Micro Wedding and The Covid Season 2020
And What It Means For You:
So, weddings have gone away for a while, it doesn’t mean we can’t plan for another day. I firmly believe that the ‘new normal’ in whatever form that takes, is up to us as wedding suppliers to create with our existing couples and with those newly engaged who are looking for a bit of direction. If you have the right creative people at your planning table, virtually or by phone, I truly think we can make a micro wedding a thing of splendour.
Cara Zagni Photography at Swanton Morley House & Gardens
Number Cuts:
We have gone through the dash of hundreds of guests to 30, the audacity – how awful was that the first time we heard it? Then we had 15, that felt like our civil liberties were being slashed to the core, but that wasn’t all – oh no – down to 6!!! Six! Who has 6 people at their wedding? Those who wed in September / October 2020 (naming the beast for posterity), that’s who!
Currently we are at 15 guests which feels almost luxurious! Who’s read ‘A Squash & A Squeeze’… Does it ring any bells…?
whataboutweddings.com
Flowers:
First up – Let’s take flowers first of all, an impactful piece of the spliced day, all eyes on the bride and bouquet, buttonholes for the boys and decorative arrangements for the church, later to be used in the wedding breakfast décor. Should you be in the position to have a budget already to go there are already massive savings when it come to that precious budget. I use the word guardedly as it is precious, slimming down your invite list will give you back some numbers to play around with.
You now CAN have a sweep or swag of flowers that give impact, colour and fragrance, whereas before it might have been a less abundant affair.
Catering:
Paying for catering for less folks, also has a win. You can splash some of that budget on better wine, a superb starter or have something that you Chef can create that previous was ‘off the menu’ with the old budget.
Valentine Studio at Voewood
CAKE!
Who mentioned that? Me – I would adore my cake to be one of the guests to your newly pimped up ‘do’.
Co-ordinating with your florist I prime each bloom, ensuring it is hygienic and food safe (not necessarily edible unless that is what you have asked for). Each design is organic and happens on the day, I’m inspired by texture, form and colour. I love the final reveal of the florists selection and finding the perfect placement for each stem or frond.
Our cakes have their own portrait, perfect for quietly acknowledging a dietary preference such as gluten free, vegan, etc. These come gratis with my wedding cakes and are a perfect keepsake long after the crumbs are gone.
Tatum Reid Photography at Holkham Hall
We also layer blooms, petals and greenery underneath the cake stand to create an ‘ambience’ (I can’t say that without thinking of Micky Flannigan, look it up). I like to think it creates a ‘space’ for the cake, hopefully a making a little buzz that folks want to come and get involved in. Roll up, roll up, come and see the pretty cake!
Kelsie Lowe Photography at Voewood
Less, But More
Talking of less folks, that’s less stationery but more zhuzhed up, gold, imprinting, embossing, extra ribbon, the full suite of stationery that with the old budget had to be carefully thought out – ‘do we use our own RSVP?’ ‘Do we really need x, y and z?’ Now you can afford all of the things that make a stationery suite super amped up. Aren’t the ones who are invited lucky!? I love a posh wedding invite – and to be one of the chosen few. Not that this diminishes any of your kith or kin who couldn’t make the cut, it’s just the world we find ourselves living in.
Cara Zagni Photography at Swanton Morley House & Gardens
Cara Zagni Photography at Swanton Morley House & Gardens
There are sadder elements of this, please don’t think I’m all for dumping the rellies in order to get a banging wedding – it does mean that you have to revisit the wedding invite list and see who really counts, who you really need to be there. We have a thing in the house with the boys to help them understand what is important with want and need. (when choosing between food/snacks, how to spend etc) You do the things you need first, then allow for the want, it applies here too. You might want to have everyone and their kids but current times and restrictions mean it just isn’t possible.
Hautbois Hall,
Rob Dodsworth Photography
To quote one happy bride to be recently “I’m secretly happy that we need to lighten the list as we’ll have to think about who we really want and that will make it more special”. From the mouths of A Real-Life Actual Bride, peoples.
Current times are extraordinary, we can embrace these days and accept the challenge which make us best we can be, and to have those around us to make it so. Celebrate what you have and make it as magnificent as it can be!
To talk about your wedding plans, please make first contact to cakes@bunsoffun.co.uk.
I can’t wait to hear from you!
Emma
