WEDDING GLORIOUS-NESS STAT! 15 amazing micro weddings and quick turnaround hacks from now until June 21st (and beyond!)
It’s the word on everyone’s lips: microweddings. Whatever you want to call them - intimate weddings, minimonies or, like our pal The Wedding Enthusiast is trying to make happen, cereminis (Stop trying to make ‘cereminis’ happen, Gretchen!) - and whether they’re your hopeful Plan B or have always been your ideal Plan A, this past year has definitely brought them into the mainstream.
As always, our exhibitors and directory members - the incredible bunch of style-savvy, rulebook-ripping and forward-thinking suppliers that they are - are offering a bevy of brilliant microwedding offerings that are perfect for quick turnarounds. If you’re time-poor, but dream big, then bookmark this page as your one-stop shop for the suppliers who can turn your dreams into plans and your can’ts into cans…
Planning
It’s no exaggeration to say that Zeleka and Nadine are absolute magic makers when it comes to stress-free wedding days. With the belief that every couple is capable of planning their wedding if they choose but that no couple should be responsible for working it, they’re offering FULL DAY microwedding coordination for weddings with up to 30 guests from May 17th - 20th June, for just £683 (minus travel, if it’s not more than 50 miles from them.) Yep, you read that right - we’re not into scarcity tactics here but this is seriously such a good offer that we recommend you hop on it right now…
Venues
If you’ve always dreamed of getting married at this iconic London venue, well - now’s your chance. Their spring weddings package is a deal especially for intimate weddings held between 1st May to 21st June, and gives you exclusive hire of any of their event spaces, a cocktail, wine, a 3 course meal followed by tea, coffee and macarons, AND a glass of champers for your toast. That’s on top of the fact that you can get legally married in their Council Chamber, and exclusive room rates for your lucky guests - What else could you need?!
Outfits
If you’ve been lusting after one of Katya Katya’s signature lace, dreamy bohemian designs, then their May sample sale on the 7th to the 8th May is a date to pop in your diary for sure. Where their made-to-order dresses usually take months, a sample sale means you can buy an outfit off the rack: a perfect way of getting a romantic, super special dress for a small wedding, or a wedding with a quick turnaround.
We’re a little bit - ok, a lot - in love with Seni Dey anyway, not least because of their effortless, modern designs, luxurious fabrics, and focus on ethical, environmental practice. But their 3 week turnaround time, made possible by their careful, considerate business model and company-owned atelier, means that you can get a beautiful dress with a super short turn around, in time for your Spring/Summer 2021 day.
Cheryl from vj has made the process as seamless as possible to have one of her contemporary, romantic bridal outfits for a 2021 wedding. In ‘normal’ times (although what even is normal anymore - insert woozy face emoji here) bridal designs with a quick turnaround time would be subject to a rush fee, but with everything that’s going on at the mo, Cheryl at VJ is waiving that fee for weddings this year - in her own words, “If you can suddenly get married, get the go ahead or an unexpected date in the near future...I’m gonna make it as easy as possible for you to get ready!” She’s also offering payment plans to spread the cost of a purchase, as well as offering a ‘made-to-measure’ approach to orders from her shoppe, which allows you to buy a piece that’s 2 sizes blended together (because let’s face it - not many of us are the same size top and bottom!)
Evie’s ethos at Naya Bridal is focused on making bridal sustainable: taking old bridal gowns, she reworks them and updates their story to take them to their next chapter for modern, bohemian brides. Her online shop features pieces that are one-off, custom-made, and ready to ship ASAP, perfect for a low-key lover this summer.
Jewellery
During lockdown, Sam Ham have been offering digital design consultations, where the team can chat with couples through Zoom to explore their ideas and set a foundation for the piece itself. Another ingenious offering is their pioneering 3D scanning service, which ensures that your custom wedding band fits your engagement ring perfectly without you having to send your engagement ring off and be without it. Sam Ham will send you clay to press your ring into which you then send back, and then - like magic - they scan it and design it perfectly.
