JOURNAL
The logistics of planning a micro wedding
We are in an unprecedented era for weddings with the Pandemic where couples are embracing smaller gatherings. Call them Intimate Elopements, Micro Weddings, Minimonies or what have you, these smaller, more intimate gatherings come with many benefits and challenges.
It is truly possible to have your minimony look like the styled shoots you see on your favorite wedding blogs and we are here to make it happen.
Small weddings don't mean you have to sacrifice great style
Designing your wedding decor is a key element of a wedding planner’s job, and one of the benefits of styling a smaller wedding is that budgets can now be reallocated into decor and details, or destinations. We love the challenge of setting up an intimate elopement on a rocky overlook or bringing in all the decor for a micro wedding in the woods.
Photography: Leon Villagomez
Personalized touches are a fun way to pamper guests
Smaller weddings mean you have only invited the most important guests. Take this opportunity to show them how much you care by adding special touches that give your guests the VIP treatment.
Go all-in on your wedding theme
Getting married in the woods? Make it a fairytale forest woodland theme. On an island? Deck your decor out with nautical touches. You get the gist. Have fun designing all the extra touches that make your wedding unique.
Photography: Kristen Marie Parker
Challenges & Logistics
There are certainly logistical challenges to veering off the beaten path when you choose a destination outside of a major city or even on the edge of a cliff.
Finding a space to host a small gathering without booking an entire venue. Most couples want a remote location with a cool view. You will have to do your research to find the space that works best for you.
Competing with postponements for key Saturdays. Consider holding your event mid-week, Sundays, or during the off season.
Hire extra hands to transport the elements. You likely won’t have all the vendors bringing things in if your destination is hard to reach. But you don’t want to have to make 20 trips to the truck to move everything yourself. Hire some muscle and save your back.
Planning with the same vendor teams but are frequently omitting the dance party or cocktail hour, instead focusing on a longer dinner with multiple courses or some special dances and great background music.
10 Questions you should ask your portland wedding cake baker
One of the vendors you’ve surely been excited about interviewing is your cake bakeries! I get it, as a planner, sampling cakes is one of the perks of my job I’ll never take for granted.
Before setting up tastings ask your friends who they used and if they were happy with them. Check out potential bakers and read google reviews.
Once you’ve narrowed your list down to a few, set up some tastings. this will be a fun day and worth celebrating, but remember you’re interviewing a vendor and you should come prepared with a list of questions.
We’ve compiled a list for you to bring along to your tasting:
What flavors and fillings do you offer?
Do you create custom designs or do we need to choose from a selection of designs?
Can you make sugar flowers?
Do you work in Fondant or Buttercream?
Is our tasting included in our fee?
What size of a cake do we need to feed our guests?
How do you price your cakes?
When do we need to order our cake, how far in advance of our wedding day?
Do you also provide cake stands or do we need to provide our own?
Do you deliver?
Do you offer anniversary cakes in place of freezing our cake?
In the Portland area, we have worked with many experienced bakeries that we love. Click on the images below to learn more:
Happy Tasting!
What to do if it rains on your wedding day
Photography: Sweetlife Photography
We live in the PNW so it’s likely that you’ve already considered this possibility. It’s essential to always have a rain plan in place, no matter what the season. Rain on your special day is not always bad either. You may need to take a few extra precautions, but there are some benefits to including weather in your wedding memories.
With rain comes rainbows both the literal and the figurative kind. You will be surprised to find there are actually many advantages to having a rainy wedding day, plus it’s romantic AF!
In some cultures, rain on your wedding day is considered good luck, symbolizing fertility and cleansing.
Photography: Benjamin Edwards Photography
Plan Ahead
RENT A TENT
Tents are always a good idea for outdoor weddings, they protect from rain as well as sun on hot days. If you are marrying in a cooler season, a clear tent provides a beautiful option. Tents can be adorned with lights, chandeliers, and flowers to provide a beautiful ambiance.
PROTECT YOUR DRESS
Plan ahead and protect your dress by having the hem sprayed with Scotchguard. Other options include renting a petticoat that will lift the hem of your dress up slightly to keep it from dragging or choose a short wedding dress.
PROTECT YOUR GUESTS
Rent white golf umbrellas, Pashminas, or throw blankets in bulk to keep your guests warm and dry. It’s likely your guest have not planned ahead and may not have thought to bring these items. They will thank you profusely for thinking of their comfort! A few places to rent:
Weather or Not
The Party Place
Bridgewood Events
UP YOUR FOOTWEAR GAME
Every bride likes the opportunity to purchase an extra pair of shoes. Get a sturdy pair to go along with your wedding pumps like Hunter Rain Boots or L.L.Bean Boots. Your photographer can capture a shoe shot and your tootsies will be warm and dry.
Photography: Amanda K Photography
Benefits
Believe it or not, there are some benefits to having weather on your wedding day!
PHOTOGRAPHY
Your pictures will be uniquely amazing. From dramatic clouds to romantic kiss under the umbrella shots, to flash off the rain drops, some of the most stunning photographs can come from some of the most dramatic weather. Embrace it and play with your photographer!
FLOWERS
Your wedding flowers will appreciate the extra moisture and cooler temperatures. You can take worrying about your flowers wilting off of your worry list on a rainy PNW day.
VENDORS
Your vendors will take extra precautions to keep you happy. Ask your bartender to whip up a special cocktail and give it a clever name like “The Stormy Weather”.
STORIES TO TELL
Rain gives your guests something to talk about and provides you with a good story to tell.
Photography: Leon Villagomez
See some more of our expert wedding tips:
Elevate your wedding with a lounge seating area
7 things to do AFTER your wedding
How to incorporate unique traditions into your wedding