Planning a large wedding can be overwhelming — bigger venues, more food, and of course, the dreaded seating chart. But as couples rethink what feels meaningful, many are embracing something more intimate and intentional: the microwedding.
Sarah Carroll, the founder of Small Shindigs in Maplewood, N.J., has spent eight years specializing in microweddings, or ceremonies for under 50 people. “You do have your closest friends and family present, and there is a celebration — unlike an elopement, which is just the couple and an officiant,” Ms. Carroll said.
This trend reflects a broader shift. According to a survey conducted by the Knot, a wedding planning website, the average wedding guest count has steadily declined — from 131 guests in 2019 to 116 guests in 2024. Thirteen percent of couples now host microweddings with 50 guests or fewer, and 48 percent said they had considered having one.
Even as guest lists shrink, the number of vendors that couples hire has barely changed. The Knot reported an average of 15 vendors in 2019, compared to 14 in 2024. This suggests that while weddings may be getting smaller, they still require meaningful planning, coordination and collaboration with a wide range of wedding professionals.
The appeal, Ms. Carroll said, is not necessarily driven by budget constraints, although smaller guest lists can reduce the cost per person. The appeal, she said, is more about creating an event that feels personal.
Tatiana Caicedo, a New York City-based marriage proposal planner and the founder of Dare to Dream NYC, expanded her work in 2018 to include elopement and microwedding planning. She was inspired after attending a friend’s wedding that, she said, had “way too many people.”
“They spent twice what they had planned and ultimately weren’t happy with the experience,” Ms. Caicedo said. “That made me think, why do couples do this to themselves? Instead of inviting 200 people and feeling overwhelmed, why not host an intimate wedding where you can actually enjoy the day and connect with every guest?”
Morgan Baldwin, 34, a project manager for a construction company, and Taylor Brown, 36, a quality manager for a tech company, traveled from Salt Lake City to Chamonix, France, for an intimate wedding ceremony in September.
“I have never really envisioned a big wedding,” Ms. Baldwin said. “I’ve always wanted to do something low-key and personal.”
Before their 10-person microwedding at a chalet they had rented for the week, the couple hiked to Lac Blanc, a nearby lake, before dawn to exchange private vows and to take photos. They invited only their closest friends, a choice shaped in part by Ms. Baldwin’s smaller family. The chalet became the home base for a weeklong celebration filled with mountain biking, hikes and shared meals, culminating in a ceremony at the end of the week.
A smaller guest size not only allows for more connection and interaction during the wedding, but it also opens the door for prioritizing other details.
“A lot of clients are purely wanting to be with a smaller group, but they’re going all out on every other aspect — luxury flowers, gourmet dinners, custom décor. They’re not sacrificing vision, just scale,” Ms. Carroll said.
Ms. Caicedo’s clients spend their money instead on unique venues, like luxury penthouses with rooftops or landmark buildings. Some prioritize multiple outfit changes — at times up to four different looks. While others focus on custom, high-end menus and dinner receptions in private galleries or in other distinctive places.
Microweddings can cost more than larger celebrations. Some of Ms. Carroll’s luxury microweddings have had budgets around $120,000, while even an intimate 16-person gathering with elevated design and culinary experiences can cost around $30,000. By comparison, the Knot estimates that the average cost of a traditional wedding in 2024 was around $33,000 for 116 people.
A smaller guest count can also expand the options for venues. “Boutique restaurants, private brownstones in the city or Brooklyn, or even rooftop spaces become available, giving couples freedom to craft something truly special,” Ms. Carroll said.
Ms. Carroll added that couples often prioritize food and beverage as their top expense, designing special tasting menus featuring dishes that have meaning to the couple and immersive dining experiences that create unforgettable moments for their guests.
Ms. Baldwin echoed that sentiment. “I’m glad we splurged on the food,” she said, adding that she worked with Eat Five Star, a private catering and events company, to curate the menu. “Florals were also important to me, so we spent a lot there. Otherwise we let the background of the chalet and Mont Blanc be the main focus.”
To adapt to this shift to more intimate weddings, “many vendors now offer weekday options, since microweddings are often held on any day of the week,” said Ms. Caicedo, whose company offers customizable packages for micro weddings.
Ms. Caicedo offers a $2,500 “sunset candlelight ceremony” package, which includes a one-hour ceremony with 150 LED candles and string lights, and an $8,000 “penthouse with a view” option, which includes a full-day terrace rental. Couples can also add a guitarist or a violinist for $500 or a rose-petal aisle for $400.
For luxury-minded couples, intimate weddings allow for deeper personalization, from live artists to curated entertainment, with every detail reflecting their style and story.
“With fewer people, every guest is engaged, and every moment is savored,” Ms. Carroll said. “That’s what makes microweddings so luxurious. They’re not about scale, but about depth, connection and experience.”
Across the ocean in Florence, Italy, House of Nine, a family-owned hospitality and lifestyle brand, exemplifies this shift with its vintage superyachts offering small, couture celebrations at sea.
“Couture, for us, means total attention to detail and the ability to tailor every element to reflect the couple’s unique story,” said Caterina Nesi, the public relations and marketing manager for the company. “From the yacht’s ambience and floral arrangements to the curated menu and chosen destinations, every decision is personalized.”
Created by the designer Ginevra Moretti, the experience lets couples sail to destinations like Portofino, Italy, or Saint-Tropez, France, turning every meal, sunset swim and morning coffee on deck into an intentional moment.
“More and more couples are choosing meaningful, intimate experiences over large-scale events,” said Ms. Nesi. “When the guest list is smaller, couples can genuinely connect with everyone. It becomes a celebration that’s not just beautiful, but emotionally rich and unforgettable.”
The era of luxurious microweddings is part of a broader cultural shift toward intentional connection. “The vibe of our day was amazing,” said Ms. Baldwin. “We felt like we could actually spend time with everyone who came all the way to France to celebrate us. It was very low-key. We loved it.”
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