Different Types of Micro Wedding Venues to Fit Your Style
The beginning of the micro wedding planning process can feel overwhelming; there are so many different venues and vendors to explore in the DC and Baltimore area that lots of couples are left with too many options.
To combat the decision fatigue that often times accompanies too many options, we recommend determining your vision first.
Determining your Vision for Your Micro Wedding Includes:
HOW YOU WANT TO FEEL ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
If you want to feel exhilarated and energized, maybe you’re surrounded by your closest friends and family, screaming and singing your favorite song on a dance floor somewhere. If you want to feel calm and collected, maybe you can exchange private vows with each other and meet up with your family for an intimate dinner at your favorite restaurant.
Don’t feel pressured to choose a trend or a tradition that doesn’t feel like you and your partner. Your micro wedding should be unabashedly you, highlighting what you care about most.
Your personal style as a couple
I want you to sit down, close your eyes, and envision yourself at your micro wedding. Use your 5 senses and ask yourself what it feels, looks, smells, tastes, and sounds like. Are you warm and cozy in front of a roaring fire on a winter night, while your guests are illuminated by candlelight, or are you strolling through a garden on a warm spring day? Is the room dark with velvety textures or light with floral linens?
Your budget for venue and food + beverage
I wish this one didn’t have to be included because we truly wish we could give every single couple the micro wedding of their dreams without having to worry about budget, but alas.
Deciding on a budget will dictate the guest list and/or the style and location of the venue you choose. We recommend getting super clear about a realistic budget before venue shopping so that you’re only spending time touring venues that are within range.
Your estimated guest count
Once you’ve decided on a budget, you can start making your guest list. If you’re having trouble putting this together, we recommend reading our blog about micro wedding guest counts, where we talk to a wedding etiquette expert from Registry Finder!
Most venues will have two max capacity numbers: the first is how many guests can fit comfortably seated, and the second is how many guests can fit comfortably seated and standing for a cocktail-style reception. Keep in mind what type of reception you’re wanting to have when choosing your guest list.
5 Different Venue Types in Washington, DC and Baltimore
Depending on your vision, you most likely start to explore some of the different venue types that DC and Baltimore have to offer. We’re here to share some of the pros and cons of each to make your decision easier.
Traditional Venue Style for Tiny Weddings
This is typically a space that specializes in events. You’ll most likely need to bring in an outside caterer for food and beverages. For some, this is considered a pro, while some venues do have a preferred caterer list that you’ll need to choose from, which means choices when it comes to the type of food you’d like to have at your micro wedding!
For others, this is a con - having to hire another vendor with another contract feels overwhelming, and they’d rather have a one-stop shop.
Hotel Micro Weddings
If you’re looking for a venue that includes catering, then a hotel might be the best option for you! This occasionally means less choice when it comes to the type of food, but some caterers within the hotel venue will be open to ideas if given enough time.
The biggest pro to choosing a hotel for your micro wedding is that you and your guests who are traveling from out of town can stay on site! You won’t have to spend money on transporting your guests from location to location, and you can get ready for your wedding day just a few steps away!
Private Home/Airbnb For Your Small, Intimate Wedding
For couples who are hoping to spend the weekend at their wedding location or for those who want a really non-traditional food + beverage experience, like a pizza truck or a private chef, renting an Airbnb or using a friend or family member’s private residence is a great option.
You have so much flexibility when you go this route, and can envision your wedding decor from the ground up. You’re also able to host other wedding-related events if you book it for the weekend. The downside is that you’ll need to bring everything in that’s required to make an event go smoothly: rentals, tent, etc
Looking for more tips on hosting a micro wedding at a private residence or Airbnb? Check out our free guide!
RESTAURANTs For Your Tiny wedding
If hosting the dinner party of your dreams is how you envision your micro wedding, then you may want to look into hosting it at a restaurant or cocktail bar. This atmosphere can feel very intimate and special, especially if spending quality time with your guests is the goal. The con of having it at a restaurant is that not many of them have space for a ceremony, as well.
Although we do have a great recommendation for a ceremony space that pairs well with a restaurant! Send us a message to find out more!
BREWERY/WINERY Setting for Your Micro celebration
If you’re looking for a larger space to host your micro wedding reception, a brewery or a winery may be a nice option for you. Breweries typically have lower food and beverage minimums than a typical micro wedding venue because they’re usually more casual, while wineries tend to be much more expensive.
Wineries in the Virginia area for micro wedding ceremonies have beautiful backdrops for photos; however, they are much harder to get to from DC and Baltimore, and some vendors may charge a travel fee to get there.
Not sure what venue style fits your Tiny wedding vision best?
Partial and Full Service Planning Options
We know how important it is for our couples to choose a micro wedding venue that’s not only meaningful but also fits within their style, budget, and guest count. That’s why we offer both Partial and Full Service Planning options in addition to our Base Package. With both planning services, we’ll schedule a call to help you realize your vision and chat through the different logistical steps to choosing a venue. We’ll do some research and then present you with a handful of venue options that fit most, if not all, of your must-haves.
Wanting to do most of the legwork yourself when it comes to finding a venue? No problem! All of our couples who book a Base Package get access to a list of our favorite micro wedding venues in Washington DC and Baltimore.
The Tiny Wedding Collective offers all-inclusive elopement and intimate wedding planning services for Chicago, Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland. A Tiny Wedding is for couples who want to celebrate their commitment in a thoughtful, stylish way but don’t want the stress and fanfare of a big, expensive wedding. Not all couples fit inside the same traditional box and it’s time that we make space for inclusivity, diversity, and creativity. To find out more about what it’s like to work with us, please fill out our contact form here.