Micro weddings in Scotland: has the big day got smaller?

Micro weddings aren't anything new. People have been getting married in smaller ceremonies for a long time, but when Covid hit, they certainly became more prominent, and more couples across Scotland were opting for smaller, more intimate wedding celebrations. 

What is a micro wedding? 

Technically, a micro wedding is a wedding with 20 or fewer guests. Some people would say 50 guests, but actually, we think that's more of a small wedding and less micro. 

And that can be the only difference, really. You can still do everything else that a large wedding allows – traditions, vows, dinner and dancing – just with fewer people. 

The advantages of a micro wedding

Smaller doesn't mean lesser! There are plenty of perks to keeping your guestlist small. 

1. Micro weddings take away some of the stress of wedding planning 

If taking on wedding planning as a second full-time job is causing you sleepless nights, then a micro wedding could be the answer to your worries.

Micro weddings require less preparation overall, with fewer moving parts to coordinate, so you can cut back on stress levels. With all that money you're saving by having fewer guests, you could even hire a wedding planner to really take the strain off.

2. You can get married pretty much anywhere

This is true for larger weddings too (legally you can get married anywhere in Scotland if you have a willing celebrant, the appropriate paperwork and, where appropriate, the landowner's blessing) but some things just don't work with lots of guests.

Find out how to fill in the M10 form required for all weddings in Scotland

You might not want to ask 120 people to make their way up to the Torridon hills, or the beautifully intimate chapel at Rosebery House (adjacent to popular barn wedding venue near Edinburgh Rosebery Steading).

You don't have to go for a traditional wedding venue at all. Hire out a private room in your favourite restaurant, a place with sentimental meaning, a boutique cinema... your back garden!

The possibilities are endless. 

3. You'll spend quality time with every guest 

Fewer people means fewer distractions, and less time split between loads of guests.

There's a slim chance if you have a wedding with 100+ people that you'll be able to make your way around all of them – you might, and even if you did it would have to be a quick conversation per guest. 

Tie the Knot Scotland's assistant editor, Eve, offers insight from her own 2024 wedding: "My now-husband and I actually decided not to eat our desserts to ensure we had enough time to chat to each of our guests and thank them for coming.

"It's easy to feel overwhelmed on the day when there are a lot of people to mingle with – and I'm still gutted I missed my passionfruit pavlova!"

Check out these Scottish wedding venues that cater to micro weddings

4. You can spend more time together as a couple

The very nature of a micro wedding means that you'll have a much more intimate experience, so inevitably it will result in you spending more time together as a couple.

It's very easy to get separated or caught up chatting to people at a larger wedding – but with fewer guests to get around to, and less of an emphasis on time restraints, you'll find you naturally spend more time together – which is what it's all about, really. 

5. Personalisation can be easier to coordinate 

Are you and your partner big seafood lovers? Do you rock out to heavy metal? Incorporating these elements of your personality can be tricky when you have to satisfy the needs and wants of 150 wedding guests.

That's why couples often choose slightly safer, more universally liked menu and music options. But when you don't have as many people to consider, you can afford to have some more of the things you love most and not have to worry about what everyone thinks.

Fancy some elaborate, embellished wedding invites? 15 of these may be affordable but 150 wouldn't be. 

6. Micro weddings are more budget-friendly 

Of course, if you wanted to spend big on a micro wedding you can, but with the average Scottish wedding costing around £18,617, according to Bridebook, it's understandable that people might want to scale things down and reduce the budget.

A smaller guestlist, means fewer people to feed and, you'll find that your day falls into the more accessible (and less stress-inducing) price bracket when booking your venue and suppliers. 

Who doesn't want to save a bit of cash? It means you can splurge on your honeymoon!

Reasons to not book a micro wedding

It's sounding pretty convincing so far, but surely there must be some drawbacks?

1. Cutting down the guestlist 

The main disadvantage of a micro wedding might be how hard it is to cut down your guestlist to the size you want without causing some hurt feelings. 

But remember it's your special day so the decision ultimately lies with you as a couple. If a small bash sounds like your cup of tea, you could choose a wedding venue with a smaller capacity so the 'decision' to invite fewer people isn't fully on you.

2. You're lacking that 'big party' feeling

Keep in mind that a smaller guestlist will lead to a more intimate wedding, and you won't have the party atmosphere of a big crowd.

While some people love this for their ceremony, they still want to fill the dancefloor to celebrate during their reception, so just make sure you think about how your list of guests will show up for you throughout the day.