How to Plan a Colorado Micro Wedding or Elopement

COVID concerns around social gatherings have brought about a new trend in the wedding industry — micro weddings and elopements.

Rather than stressing out about social distancing measures or having to leave out family members who need to travel, why not celebrate your special occasion with an intimate event with close friends and family by planning a micro wedding or elopement.

As the name suggests, micro weddings are a scaled-down version of the real thing, offering an intimacy that grand-scale events simply can’t match. 

Find out more about what’s involved in a Colorado micro wedding, and how you can start planning yours. 

More Reasons to Choose a Micro Wedding

There are several benefits to a micro wedding — aside from the huge money savings! 

For starters, a smaller event means you’ll need to do a lot less planning before the time and a shorter guest list means less arguing over seating charts.

You’ll also get to spend more time with your guests since you won’t have to spread your attention as far and wide.

One of the biggest benefits of planning a micro wedding is that you’ve got an almost unlimited amount of venues to choose from, especially if you choose to make your nuptials official in a courthouse before the time. 

Did you know, the average couple spends around 13 months planning their wedding, and psychologist rate wedding planning among the top ten most stressful life events. 

Choosing a Venue for Your Colorado Micro Wedding

Use your imagination to choose a venue that has special meaning to you and your fiance. It could be the place where you first met, a favorite restaurant, or even a local park. 

It’s important to choose your venue before you invite your guests. Some places may have restrictions on the number of people you can invite. For example, if you’re using a restaurant there might be a limit on the maximum number of people you can seat at a table. 

Estes Park has several stunning small wedding venues around town where you can say your vows against a backdrop of photogenic spots. Even the YMCA’s a great place to tie the knot in this neck of the woods. 

Likewise, you’re sure to find a pretty spot or intimate venue around the Fort Collins area. Colorado’s filled with pretty mountainsides, rustic cabins, and lovely parks where you can tie the knot in a blissfully intimate ceremony.

Focus on the Basics First

Every wedding needs just four things — apart from a bride and groom, of course — and these are food, booze, music, and awesome photographs. 

The first three will ensure your guests have a memorable time, and the last one ensures you’ve got something other than a significant other to show for your wedding day efforts. 

A smaller wedding calls for a smaller shot list which translates to a cheaper photography package, so work with an accomplished photographer who’ll capture meaningful images throughout the event, as well as a few formal shots. 

Focus your micro wedding planning efforts and budget on these aspects and you’re all set for a micro-wedding your guests will remember for a long time to come.

Keep it Simple

If you’ve been dreaming of a Cinderella dress, go for it! Boutiques have great semi-annual sales and you can even rent wedding dresses now! My personal favorite is Borrowing Magnolia.

With a micro wedding, you can forego all the usual bridesmaids and flower girls, so you’ll save there too. If your guests are looking for something beautiful and classic, check out Lulus for great guest dresses — and some wedding dresses too!

Less is More

Micro wedding planning is a breeze compared to a full-scale wedding. You’ll have so much more time to choose the elements you want to spend money on. 

Instead of 100s of smaller, less impactful flower arrangements, you can go all out with just one arrangement of spectacular blooms. You’ll also be able to afford a much more luxurious and delicious SMALLER wedding cake.

You can shower your guests with more expensive mementos of your big day, or even personalized gifts to thank them for coming.

Going small doesn’t mean you need to do everything yourself, professional services can still help you take a load off during the planning phase. You’ll be able to afford more of the good stuff when you’re catering for fewer people.

If you’re dining at a restaurant, you can let your guests choose their meals from the menu. There are no worries about unexpected dietary requirements and other catering headaches when you’re only catering for your friends either. 

For an outdoor get-together, gourmet picnic baskets are always a hit. 

Traditions are Still Important

Hosting an unconventional wedding doesn’t mean you should skimp on all the best bits. Wedding traditions are fun and you should try to incorporate as many of them as you can into your day.

Personalized vows are important, and they’ll hold so much more meaning when shared with only a few special guests. 

So, make sure you throw the garter, cut your wedding cake together, and make a big deal of your first dance. Don’t forget the speeches either. 

You might not think much of old-fashioned wedding rites, but your parents probably do. Remember, they’ve also dreamed of this day for the longest time, so take their wishes into consideration. 

You don’t want to look back on your wedding day and think, ‘we should’ve done that’.

Add Extra Special Touches

With fewer guests to cater to, you can go all out with your invitations. That doesn’t mean spending a fortune though.

You can make each guest a handmade invitation, write them a personal thank you note, or even gift them with their own set of photographs commemorating your special day. 

With extra cash to spare, you could even consider making a weekend of it by booking a mountain getaway for a few friends.  

A videography package for a small intimate ceremony will also cost a lot less than a full wedding package. So, consider hiring a videographer to capture your vows and speeches for posterity too. 

When you’re saving on catering for the masses, you can afford all these little touches that make your day extra special. 

Planning the Ultimate Wedding

No matter how you decide to tie the knot, your wedding day is one of the most significant events of your life. No matter your budget, you should make a big deal of your big day, and planning a micro wedding’s often the best way to do it.

Get in touch if you want to end up with affordable, fun, fantastic photos so you reminisce about your Colorado micro wedding for years to come. Big or small, I can help make your wedding day as unforgettable as you want it to be.