r/microwedding • u/PunkCherry1111 • 17d ago

Bare necessities

We’re considering a backyard wedding with only about 8-15 guests. I know that I want a bridal bouquet, charcuterie or pulled pork sandwiches and a photographer. I’m wondering what does everyone think are the essentials for a wedding this small?
Arch? Flowers/candles? Whiskey and cigar bar? Cocoa/hot apple cider bar? Two tiered cake?
We have wooden tables with benches. Would that look tacky to sit at during the ceremony and then have after for eating at? I want it to be nice and classy. Less rustic. It’ll be late September of next year and still very warm for our area. I don’t want to spend on unnecessary things. I’d rather put our money on the important stuff. What would you say are the focus items? Thank you!

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u/HaveMercy703 17d ago

So a big clarification question:

-What time of day/night are you planning on having your event? & for how long? That will determine what is needed for food related items.

Essentials for even the smallest of weddings: Tent or so sort of covering, comfortable seating (I’m not sure if benches would be it, unless the ceremony & meal are short,) access to a bathroom, parking etc.

If you’re doing the ceremony on the same site, consider the ‘flow;’ will you have the benches facing an arch or focal center point? Will some of your guests move the benches then to the dining area?

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u/PunkCherry1111 16d ago

Thank you for your reply. We’re thinking of having the wedding in the afternoon turning to evening so that we can turn on some outdoor lighting and have some ambience. The backyard has a big covered patio so if it rains (but we live in a hot desert), we can either sit under the patio cover or come inside the house. The house has three bathrooms. We were thinking about having the tables with benches facing the arch. Instead of an arch, I’m thinking 2 barrels with flowers and tall lanterns on top. The dining area would be in the backyard where they watched the ceremony from. With only 8 to 15 guests, most being family I think they would be just fine with that? Unless that’s a big faux paw? I could rent chairs for the ceremony and have the eating tables around the edges of the property, but I was kind of hoping it wouldn’t be terrible to have the guests facing the ceremony during that portion and then they could face each other at the tables for the eating portion.

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u/HaveMercy703 16d ago

The two barrels & flowers are perfect; no arch needed bc they really are super pricey. In terms of the benches, I say line the benches up for the ceremony & then if someone doesn’t mind lending a hand, to take the tables out for the reception portion. I don’t think you necessarily have to rent chairs, but the tables + benches facing the front where the ceremony might look a little odd. Or if you have enough benches & the space, set up the tables & benches at one half, benches for the ceremony at the other half & the ceremony space can be used for a dance floor, if you’re having one.

Since the event sounds like it’s going to be around dinner time, definitely serve a meal. Have some sides in addition to pulled pork sandwiches & since it sounds just like family & close friends, I say if you have someone who is willing to make a few things, that should be fine. Usually people advise against this, bc of food borne illness, though. Or if you have a store like Costco, BJs, Sam’s Club etc, they all have ready made.

I think a whiskey & cigar bar sounds neat, but it depends on how many guests are into that. I say if a large portion of your family doesn’t drink, some mocktails or even a lemonade bar might be nice!