Why an Elopement, Micro Wedding, & Destination Wedding Are Different
We are about 9 months into this Covid-19 pandemic. Some of us are finally starting to find our footing while others are taking a bit more time. One thing remains the same, family gatherings, including weddings, look different every day and in every part of the country. With so much uncertainty many couples choose to elope or have a micro wedding. You often hear elopement, micro wedding, and destination wedding used interchangeably, but these are three unique and distinct ways to be married. In this post we will discuss the differences and things to look for from your vendors when considering each of these types of weddings.
Elopement
The definition of elopement is an act or instance or running off secretly, as to be married. The key word to pay attention to here is secretly. Most people are not eloping in today’s climate and that’s okay. It is tempting to ditch the planning, run away with your beloved, sign the paperwork, and be done. If this is you, do it, call the minister, the judge or get a friend ordained in 30 minutes and get it done, no muss no fuss. The biggest plus of eloping; it is cost effective. All you will pay for is the marriage license fee and the officiant’s fee if applicable.
If you aren’t quite feeling the elopement vibe a micro wedding might be more what you are thinking.
Micro Wedding
Micro weddings are something we are seeing more of in the wedding industry. Travel and gathering restrictions have allowed couples to forego big celebrations without feeling guilty for not inviting (insert any name here). They are giving couples the freedom to celebrate how and with whom they want. The biggest difference between elopements and micro weddings is the vendor list. Micro weddings have all the vendors but 20 or fewer guests.
Another type of micro wedding is an intimate wedding, usually with a paired down vendor list. Both micro and intimate weddings are becoming more popular as various locations are enforcing gathering restrictions.
Destination Wedding
The wedding type is a destination wedding. Destination weddings are defined as a couple being married 100 or more miles from where they live. I would add if the majority of your guests need to travel more than 100 miles to attend your wedding this qualifies.
We see a large number of people who move across state lines, find love both in a person and their new home and choose to be married where they currently are living. This causes the majority of family and friends to travel to the couple for the wedding festivities. It is not uncommon for these couples to host welcome parties and wedding brunches and several other activities to show off their home and keep guests busy.
What to say to vendors
When chatting with possible vendors talk to them about your vision, timeline, guest count, and location. These are the areas that most consistently affect budget. If you only need a venue or vendor for 2 hours it doesn’t make sense to pay for the whole day. Be upfront and honest with any vendors with which you talk. Giving them all the information will allow them to give you the most accurate quote and prevent most unexpected costs.
If planning your wedding in the midst of a pandemic has you a bit frazzled that’s okay. I recommend you listen to our episode on “Why You Should Mourn Your Wedding” linked below. If nothing else remember the one sitting next to you, the one you said “yes” to, it’s the two of you against the world.
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