Because of the widespread impact of COVID-19, a micro-wedding is inevitable for many couples. Despite the restrictions on group gatherings, you may choose to stick with your original wedding date and hold a ceremony witnessed only by a handful of your nearest and dearest. Even though you’ve undoubtedly had to make a lot of changes to your original wedding vision, you can still create an unforgettable experience for your guests both in-person and around the world.
We asked Brooke Avishay, owner of Los Angeles event production and design company Orange Blossom Special Events, to give us some tips on reinventing a wedding vision and creative ways to make micro-weddings unique. Here are some of our favorites:
Make an OTT Ceremony Backdrop
“In terms of decor, this is where you should spend your money. Not only will this be the backdrop for where you commit your eternal love to your fiancé, but this can also be where you, your family, and friends take photos all night long. It should be epic! And it doesn’t need to be flowers—one of our wonderful couples created an unforgettable backdrop with painted plexiglass!”
“There’s no doubt that florists and creative professionals around the world are creating new and unique ways to frame your wedding ceremony. Talk to them about your vision and bring something spectacular to life.”
Create a Signature Cocktail
“Custom cocktails are here to stay! Pre-pandemic, ‘signature’ cocktails were a big part of in-person events. Creating a custom-mixed cocktail with a personalized name was always a favorite task of my couples as they planned their day. Who says that has to stop?”
“Once you’ve come up with a cocktail representative of you and your fiancé, email it to friends and family celebrating from afar, so they can drink the same cocktail from the safety of their own home. Then, mix up the concoction for the people you’re celebrating with in-person. You can take the concept a bit further by shipping cocktail kits, like the ones offered by Fancy Free Liquor in Los Angeles, to guests both in and out of town.”
Live Stream Wedding Toasts
“A wedding is not complete without speeches and toasts—especially those that make you cringe eeeever so slightly. Family and friends in-person can toast, of course, but consider getting guests involved virtually.”
“One suggestion—decide, along with your fiancé, who will be speaking and let them know in advance. By doing this, you limit the number of speeches and ensure your event isn’t hijacked by long, drawn-out, potentially drunken speeches. And, by sharing in the toasting experience, guests near and far can feel as if they’re in the same room as you.”
Hire a DJ
“It’s easy and cost-effective to default to a Spotify playlist for your 10-person guest list; however, a micro-wedding is an excellent opportunity to do something unique and hire a DJ to help create an unforgettable experience. Not only can the DJ hype up your in-person dance party, but they can also connect you virtually to dozens of family and friends via video conferencing.”
“The Flashdance, based in Los Angeles, offers an “at your house” virtual party package that includes two DJs, a host, two dancers, a Zoom portal, a virtual photo booth, and a one-minute highlight video of the festivities.”
Book a Photobooth
“One of the most significant event trends over the past five years has been the photobooth. Nearly every event we work on has one. A photobooth is a sure-fire way to keep your guests engaged while creating a lasting memory of the day.”
“It’s also an excellent way for guests to share photos virtually. Companies like the Snapbar have created a streamlined process for guests around the world to snap and share their photos during virtual events. They also have in-person photobooth options, so the guests you’re with in-person can snap and share pictures with the same branding as the virtual guests!”
