Planning a stunning blowout wedding is what some people have been dreaming about since they were little. However, for some, the cost, effort and stress that comes with arranging a huge event like this sounds more like a nightmare than a fantasy. The truth is that large weddings require a huge amount of forethought and organisation – but what if you just want to focus on the one thing that matters most: you and your beloved?
If your dream wedding is something that revolves more around intimacy and connection than a festival, you might want to consider holding a micro wedding. A micro wedding is similar to an elopement, but with the benefit of your close friends and family in attendance. It’s a small gathering with only the people who are closest to you – what could be better?
With a micro wedding, you can save money and make the most of your special day, surrounded by the most important people in your life. If you’re thinking of planning a micro wedding in London, read on for some of the best reasons to host your wedding in the city, and a few planning tips to get you started.
London is one of the best places for a micro wedding in the UK, if not all of Europe! Not only is it charming, historic, and packed full of amazing hospitality venues, it’s also easily accessible.
No matter where your guests are coming from, London is easy to reach by train or plane, which makes it simple for out-of-town guests to travel to your wedding. Do keep in mind that you still want to give your guests as much notice as possible so they can plan; it’s always good to send out a Save The Date as soon as you can, so friends and family can make arrangements.
At large weddings, it can feel like you’re constantly rushing around, trying to make small talk with everyone in attendance – even distant relatives or family friends that you hardly know. A micro wedding is a great way to ensure you have more time to spend with those who are closest to you.
Since a micro wedding is much smaller than a traditional wedding, you’ll be able to spend more quality time with the ones you love, helping your wedding day feel more personalised and intimate, and less like a formality you need to get through.
Another great reason to consider a micro wedding in London is that you’re completely spoilt for choice when it comes to venues! You can find magical, intimate spaces for both your ceremony and reception, designed with smaller wedding parties in mind.
The location is totally up to you, but as a micro wedding photographer in London, I’d recommend thinking about the background for your wedding photos when deciding, as you’re likely to be shooting them near your venue. There are almost infinite options for wedding photography in London, but a few particularly beautiful spots include Primrose Hill, the Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and Kew Gardens.
It’s no secret that weddings can cost a small fortune. If you’re looking to organise a wedding on a budget, or you’d rather save the money to put towards a honeymoon or a home deposit, then a micro wedding is a great choice.
When planning a wedding, you’re generally paying per person, so with a small group of attendees, you’re likely to spend far less than you would on a larger event.
Not everyone wants to walk down the aisle with hundreds of people staring at them! And that’s completely okay – if you want your wedding to be less of a show and more of a family affair, a micro wedding is a much more intimate day, allowing you to focus on enjoying yourself without having to play host to hundreds of guests.
Here’s an idea of some of the gorgeous photos we can capture during a smaller wedding, focusing on the romantic, special details of the day.
I might be a little biased because I live here… but is there any city in the world better than London?! Whether you’re a local or visiting, London has so much to offer that your guests are sure to want to stay for the weekend.
From history, museums, culture and theatre to eateries and outdoor attractions, there’s so much to see and do in London that your friends and family will love the opportunity to make a mini holiday out of it.
If you’re ready to make it happen, I have some good news: planning a micro wedding in London can be much simpler than planning a traditional wedding! With small numbers, you have many more options for venues, including restaurants and bars that have private rooms. However, you’ll still want to start planning as far in advance as you can, as popular venues can get booked out up to a year or two in advance.
Once you’ve worked out approximately how many people will be attending, start searching for venues, considering whether you’d like your ceremony location to be in the same place or separate from your reception venue. There are many micro wedding venues in London that cater specifically to smaller groups.
When you start researching venues, try to learn everything about what they can offer – some will even include the services of a wedding planner, which can be a helpful way to relieve some of the stress of organising your day. Of course, you’ll then want to think about the fun details like your invitations, dress, flowers, music – and, of course, photography!
As an experienced wedding photographer, I absolutely love the beauty of micro weddings and would be delighted to work with you. I even offer a special package for micro wedding photography. If you have any questions about your wedding planning or micro weddings in general, please reach out – I’d be more than happy to help.