If you’re looking for a beautiful wedding ring that’ll become a modern heirloom, made from Fairtrade gold, and arriving within a few weeks - well, it sounds like it might be near impossible, but Alison Macleod has got the GOODS. She’s reduced the leadtime on her made to order wedding rings to a mere 3 weeks for bands without stones, and just 4 weeks for bands with stones. photos by Caro Weiss
For couples itching to get their wedding rings sorted but feel stumped by the lockdown, Amanda has devised a surefire way to commission bespoke wedding rings that fully comply with restrictions (we stan a health-abiding QUEEN). Starting with a complimentary video consultation and a free adjustable ring sizer and wedding band width chart sent to you, once your deposit is received Amanda will create mock up silver samples in your selected size/style to try on and give a test run. This gives you the opportunity to make any last minute adjustments before Amanda makes your final ring(s). This process is normally 6-8 weeks, but as a COVID special, the leadtime is currently just 4 weeks!
Accessories
With lockdown restrictions still in place, it’s not exactly easy to get your wedding party all together before the big day, so finalising accessories and colour palettes might be a challenge. That is, until you meet Kerri from Francis + Louise, who specialises in bespoke wedding accessories that add colour, personality, and flair to any and every outfit. Her range of headbands, scarves, bowties and pocket squares are made from luxurious fabrics in bold and beautiful prints that Kerri designs herself, and are ready to order and ship from her site; alternatively, get in touch with her to see if she can shorten her lead time on bespoke work, where she can create a unique pattern for your colours and theme.
Styling
We’ve long believed the motto “what Mia can’t do with fabric isn’t worth doing at all” - sure, it’s not snappy, but it’s 100% true. The word iconic is overused, but her ready to go hand-dyed fabric installations and backdrops have become truly iconic in the styling world; and what’s more, they’re brilliant for making spaces feel more intimate and cosy for reduced guestlists, or for impromptu but perfect outside celebrations (think: that dreamy Beyonce shoot for Vogue, but with added eco credentials.)
Paper Dreams first came onto our radar as a maker or paper decorations that were not only super style-led and exceptionally high-quality, but eco-conscious too: basically, the go-to destination for cute paper decor that sets your styling apart. This is even more true during Covid, as their online shop is full to the brim with decorations that are ready for same-day dispatch, meaning they’re a perfect place for some last minute touches.
Photography
We’d always advise getting photos of your wedding, no matter how intimate it is - they’re the ultimate way to preserve the emotions of the day. September Pictures is offering micro wedding special wedding photography that starts from just one tiny hour of coverage - that’s just enough to cover you getting there, getting wed, and getting showered with confetti, which she can even throw herself if you don't have any guests.
Lisa Jane is our resident lover of love, and as such, she’s been privy to a number of incredible intimate weddings and elopements as a wedding photographer. As she explains: “I've been a witness for some couples, have supplied excess confetti to ensure that wonderful explosion of colour, I've wandered the streets to their favourite old haunts, the site of the first date, grabbed drinks in their favourite pub and watched as couples popped in some headphones and had their first dance with just me watching. There have been speeches in parks, champagne poured into party cups and families reuniting for the first time in months and every moment has been an absolute joy and for those couples that want an intimate wedding, I am ready to embrace the celebrations and help ensure the magic and moments are captured.” With this in mind, her LOVE WINS package starts from just 3 hours coverage. Alongside Lisa obviously taking photos on the day, this also includes her assistance in planning the day to ensure you get the most out of your coverage, a highlight slideshow telling the story of the day, private gallery of images for you to relieve the day that can be shared with family and friends, a beautifully packaged USB containing a box of wonderful memories and moments and even, we hear, a few treats along the way…
Stationery
Planning a microwedding and looking to spread the word? Luna & Sol, purveyors of stylish, sustainable wedding stationery, have axed their minimum quantity requirements for weddings before the end of June 2021. This means you can spread some joy (which, let’s be honest, is in short supply at the moment!) to your guests with beautiful stationery that’s super affordable, but doesn’t scrimp on quality.