If there was one thing no bride or groom expected to derail their wedding plans, it was a global health crisis, but here’s how to make any covid wedding feel special! When the coronavirus pandemic first shuttered the wedding industry—along with just about everything else—in March of 2020, couples and their vendors started getting creative. Enter: The micro wedding. Because so many brides and grooms ultimately postponed their larger celebrations until things are safer, smaller celebrations have been on the rise. “While it’s unfortunate to not have your full guest list in attendance, having fewer guests means that there will be more intimacy,” says Melissa Brooks, founder of Enchanted Allure Events.
Upgrade your menu.
If you aren’t providing food for hundreds (or even dozens) of guests, consider creating a personalized menu that works best on a smaller scale. . “All weddings have food and drink, but enjoying libations that have meaning and tell a story make it more special,” Meyer says. A smaller wedding might also free up a room in your budget for a more interactive food experience, says Brooks.
Check out some of our menu options here!
Tweak your seating arrangements.
With a smaller group—and in the interest of keeping everyone at a safe distance — get creative with your seating arrangements. “No need to go traditional, especially now that things have changed,” says Brooks. “Set up a different layout that allows guests to still be socially distanced, have a great view, and provides an amazing set up for your wedding photos. Consider switching regular formal seating for a more comfortable vibe by providing couches, benches, and blankets.”
Host a car parade.
Nancy Byrnes, a Pittsburgh-based event planner, organized an outdoor receiving line for local friends and family to greet the newlyweds. She was able to get a permit to close their street for a few hours, which allowed them to direct traffic one way, and placed two small rugs—one for the bride and groom and one for guests who chose to walk—at a safe distance to allow for in-person congrats. As guests arrived, they were greeted with bottles of Champagne to enjoy at home, mini wedding cakes, monogrammed cowbells to ring in celebration, and packets of lavender to toss at the newlyweds. Byrnes says: “This was but a fraction of what would have spent on the reception so we made this decision easily and with gusto!”
Adapted from an article in Martha Stewart Weddings, By Blythe Copeland