We’re sure you’ve heard the words ‘micro-wedding’ and ‘minimony’ thrown around during this age of COVID-19 and we’re almost positive you had the same question we all did at the beginning: “What do each of the terms mean?” and
“How do the differ from a standard wedding?” We teamed up with Southern California Bride to help guide you through all the questions any couple facing these uncertain circumstances have. Fear not; we’re your one-stop-shop for all things ‘micro’ and are here to let you in on some firsthand wedding advice in navigating these new waters with confidence.

Let’s start with the basics: what exactly is a micro-wedding and who should consider one? A micro-wedding is basically a scaled-down version of an already planned larger event or a totally new event that still has all the elements of a ‘full’ wedding but with a more intimate feel and a smaller guest list. A micro-wedding could consist of taking your 120 person wedding and adjusting for a guest count of 50. Think of your micro-wedding as a celebration that includes all the main pieces a traditional wedding would like a ceremony, dinner and dancing! For events that haven’t been planned yet, a micro-wedding simply means selecting a team of vendors (planner, florist, rentals, photographer etc.) and going through your standard wedding planning process but with a shorter time frame, fewer guests and a more intimate feel!  All in all, micro-weddings are for any couples who want to celebrate now but on a smaller scale. On the other hand a minimony is an intimate celebration on your original wedding date with the plan to celebrate BIG at a later date. This is a good option if you have your heart set on a large wedding with all your friends and family but don’t want your calendar empty on the day you were originally going to tie the knot. Instead have a minimony picnic on the beach and reschedule your grand affair for sometime in 2021. Want a side by side comparison of the two? Head to our The New Wedding Trends: Micro Weddings + Minimony’s article to see a high level synopsis.

How to decide on the details:

When deciding on gorgeous pieces that are sure to turn heads, we sure have some serious eye candy. I mean, have you seen our Instagram feed? From modern designs to vintage pieces, any micro-wedding wouldn’t be complete without our Archive inventory making a statement. Whether you’re hosting 10 or 100, our tabletop and furniture pieces fit any and every couple’s style on their wedding day. If our inventory hasn’t been enough to instantly woo you, we offer design services to take the style selection off your shoulders. “We’re known for curating each event to the client and do so by offering complimentary design services through video calls to review the overall wedding vibe, do virtual venue walk-throughs to understand what the space needs and create design boards to provide visual options for rentals in each category needed” says California Lead Designer Lauren Kilar. “While we love having our clients visit our showroom in person, we are able to now do a virtual showroom tour and share tabletop setups, lounge vignette setups and more so that clients feel like they are seeing the items in real life and stay rest assured that they meet the vision they have for their wedding.”

How has Archive changed their cleaning policies:

In terms of safely delivering clean and quality products for your event, we also have you covered. Our delivery team wears masks during the full rental setup and breakdown of the event and requests that any setup diagrams be sent ahead of time to Archive delivery crew to review so that they can maintain a safe distance from others. Our trucks are wiped down with each order to prevent contamination spread and our returned items are quarantined for a minimum of 3 days before they can be rented on another event.

Pro tips for designing either a micro-wedding or minimony:

• Rent (2) sets of chairs – one for your ceremony and one for the reception to avoid cross-contamination
• Or, rent chairs that can be wiped down (metal for example) – your planner or caterer can likely assist with this sanitation step during your cocktail hour!
• Make sure you give your guests a bit of extra space by renting additional tables so that they don’t feel like they are crammed next to each other – it will make for a more enjoyable experience!
• Opt for a plated dinner tabletop setup – this option is safer than stations or buffets because guests are not sharing communal serving spoons and such.
• Everyone loves a big lounge vignette, but in this case, opt for doing multiple, smaller vignettes to allow more guests to enjoy the company of a few others at a safe distance.
• Create a trendy sanitation station for guests at the entrance of the wedding featuring a collection of masks in your color scheme and hand sanitizers with custom labels – even better – rent a unique table and a tray to display the items!
• We are trying to streamline the rental process as much as possible for our couples right now by offering curated wedding packages in several styles so that couples can easily pick a collection of rentals that meets their budget and design vision for their smaller wedding. Micro-wedding decor, handled!

 Still have questions on other areas of the wedding planning process during a pandemic? Head over to Southern California Bride to read the full article where industry experts weigh in our florals, photography, catering and more for a micro-wedding or minimony!

Micro-wedding partners:

Venue: Rancho Las Lomas | Planning and Logistics: Lucky Day Events Co. | Florist: In Style Blooms | Photography: XO and Fetti | Videography: Milestones of Love | Stationary: Honeycrisp Designs | Hair + Makeup: Done By Dominique Baez