November 25, 2020

The mini weddings that gave us BIG smiles

The mini weddings that gave us BIG smiles
Latitude Photography
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Today’s blog is a super positive one all about celebrating love, regardless of what the world throws at you!

It's not been an easy year for anyone, and those planning weddings have had their own unique set of challenges to face (!!!) It's been rocky, to say the least.


So much time, love and effort goes into planning the big day. Witnessing our lovely couples having to postpone weddings last minute, or cut the guest lists down from hundreds to a handful has been so heartbreaking, and something no-one would ever have anticipated at the start of 2020!

We’ve always known we have BEST couples at Elmore, but you guys have been so inspirational in the way you’ve handled this and moved with the changes, it's been truly awe inspiring!

Due to the size of our venue we often have large weddings, but we knew that the most important thing for some of our couples was getting married on the date they planned, so we came up with a micro wedding package for those who wanted the option... And guess what… They are just the most magical of days!

Eve Dunlop
Eve Dunlop

Don't decide against planning a small intimate wedding until you've read this whole journal

They might have been small in numbers but these micro weddings were jam-packed FULL of love and joy and real cosy connection, which soothed our aching hearts no end, and truly lifted the mood for everyone involved.
We'd love host more micro weddings until the time comes to celebrate bigger.

So for those who are currently covid wedding planning, don't decide against planning a small intimate wedding until you've read this whole journal... You can always do both, and we would love that!

Without further ado let's introduce you to some of the lovely couples that said ‘I Do’ in 2020; sharing their photos and their thoughts. We think it might just make you want to slim down the guest list and blow that styling budget - a bride can’t have too many flowers and candles (or weddings!!!) in our opinion.

Journal
Journal
Rob Tarren
Rob Tarren
Micro wedding with big styling. Urns full of foliage and flowers flank the wedding aisle in stately home where a small number of guests watch bride and groom marry
Rob Tarren
Rob Tarren
Rob Tarren

Mini wedding with games by the fire

“You guys were amazing! Planning a wedding in 2020 was a roller-coaster but at each hurdle it helped so much to know that Elmore was supporting us every step of the way. We got to know so many of the team and your enthusiasm and positivity rubbed off on us - I am not sure we would have gone ahead with such a small wedding at any other venue and we are so so glad that we did.

Elmore's smooth running of the day and the smaller number of guests meant that it was such a relaxed day and we managed to spend quality time with all our close friends and family that were there (something that we haven't been able to do much this year!).

All being on the same table for dinner was so intimate and the Elmore dining room looked amazing by candle-light.

Although we fell in love with the Gillyflower for our original plan, we couldn't think of a more perfect set up in the main house for our smaller guest list.

Everyone attending was able to stay at the venue, and we all had breakfast together the next morning (apologies to the staff that coped with us all coming down at once!).

We even had time for our treasure hunt and parlour games by the fire after dinner.”

- Amy and Alan

Micro wedding ceremony in stately home hall. Bride and groom stand at end of aisle with a small number of guests watching
Rob Tarren
Little touches at a micro wedding in Autumn 2020
Rob Tarren
Groom gets ready to marry at a micro wedding ceremony for covid wedding 2020
Rob Tarren
Beautiful Wedding flowers arranged by angel statues at the end of the aisle for a micro wedding at Elmore Court
Rob Tarren
father of the bride first look at bride ready to marry at her mico wedding at elmore court
Rob Tarren
Micro weddings in 2020. Father of bride beams with happiness at his daughter ready to get wed
Rob Tarren
Bride descends down the stairs of stately home with guests carrying her train ready to marry at a micro wedding in 2020
Rob Tarren

Micro wedding, Mega styling

“The day was unbelievable and we can’t stop talking about how much we loved it - the smaller wedding for us definitely made it more deep and emotional, everyone enjoyed themselves and it really consolidated us as a couple. It would have been completely different if we had the original plan but I hope more couples take the opportunity to have something completely different.”

