What’s the difference between a Microwedding and a Elopement and what’s best for you?
Since 2020 the wedding game has drastically changed. It became far more socially acceptable to elope, or to just shrink the size of your wedding day down to a smaller number of people in attendance. You may be at the beginning of your journey and wondering what is best for you in order to adequately celebrate your love. Below I will break down some of the common options today and give you a more clear understanding of what might be the best decision for you.
Elopement
An Elopement was once something two people would do at a court house or on a mountain top such as in the Rocky Mountains. Now people are eloping everywhere, from courthouses, to waterfalls, to mountain tops, to cabins, and everywhere in between. Typically a elopement in this day and age is a small destination wedding somewhere cool with less than five people in attendance. The destination can be anywhere, from the Appalachian mountains of Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Etc. To the Rocky Mountains such as: Washington, Colorado, etc. Also some other great options include your favorite beaches.
This can just be the ceremony and then photos. Or you can add onto to your day by doing things such as a meal, cake, a photo adventure, a couples boudoir session, etc. Adventure elopements typically include a hiking aspect which can very in time and ease based on your comfortability with long treks.
National Parks and National Historic Sites often require a permit for even small elopements. My best advice is to look online for your desired location’s permit information, shoot out some emails, and if planning in a NPS site aim for planning a year to six months in advance that way you can be sure to secure the necessary paperwork. Some state parks also require these permits as well, so it’s always best to just plan ahead and ask.
Some areas such as Dolly Sods Wilderness, have their own sets of rules that I fully recommend looking at through their online Facebook groups and talk with the ranger for the area beforehand because they are always changing. For example at Dolly Sods you cannot fly a drone, have more than ten people in your party, they have a gate that closes to prevent having to retrieve cars from the snow January 2nd until April, and due to overcrowding you should aim for weekdays and not weekends. A lot of popular spots such as, Hocking Hills State Park , are best when avoiding the weekends/holidays. This ensures ease of flow when moving through the park.
However, if you are not great at being organized another method is to knock out a court house elopement, then hire a photographer and visit your designated park either before or afterwards. More couples do this method than you would actually realize.
Another important thing to keep in mind and follow with your elopement is Leave No Trace, or often you will see the abbreviated LNT. LNT means you will leave things as they were, or better than you found them. The link above takes you to the website where you can learn more and take their free training on LNT.
If you would like to look in depth at some further examples of elopements click here
If you would like some recommendations for unique venues that cater to elopements these are some great options:
River Mountain in Pennsylvania
Promise Ridge in Pennsylvania (in the Poconos but I have been vying to go here)
Savage River Lodge in Maryland
Microwedding
A Microwedding is a great option for those wanting the best of both words. Maybe you want to get married at a destination location, but you still want your closest friends and family there supporting you. Or maybe you just want a small wedding on your family land or in your new home. Well then, a Microwedding may be just for you. A Microwedding is a step up from an elopement, so anywhere from 5 to 50 guests roughly. It’s a perfect option for those who simply want to get married, take photos with everyone, and then share a meal together. Maybe you incorporate some of the other traditional aspects such as cutting the cake, a toast, having a first dance, having a small bridal party, etc.
Great location options include: State Parks, but check to see if there are permit fees. You can also use the pavilions there as well as a reception location. Some local to me options that are fabulous for this include:
Rocky Gap State Park ( multiple pavilion options )
Swallow Falls State Park (Their pavilion has two fireplaces and is lovely)
Deep Creek Lake State Park (Has multiple pavilion options)
Big Run State Park (Has two pavilions, the more hidden one is gorgeous with stone fireplaces)
New Germany State Park (Pavilion options)
Gambrill State Park (They have a rentable tearoom which would make a perfect reception space)
Blackwater Falls State Park ( Rent a home or the resort has rooms that can be used)
Canaan Valley State Park
Seneca Rocks State Park
Coopers Rock State Park
Valley Falls State Park
Cunningham Falls State Park
Ohiopyle State Park
Plus many more. For a full list of options in Maryland click here. For a full list of options in West Virginia click here. For a full list of options in Virginia click here. For a full list of options in Pennsylvania click here.
NPS sites often host smaller weddings as well, check in with the park of your choice to see what their fees and rules are, and fill out the necessary permits.
Airbnbs's (just check through the host that they are okay with you holding an event),
There are also locations who cater to these gatherings locally such as:
River Mountain in Pennsylvania
Savage River Lodge in Maryland
The Castle in Maryland
The Wisp in Maryland
Vaughan House in Virginia
If looking for further examples of a Microweddings click here
Time of Day
So the other important question you’ll want to keep in mind when planning is what time of day you desire. As a photographer I am personally partial to portraits being done during Golden Hour. If you do not know, that is the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset.
However as some of the above examples show, sometimes we want to build a mood. So maybe that is we knock out the portraits and such at Golden Hour and then have the ceremony at sunset. That’s fine, just keep in mind that ambient light can help us masterfully achieve some amazing results that would be impossible otherwise. So things such as bonfires, or lots of string lights, headlamps, and lanterns. Also certain areas in deep dark forests are actually better a few hours before Golden Hour, such as Swallow Falls State Park. Part of hiring me is I try to scope your locations beforehand in order to give that insight. Even if I can’t physically go before the day of I am looking it up online to help us calculate the best time.
Depending on the time of year can make the difference of how much daylight you have to work with, as well as the weather. My tip for keeping it all put together is I instantly google when the sunset is that day and then work backwards from that time in building your own personal timeline for the day. This rough draft that we can tweak as needed begins at that first phone call.
Wardrobe Ideas
One of the thing I have noticed with these smaller affairs is often times my couples are looking to cut down costs wherever they can. In terms of modern but affordable bridal options I fully recommend the following options:
Baltic Born
Lulu’s
However, some brides really love to have a dramatic statement dress. If that is you I fully recommend these options:
Flutter Dress
Reclamation Dress
Rue De Seine
