Couples in Williamsburg and surrounding areas have many reasons to want a more intimate wedding — whether it is because you’re not into a big lavish event, wedding planning is far too complicated and time-consuming, or you are saving money to buy a new home (we won't mention the C-word). For couples who want an intimate wedding, but with some of the touches of a traditional wedding day, Micro-Weddings Virginia may be for you!
Micro-Weddings Virginia was created in March of 2020 by two Williamsburg wedding professionals; Gari-Ann Kia, Gari-Ann Kia Photography, and Sarah-Daye McDougall, Night and Daye Events after seeing a particular need in the market. The company creates an intimate wedding that retains the quality of a large wedding but has the simplicity of an elopement with a curated experience. With 25-30 guests, a micro-wedding emphasizes quality over quantity and concentrates on simplifying the process. This allows you to spend more time with your closest friends and family. It is a day you share with other couples (at different times) and share the cost of the decor, venue, and wedding day vendors. Sarah-Daye designs and coordinates all the minute details of the intimate affair, while Gari-Ann captures every precious moment. Their goal is to provide a quality event, simplify the process, and allow you to spend your best day with your favorite people.
Below are some reasons you may want to consider a micro-wedding:
1. You still want pieces of a traditional wedding ceremony and cocktail reception.
A micro-wedding consists of many of the traditional wedding details including a short ceremony, a cocktail reception, and portrait photography. However, everything is done more intimately. For instance, your ceremony still includes your dad or loved one escorting you down the aisle and writing your vows, while your cocktail reception embraces toasts, a first dance, and cutting of the cake. All of the traditional elements!
2. You want an intimate affair while having your closest friends and family by your side.
With between 25-30 guests, a micro-wedding allows you to spend quality time with your closest friends and family. You want the focus to be on the love between you and your partner while celebrating with loved ones.
3. You just want to show up!
The fact that you only need to bring three things to your wedding — you and your guests, wedding rings, and your marriage license — is the best part of a micro-wedding! Our all-inclusive micro-weddings include curated design planning and coordination, venue, florals, officiant, and photographer. Above all, the goal is to make the process as simple, stress-free, and easy as possible.
4. You seek a gorgeous wedding: venue, design, decor.
Having a micro-wedding doesn’t mean you have to give up having your wedding at a gorgeous venue or relinquish the design and decor of your dreams. You can still have all of that! The goal of a micro-wedding is to put quality over quantity. By sharing the cost of the decor, venue, and wedding day vendors with other couples, luxury touches are well within reach.
5. You want flexibility in your budget to concentrate on special details.
By having a micro-wedding, you have the flexibility in your budget to splurge on the details. Take advantage of the opportunity to personalize where you can and customize your experience that extends beyond the wedding. Have your heart set on your dream dress, those amazing shoes, or that heirloom jewelry? Most importantly, having a micro-wedding means that you can enhance your experience and create additional memories.
6. You want to celebrate all weekend.
One of the greatest advantages to a micro-wedding is that it becomes an integral part of a bigger wedding weekend — a weekend in which you can do anything! Your micro-wedding is approximately two-hours, allowing the flexibility to plan other events. Now that you’re spending the weekend with your closest friends and family, you have the opportunity to treat them to a nice dinner at your favorite restaurant in Richmond, go explore the Smoky Mountains, or maybe even enjoy the roller coasters at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. This weekend is totally up to you!
Sidebar Heading (page 6): Micro-wedding can also include guests that can’t be present with a “(micro)wedding” in a box:
- Announcement - With a cap on your guest count, you may want to include folks even though they can't be physically present for your special day. A great place to start is with an announcement. Consider including a photo from your engagement session with a link to your wedding website for more information.
- Set up a zoom link - Take it one step further and include a zoom link with your announcement so they can share the day virtually! You may want to consider upgrading to the paid version for a longer time limit (the free version stops at 40 minutes). The MWV team will ensure your virtual guests are included in everything from the processional to your cake cutting and toasts!
- Interactive- Let your virtual guests join the action from afar by including interactive pieces. For example, send a confetti popper for your first kiss, a sweet treat for your cake cutting, and a mini bottle of sparkling cider (sorry, you can't mail alcohol!) for your toasts, and even a pre-stamped postcard so they can experience signing the guest book.