- Charlotte and Chris

Micro wedding couple kiss in an aisle surrounded by candles, huge flowers in urns and foliage
Latitude Photography
Mega styling by Amber Persia
Micro wedding guests celebrate with colourful smoke bombs in the grounds of wedding venue elmore court in 2020
Latitude photography
You don't have to go small on fun
Micro wedding dinner with beautiful styling laid out in The Gillyflower surrounded by candles and magical twinkling lights
Latitude photography
Mini wedding reception dinner beautifully styled with flowers and candles and grey tablecloth in a magical reception room
Latitude photography

Wed now, party later

Angeli and Rob postponed their June wedding until 2021, but later decided they still wanted to get married this year and so went ahead with a wedding for 15 guests a couple of weeks ago.

The autumn sun came out, they had the most special day - and they still get to come back and do the big party in 2021!

 

autumn micro wedding romance
Eve Dunlop
basket of pumpkins to decorate an autumnal micro wedding
Eve Dunlop
orange flower for an autumnal micro wedding at elmore court
Eve Dunlop
candlelit micro wedding at elmore court
Eve Dunlop
Happily married couple at their micro wedding ceremony
Eve Dunlop
Brides bouquet for a micro wedding in autumn 2020
Eve Dunlop
Happy hug bride and groom embrace at the end of the aisle at their micro wedding ceremony
Eve Dunlop
Emotional bride getting ready for micro wedding ceremony at elmore court
Eve Dunlop
Hygge micro wedding drinks
Eve Dunlop
Micro wedding bride with orange bouquet poses for photographs
Eve Dunlop
micro wedding romance
Eve Dunlop
pumpkins to decorate autumnal micro wedding
Eve Dunlop

What we've learned from smaller weddings

You can rework the day. With no big evening party, you could move the ceremony to slightly later in the day and enjoy a candlelit wedding.

We've also had couples plan in a cocktail hour before dinner to give another dimension to the day, this feels really special to have some downtime and then meet downstairs again in the Drawing Room for pre-dinner cocktails, adding in some live music elevates that even further.

Chris from Tux Fizz performed at one of the micro weddings and it went down a storm - we have all missed live music so much!!

Just married couple smile and hold hands in the air whilst confetti is thrown at micro wedding ceremony at elmore court
Eve Dunlop

Extra special touches

There are so many ways to make a wedding day special, but with a slimmer guest list you'll have the time to go that extra mile and put more effort into each individual. Perhaps you want to write a personal note, or give a little gift to each guest? Or provide a button hole for everyone at the wedding.

All these little touches make your chosen guests feel extra special.

Rob Tarren
Rob Tarren

Include guests from a distance

Some had surprise video messages from those who couldn’t make it, others live streamed the ceremony... Friends unable to be there in person can perhaps enjoy getting dressed up, watch you marry and raise a toast from afar.

Go big on the menu

You may have fewer numbers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go to town on the day you dreamed of.

Go big on the menu - you could add in another course, have that beef wellington you were lusting after and match the best wines to your menu. Your guests are your VIP’s, so it is so lovely to be able to make them feel like royalty for the day.

Don't skimp on photography

Great photographs will give you so much joy so if you were considering cutting back on a photographer for 15 guests, please don’t - from these images we think you’ll see why.

The cosier the better

Micro weddings are the essence of hygge. Get into it; light fires, candles, tell stories, play games, have treasure hunts. Magic will unfold.

Open fire lit for a hygge micro wedding in the autumn
Eve Dunlop

Get guests involved

Give everyone a role, from helping with styling, making the cake, doing a speech - everyone can get involved, the real joy of the smaller wedding is the added connection, it makes the whole day feel less divided with 'guests' and 'helpers' and instead becomes one big (little!) glorious get together/ dinner party.

We hope we’ve spread some joy today, and soothed some worries about having to reduce numbers or helped those sitting on the fence about a micro wedding.

See how wonderful smaller days can be!

Ultimately what matters beyond anything else is that you will be married and your very favourite people can still be there in some way to witness that and celebrate with you.

Lots of love (and positivity),

Team E xx

Related reading

Bride and groom planting a tree as part of a micro wedding ceremony at elmore court during covid pandemic
October 21, 2020

A Micro wedding with Puppy bridesmaid

Love lights at elmore court
April 01, 2020

How to Postpone your Wedding

Candlelit Micro wedding reception dinner with banqueting table and candelabras
February 10, 2021

Micro wedding ideas