style. With a micro wedding, you can decide what you want to wear without worrying about pleasing the crowd. You can go for something dreamy for a Shadi Ka Joda. Whether an ethereal Sabyasachi Lehenga or a wedding outfit customized by a local Karigar. If you want to keep it sentimental and love vintage, you can always add a bit of love by wearing the wedding dress your parents wore on their special day. Give it your twist; think Indian steampunk fashion. But, if you always wanted to wear traditional wedding attire – it is your day! Go ahead and make multiple outfit changes, yay!
Engage a Professional Photographer.
Whether it is a small, intimate ceremony or a more traditional wedding, capturing the joyous moments always works best when you enlist the services of a professional photographer. When you have a limited guest list, the possibility of capturing unique and creative images becomes more likely. Therefore, incorporating a touch of click and joy at every stage can significantly enhance the wedding experience and make it truly unforgettable.
Make Your Guests Feel Special.
When you have a smaller wedding guest list, you have more time and room to socialize with everyone at your wedding. Invite both sets of families to toast and make speeches. Plan seating and place cards to ensure everyone is comfortable at their seat and table. Make your guests feel special by laying out well-arranged tables. These are the 50 people you have chosen to be a part of your life. Make sure their day is as relaxed and enjoyable as it can be.
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Bonus Tips and Ideas for the Special Day
Themes can add allure. Whether you opt for catering from your favorite restaurant, a fun dress code, a candlelight dinner setting, or a delightful scavenger hunt with your guests, you can be sure that it will be a day of extraordinary memories spent with the people you love the most. Indian weddings especially have so many themes they can work with.
Nature is Your Stunning Backdrop.
Your love story takes center stage in the magical world of a lake wedding, a desert oasis, or a beachfront celebration. The beauty of nature makes it a perfect union of love, creating an atmosphere of wonder and serenity.
As you walk down the aisle, the world is your stage. Whether it’s the beauty of those mountains or serenity on the beach, these picturesque settings blend seamlessly with your special day.
Rooftop Romance is Priceless.
Rooftop weddings are a great way to make your special day even more special with stunning views and a romantic atmosphere. Whether you get married on a lovely rooftop or in a beautiful garden, you will have a unique experience that combines intimacy and modern style with the stars and the skyline.
Rustic Charm
Why not experience the timeless allure of a rustic barn or a rural countryside setting? The magic of country charm permeates the atmosphere, creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere for your dream wedding. This setting can serve as a canvas for tradition and intimacy, making it the ideal backdrop for a backyard wedding.
The Pros of a Micro Wedding
Make your special day memorable because a micro wedding has many hidden advantages.
Reduced Costs
The wedding budget is one of the most essential factors for the bride and groom. While you can have an incredible micro wedding at a low cost, you can also have an intimate wedding with a high budget with lavish décor and arrangements. You can also have a destination wedding for an indulgent celebration. In short, you can have anything you want with a micro wedding for the lowest price or the highest cost, depending on what you desire.
Opportunity to Focus on Details
With fewer people in the room, you can work on the details and ensure every element reflects your unique experience. You can also ensure that all your guests are well cared for.
Personalize Your Dream
You can find the perfect venue or outdoor space and have everything tailored to your vision.
Flexibility for Destination Weddings Anywhere
Another great thing about a micro wedding is the flexibility it allows you to have. You can elope or go on a weekend getaway. You can take your intimate wedding to any destination, anywhere in the world. Fewer people means fewer travel arrangements.
More Time
You can spend more time with your loved ones, creating meaningful connections and memories that will last a lifetime. A small wedding is the perfect way to make your day even more special!
The Cons of a Micro Wedding
Of course, like roses have thorns, there are some cons to a micro wedding. A micro-wedding necessitates a significant reduction in the number of guests attending.
Limited Guest List
A micro wedding might not be the best option if you always envisioned having colleagues, classmates, and all family members at your wedding.
Missing Splendor
The more people attending the ceremony, the bigger the celebration. Therefore, the grandeur of the ceremony may feel diminished with a smaller audience.
Getting Parents and Elders to Agree
This theme may appear to be a complete rejection of culture and tradition. Therefore, it can be hard to communicate the idea to conservative parents and elders.
Uninvited Family Members May Create Drama.
Drama is inevitable at any wedding, particularly with family dynamics. You cannot simply invite an uncle and not include another aunt. You must explain the circumstances and why you are reducing the guest list. However, remember, this is your wedding day. Do not allow friends and family to guilt you into deviating from your wedding plans.
Challenge to Make It Exciting
In a large wedding, the absence of a few guests does not have much of an impact. However, in a small wedding, the situation is different. If there are vacant chairs, it is advisable to remove them to avoid any visible signs of a lack of presence. The venue can become quite lively when there is a large group of guests. However, with a small group of guests, you have the challenge of planning an exciting and captivating wedding.
Final Verdict: Enjoy the Beauty of a Micro Wedding
Create a micro wedding theme that captures the essence of your journey. From a vintage era to a favorite movie to a shared passion, a micro wedding-themed celebration allows your personality to shine through. Each detail, from the décor to the attire, captures the spirit of your chosen theme and creates a micro wedding that is as one-of-a-kind as your love story.
A micro wedding encapsulates the essence of true intimacy and authenticity. It reflects a deep connection with your closest friends and family. It is a carefully orchestrated melody of love and acceptance of simple pleasures, individualized details, and essential moments.
By selecting a micro wedding, you embark on a journey of shared memories, laughter, and a unique experience that surpasses expectations. It is an opportunity to experience love at its finest, surrounded by loved ones who add to your love story.
