Getting Engaged In DC & Baltimore: The Answers To Your Top Micro Wedding Planning Questions
Planning a micro wedding, especially in places with endless options like Washington DC and Baltimore may feel overwhelming at first. Which is why we offer couples all-inclusive packages for their micro wedding or elopement! And why we’ve put together this super helpful blog post. We’ve put together a list of the most frequently asked questions asked by our newly engaged couples so that you can start planning your micro wedding!
Plus, we are here to support you with your micro wedding planning in Baltimore and DC. Make sure to reach out to Tiny Wedding Collective to start planning your wedding with us!
Where Should I propose in DC and Baltimore?
Washington DC
If you’re looking for that classic DC skyline, we recommend packing a picnic with a bottle of bubbly and proposing at sunset on The National Mall! Weather not cooperating? No problem! Pivot to either The Library of Congress or the indoor courtyard at The National Portrait Gallery. If you prefer to propose outdoors but want a rainproof plan, we recommend getting a special use permit at The DC War Memorial. With its beautiful marble columns and covered dome, you’ll be able to propose, rain or shine! Check out a few of our other favorite Washington DC proposal locations here!
Baltimore
There are so many beautiful parks to choose from in Baltimore but a few of our favorites include Patterson Park Pagoda and Rawlings Conservatory! If you’re looking for more of a city vibe, we love walking around Mt Vernon Square or Fells Point. If you’re looking for something a bit fancier, we recommend reserving a suite at the Sagamore Pendry with gorgeous views of the harbor.
What’s the First Thing We Should do After Getting Engaged in DC or Baltimore?
The first thing you should do is take a deep breathe and soak it all in. Wedding planning, even if you are planning a DC or Baltimore micro wedding or elopement, can feel overwhelming so we recommend deciding TOGETHER what is most important to the two of you. Once you’ve determined what that is, use it as a guiding light when making wedding planning decisions. Wedding planning should be a joint effort where both partners feel seen and heard.
From there, you’ll want to work on a guest list. When you know how many guests you’ll be inviting, you can start to discuss budget and which venues make the most sense for your vision and style. Need a little extra help with this? Check out our interview with a wedding etiquette expert for tips on choosing a guest list!
How Far in Advance Should we Plan our DC or Baltimore Micro Wedding?
Micro weddings can be planned with a much shorter lead time than larger weddings. We’ve worked with couples anywhere between 1 and 12 months before their wedding day. Obviously, the longer the lead time, the more venue and vendor availability there’ll be. Venues and coordinators tend to book out further in advance than, say, hair and makeup and music. Our all inclusive packages make it easy to book four of your major vendors (coordinator, photographer, florist and officiant) all in one so you’ll spend less time going back and forth with vendors about availability and wedding dates. And all of our couples, no matter which package or add-ons they choose, will receive access to our preferred vendor list which includes recommended vendors we’ve either worked with in the past or believe would make a great addition to your micro wedding vendor team.
Is it Okay to Elope or Have a Washington DC Micro Wedding?
Yes! Elopements and small, intimate weddings are becoming more and more popular and accepted, even after the pandemic! And just because you’ve chosen to have a micro wedding doesn’t mean you have to give up on any of the special traditions of a regular size wedding. In fact, having a micro wedding allows you more time (and money!) to execute your vision in a hyper-personalized way. We also know how important it is for some couples to keep their parents or loved ones in the planning process. Even though we make it easier for our couples to plan their micro weddings, there’s still decisions to be made and places for your loved ones to be involved in the process!
Here is another blog we wrote specifically about eloping in DC and Baltimore.
Where are some of the top places to host a micro wedding in DC and Baltimore?
Washington DC
If you’re looking for something outdoors, we recommend The Spanish Steps or Lady Bird Park. We also love The DC War Memorial because it’s located right on The National Mall and is covered in the case of rain! For something more private, check out Tudor Place or Patterson Mansion.
BAltimore
For something intimate and cozy, we love Artifact Coffee for a dinner or the cocktail lounge at Hotel Revival for a reception! If you’re looking for something a little bit bigger, we recommend Haven Street and The Goldfinch Room!
Check out a few of our other favorite Washington DC and Baltimore locations here!
What Should We Consider Before Hiring Vendors for our DC or Baltimore Micro Wedding?
We strongly recommend hiring vendors we’ve vetted and/or have worked with in the past. We have an exclusive list of vendors that all of our clients receive once booked whether you book our base package or include Partial or Full Service Planning. These are vendor teams who are used to working with micro wedding clients and occasionally even offer special rates to our couples!
Here are some of the amazing DC and Baltimore micro wedding vendors we work with!
How Much Should We Plan to Spend on our DC or Baltimore Micro Wedding?
Your micro wedding budget depends heavily on your guest count, style, and overall vision. We’ve had couples throw a backyard BBQ at a DC Airbnb with an ice cream truck, couples who share a three-course meal with their guests at a high-end restaurant downtown, a rooftop micro wedding ceremony overlooking the city and everything in between!
Check out our blog about budgeting for your DC or Baltimore micro wedding.
What do Couples tend to Forget when Planning a Micro Wedding?
The more guests you invite, the more expensive your micro wedding will be. And this doesn’t just apply to food and beverage cost. More guests mean more tables and chairs. And if you’re a couple that wants to spend some of their budget style and design, you’ll need additional centerpieces, favors, and invitations. Remember, this is your wedding day. Stay focused on each other and what’s most important to you, and you’ll have the best day ever!
Should We Hire a Day of Coordinator?
Yes, and this is probably our biggest piece of advice. Just because you’re having a smaller guest list doesn’t necessarily mean the logistical aspects of the day change. There are still many decisions to be made when planning a wedding, big or small, so we recommend hiring a day of coordinator to help eliminate decision fatigue. Check out more on day of coordinators for your micro wedding here!
One Last Piece of Advice for Planning your Chicago Micro Wedding
Keep your vision and what is important to you at the forefront when making planning decisions! Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing or what’s trending. Stay true to yourself! Check out our DC and Baltimore micro wedding portfolio!
When you work with a micro wedding coordination team like Tiny Wedding Collective, we have not only the answers to many of your tiny wedding questions but also the ability to take care of those day-of wedding tasks and give you support as you move closer to your wedding day. We love what we do which is supporting all our tiny wedding couples and we make even the smallest celebrations feel like the grandest of days!
Reach out to us to plan your DC or Baltimore micro wedding with Tiny Wedding Collective.
The Tiny Wedding Collective is a Washington DC-based all-inclusive elopement and intimate wedding planning service for DC 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.