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With boutique weddings now de rigueur, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a day full of luxury and tradition. We’re saying ‘I do’ to the micro-wedding.
Fiancés still want to celebrate with their loved ones—that hasn’t changed. But with the future of large gatherings uncertain, more options for the big day are beginning to emerge. Gone are the days where hundreds of guests can be seated together in a busy ballroom, dancing cheek-to-cheek and bustling to catch the bouquet. That doesn’t mean you have to scrimp on the atmosphere.
Enter the micro-wedding—a wedding with less than 20 guests, that is. While elopements tend to be off-the-cuff ceremonies with just a couple of witnesses, those who still want to meticulously plan their big day still can.
“People are trying to do what they can within the current guidelines,” says Nicky Price, Director of Sales, Special Events & Entertainment at Belmond. “Wedding planners are looking at more and more innovative ways to organise intimate weddings now.”
Perhaps one silver lining of our current situation is a renewed focus on nurturing human connections. Many people around the world will have had the opportunity to spend more time with those dearest to them. At micro-weddings, a couple can spend cherished time interacting with their guests, too. Some argue that this is better than a quick ‘hello, thank you for coming!’ you might manage at weddings with a hundred guests. There’s no distant relative sat in a far corner, craning to listen to speeches or squinting to steal a glimpse at the cake-cutting. Each guest has a premium ticket, sat front and center.
Even before the pandemic made us re-evaluate how to celebrate these occasions, micro-weddings were a fast-growing trend. It’s not hard to see why. Bid adieu to that ‘package wedding’ feel. With less space and less guests, couples often have free reign to alter the layout and décor of their venue. They can shape the atmosphere to their own exacting requirements.
Just because your boutique wedding is smaller, that doesn’t have to mean a quick trip to the registrar’s office. It can be an opportunity to eschew tradition and opt for a day that’s more daring, more uniquely you. With our fully adaptable micro-wedding offerings, we prove that big isn’t always better.
Exchange vows between sea and sky in the cliffs above the Amalfi Coast. With our lush gardens and a meal prepared by chef Mimmo di Raffaele, we’re on hand to make every detail perfect. You can even wed on the waves on a private boat for up to six people.
A chic getaway for centuries of socialites, our London hotel is the perfect spot for a micro-wedding. Toast with glasses of fizz, stroll around Cadogan Palace Gardens with exclusive access and party the night away with your nearest and dearest.
The lush island of Koh Samui is a magical location to wed among friends and family. With golden sunsets and swaying palm trees, raise a toast in the tropics for a picture-perfect day.
With cocktail receptions in lush gardens and sumptuous local cuisine, your special day in Deià will feel like a fairytale. Plan an unforgettable micro-wedding among the olive trees.
Exchange vows in the heart of colorful and cultural San Miguel de Allende. In our breathtaking alfresco spaces, you and your guests will be surrounded by trees, manicured lawns and sweet-smelling flowers.
With pristine white sands and dazzling turquoise waters, Anguilla provides the perfect backdrop for an intimate micro-wedding. Be it a small sunset ceremony or a barefoot candlelit dinner on our platinum shores, the opportunities are endless.
Our honey-coloured hideaway is a stunning spot for a micro-wedding. Opt for our Belle Époque conservatory, resplendent with sweet-smelling flowers. If that doesn’t tantalize, then our Michelin-starred menu and expansive walled gardens certainly will.
The breezy Santa Barbara hillside is a stunning setting for a micro-wedding. A myriad of outdoor spaces are available for your loved ones, from rooftop terraces to a charming lily pond.
Tropical frangipani line a path to the powder-soft beach: the most blissful setting to say ‘I do.’ Make memories and marvel at the sea under our Puri Bamboo Pavilion.
Say ‘I do’ at Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s favourite romantic retreat. With lush gardens and sumptuously decorated tables, a micro wedding with us is simply magical. End celebrations as moonlight glints on the sea overlooking the Gulf of Portofino.
Charter an entire train that travels through the Scottish highlands. Relax inside your own luxury villa, a stone's throw from the Caribbean sea. Our exclusive places are perfect for those craving total privacy.
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