5 Top Trends in Small Weddings

Written by Curator and tiny wedding photographer, Lisa Kathan

Tiny weddings. Elopements. Micro weddings. They were increasing in popularity before 2020, but with so many couples scaling back the size of their celebrations, they’re the hottest thing happening in weddings right now.

Here are five of the coolest trends we’re seeing in small weddings:

1: City Hall Wedding

When people think of an elopement, they usually think of a couple sneaking off to city hall to be married before anyone finds them out! But lots of couples are getting married at City Hall because it’s easy to plan and costs very little. Some of them will celebrate with family and friends in the future when the pandemic is in the rear view mirror, but don’t want to wait that long to be married. 

If you want to get married at Chicago's City Hall or a county courthouse, be sure to read 6 Tips for Getting Married at City Hall. It contains all the super-important details about you’ll need to know for your City Hall wedding!

PRO TIP: Don’t just head down to the marriage court in a t-shirt and jeans! Get dressed up, get flowers, and a photographer, and document the day so you can share it with your family and friends who weren’t there. They’ll be thrilled when they get to see the photos, and you will love being able to spend some fun time alone with each other (something you can't do on a traditional wedding day!).

2: Backyards, Courtyards & Parks, Oh My!

Getting married outdoors is a great way to go during a pandemic. It’s safer, and if there are guideline changes, it’s less likely to affect the plans for your day. 

And there are options for all kinds of budgets when you plan an outdoor affair! You can make it super personal and get married in a backyard, get a permit and host your wedding in one of the many parks around Chicagoland, or go for a more elegant option at a restaurant rooftop or courtyard. 

PRO TIP: If you’re planning a full event with a ceremony and party in your backyard or a park, hire a wedding planner! These kinds of weddings may save you some on budget, but are considerably more time consuming than you might think. They sound simple, but you may regret it if you try to tackle this on your own. A planner will definitely save you time (and probably some money)!

3: Traditional + small = the Micro Wedding

If you want to stick to more traditional elements, but also want to cut back to 25-50 guests, a micro wedding is perfect for you! Most couples planning a micro wedding are doing all the stuff you might expect at a larger wedding — including a ceremony and some kind of reception — but making it small.

An important note, stay on top of any current COVID guidelines affecting things like group sizes and dance floors before setting your plans.

PRO TIP: Some couples have difficulties finding venues perfect for their small celebration, so we created a resource for you! Check out The Best Venues for Under 50 Guests. You’ll find a huge list of venues in Chicago and the suburbs, and all of them have space for your ceremony AND your party, so you don’t need to find two locations.

4: Wed now,  party later

During the pandemic, a new trend has popped up: couples choosing to have a very small ceremony (sometimes just the couple) and withholding the big party with all their family and friends for a later date, when the world is safer and planning a party is less likely to be fraught with issues. 

Many couples have family and friends coming from other places — even out of the country — and guests are either uncomfortable or unable to travel to their wedding. Waiting till guests can be vaccinated and feel more comfortable at a larger party is a great plan.

PRO TIP: Definitely celebrate the day you’re married, even if no one can be there. Be sure to hire a photographer to capture all the moments so you can share them in an album with your guests at your party, and you might even consider a videographer so you can share a beautiful wedding film. Your guests will be thrilled to see how your day unfolded, and it will add a moving touch to your future party. 

5. Simply Getting Married

Often couples are opting to have a tiny wedding — by getting married in a simple ceremony —  and celebrating with a brunch or dinner with a small handful of friends and family (usually under 20) at home or a restaurant. 

PRO TIP: Believe it or not, there are lots of you out there who always wanted to have a simple wedding like this, and being in the middle of a pandemic just elevated that idea to being something acceptable! Bonus, so many venues are opening up and offering packages fit just for this type of wedding day. So if this is your vibe, don’t be afraid to have the simple wedding you always wanted!

Looking for the perfect small wedding venue?

Check out our blog post, The Best Venues for Under 50 Guests, from our tiny wedding expert, Lisa Kathan!