Minimony and Microweddings: Smaller Weddings are on the Rise
Smaller events are easier to coordinate and can fit well with rental of private dining rooms or custom-catered events with personal touches that the bride and groom find meaningful.
Picture yourself at the Bunn House: the sun begins to set, and the flickering of the gas lanterns becomes more apparent. The soft sound of the water flowing in the fountain and the crackling of the fire in the fireplace - the setting feels magical and as if you’re in a fairy tale and not mere steps from vibrant downtown Asheville.
Navigating work and life are challenging in the midst of a pandemic. With restrictions on travel, group size and venues, what are the wedding planners of the world doing? Writing for The Knot, the definitive resource for all things marital, Ester Lee* notes that “smaller size, intimate celebrations, elopements and microweddings have increased in popularity.”
Minimony is trending.
According to Lee, a minimony usually involves an officiant (in-person or virtual), a small group of loved ones, along with select vendors, handwritten vows, and maybe a first dance on your balcony. Many are looking at minimony in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic as the best option with an eventual larger wedding when the world resumes more normal customs. Lee writes: “Having a minimony allows you to solidify your union or to honor your first proposed date. Further down the line, throwing a sequel wedding will bring your wedding vision to life, and be confident in this: all couples are welcome to have both. If anything, it's encouraged.”
Minimony: What you need to know
ELOPEMENTS
Secretive and last minute, bride and groom, officiant present
Variation: Include a photographer, call it a “planned elopement”
MINIMONY
Close family and friends, bride and groom and 10 guests
Honoring the original wedding date, consider larger sequel down the road
MICROWEDDINGS
Full nuptials and entourage with up to 50 guests
Smaller weddings are more flexible and budget friendly
Small Receptions Offer Lots of Freedom
Writing for the New York Times, Anna Goldfarb** notes “In the same way attire and location are open to customization, receptions for microweddings can be tailored to reflect the interests and needs of the couple. Aside from being cheaper to facilitate, smaller receptions allow the wedded couple to spend quality time with each guest, something brides and grooms aren’t usually able to do when entertaining larger wedding parties.”
Love is not cancelled, so why postpone?
At the Bunn House we agree that the future of weddings will be smaller and more intimate. A smaller event allows for more flexibility and less pressure to follow tradition that may feel stifling. Smaller events are easier to coordinate and can fit well with rental of private dining rooms or custom-catered events with personal touches that the bride and groom find meaningful.
The Bunn House property is approximately 1.5 acres in size, allowing for larger groups and events. With the creative use of tents and spatial rotation of event components, we can accommodate the scale of microwedding, minimony or planned elopement.
Owner Ridgely Hutchin had this to say: “The Bunn House is a unique property, unlike any other hotel or venue in Asheville. It is located just two blocks from downtown, and is a mix of various styles, including Farmhouse, Modern, Industrial and Traditional. The property offers an intimate atmosphere, perfect for a small gathering. Picture yourself at the Bunn House: the sun begins to set, and the flickering of the gas lanterns becomes more apparent. The soft sound of the water flowing in the fountain and the crackling of the fire in the fireplace - the setting feels magical and as if you’re in a fairy tale and not mere steps from vibrant downtown Asheville.”
* Lee, E. What Is a Minimony Compared to a Microwedding? Here’s Why It Might Be Best for You.
** Goldfarb, A. (2017, October 12). What to Know About Having a Microwedding. The New York Times.