With so many different wedding concepts and terms being kicked around, it’s easy to get confused by all the unique wedding packages being sold to clients now. When you’re going through searching for that perfect, no-stress option; you might find yourself coming across the term “micro-wedding” a hell of a lot.

But what is a Micro Wedding?

A micro wedding is defined as any wedding with less than 50 people in attendance.

This can be ideal for those wanting a more intimate and special wedding just with their loved ones, rather than having a big part or to-do. It’s also a great way to keep costs down if budgets are more defined than a regularly wedding.

It does cost a lot to feed and seat people! And that is before you even consider dietary requirements!

Micro weddings first really started appearing as a popular wedding package offering around covid. With so many restrictions on what could be done and how many people were in attendance, the reality was that not many people could get married the way they wanted. With money, travel and styling opportunities limited, Micro Packages were becoming extremely popular. Having a smaller ceremony also meant many could plan their weddings for being at private property and at home.

How much does a micro wedding cost?

Let’s get the most important question of all out of the way before you read on!

The average cost of a micro wedding can be as little as $10,000.00.

A lot of packages offer include the vendors, but don’t include dress, marriage license or food and drinks. So while packages for a half day wedding can be $1500 - $2500, costs outside of that need to be kept in mind.

But how do you plan a micro wedding?

There’s a lot of different options as to how you can go about planning a wedding in general, and sometimes finding a venue for a micro wedding can be the hardest part! Especially if you can’t do the wedding at home or family/friend properties.

The four major things you would need to organize are

• Venue

• Photographer

• Celebrant

• Food

Darjon Vineyard (February Wedding)

Small Intimate Wedding Venues - In and around Christchurch

Some of the venues listed I’ll put a “WP” next to. This means they offer packages which include styling and catering. There aren’t many that offer all inclusive - if a venue says that they are offering “all-inclusive”, don’t get too excited. It just means that they offer a complete way to style the venue, as well as catering and beverages.

• The Old Stone House - Cracroft, Christchurch

• Waimak Classic Cars - Leithfield, North Canterbury

• The Starling Homestead - Waipara, North Canterbury

• The Vines Club - Yaldhurst, Christchurch WP

• Mt Vernon Lodge - Akaroa

• Larcomb Vineyard - Rolleston, Selwyn WP

• Broad Oaks - Ohoka, North Canterbury

• New Brighton Beach - Salt on the Pier - New Brighton, Christchurch

• Loch Stock Lodge - just north of Culverden

Loch Stock Lodge has started working with Wild Union Co to create great all-inclusive micro wedding packages. Check out this link and you could literally have your wedding planned in 15 minutes!

WILD UNION CO - LLL

Micro Wedding Photographers - In and around Christchurch

The four listed below are ones that are known to advertise previously with micro wedding packages that are all inclusive. A good portion of photographers will post work that they want to do, and clients they want to work with. So, majority of weddings you see on your searches will be more involved, larger 100+ people weddings.

• Kirsten Smart

• Kathryn Louise Weddings (of course!)

• Libby Ellmers

• Chaznel Steenkamp - Mostly advertising elopements currently.

Chaznel Photography posing for a photograph during a styled wedding shoot

Micro Wedding VS Elopement?

Micro weddings are great for those who want their loved ones with them on their day. Elopements are best for those who want to avoid all wedding stress.

With micro-weddings, it’s quite easy to have the wedding without the expense and not have to think about inviting your Mother’s Aunt. You can have those that are extremely special to you there. Quite often, couples have their micro wedding ceremony and then go on to have a more intimate festivity afterwards so they can have a more casual drink with friends. Due to most casual parties being BYO, this saves the couple A LOT of money. Usually the biggest expense you can find with a wedding can be food and drinks!

An elopement has kind of changed in definition over the years. In fact, what an elopement is, is forever evolving and changing. Legally, in New Zealand at least, you need two witnesses. Photographers can sign as a witness but an elopement is essentially any wedding inclusive of 15 people or less. You could create your wildest dreams or that perfect date as your elopement. It is THE most casual opportunity to create a magical and unique experience for your wedding.

You might think with that last comment that I’m a little biased, and honestly, I am. My own thoughts about getting married include going into the mountains (to a specific location that is special to both myself and my partner) and whoever can join us, can join us.

For a little bit of context…

Why I would choose an elopement over a micro wedding.

1. I have difficult family relationships

2. We wouldn’t want stress of planning at all

3. We’d want an extremely casual affair where it was just official bit, private vows and drinks to celebrate afterwards.

If I were to choose a micro wedding though, it would be for the following reasons.

1. The family relationships I have are tight knit

2. We have a greatly loved friend group we would want to celebrate with.

3. We wanted a more traditional ceremony and to share our vows with our loved ones.

*Of course, with either you CAN choose to do your vows privately. You don’t actually have to do your vows in front of everyone in any type of wedding!

To complete this article, a micro wedding is a small affair of up to 50 people in attendance. These weddings can cost up to $10,000 - roughly half of the average wedding! These weddings can be offered as packages by a collection of vendors, but in fact, anyone can be approached and will want to help out!

A micro wedding in Christchurch can take just as much planning and foresight as a traditional wedding set up, it just costs much less.

Kathryn x