Things aren’t easy right now. Lockdown is tough for everyone, but it’s especially hard if you’re planning a wedding and considering how best to proceed. Whether to postpone, possibly for the second time, and if so until when? Or whether to go for it and have what’s been called a lockdown ‘micro wedding’. I myself had my own micro wedding, and you can read more about my experience of planning a small wedding here.
After a diary full of weddings all but emptied out in 2020, I still did shoot weddings for six couples. All of these micro weddings were incredibly special. Not in spite of the circumstances but because of it. Because of everything each of these brave couples had to overcome to bring their wedding day to reality.
I can tell you myself that small weddings are just as special, but I thought it would be best for some of these couples to tell you themselves. To explain the hardships and the challenges of getting down the aisle to become a married couple – the thing they wanted above all else.
I really hope this helps you on your own planning journey, and I’m here to chat at any time.
So, let’s start with the lovely Helena & Rich. Their wedding was held in the beautiful Church at Breamore, with a reception in the garden of Helena’s sister’s house. To get around the issues faced by caterers regarding social distancing their caterers Bread and Flowers provided picnic baskets for each guests which was both a wonderful whimsical talking point as well as covid safe and a lovely wedding favour for their thirty guests to take home. Helena will tell you more….
Why did you decide to go ahead with your wedding instead of postponing?
I have been thinking of our wedding a lot recently, and really feeling for those who are still wondering what to do with their Spring 2021 weddings. Postponing really wasn’t something we wanted to do and I remember my mum saying, ‘I don’t know how I’d feel if I woke up on the day of the wedding and there wasn’t one’. That stuck in my head and I agreed that we just couldn’t bear the thought of waking up on the 8th August and it not being the day that we became husband and wife – however the wedding was going to look. It was admittedly hard as it meant Rich’s sister, who is in Oz, wasn’t going to be able to make it.
“we just couldn’t bear the thought of waking up on the 8th August and it not being the day that we became husband and wife – however the wedding was going to look.”
Are you happy you decided to have a micro wedding?
Yes! It was the best day and had I known back in 2018 when we got engaged, what I know now, my wedding would have been exactly how it was! I have spoken to my friends about it, and they honestly say it was one of the best weddings they have been to!
More of Helena’s advice as you scroll through their photos….
Is there anything you’d do differently if you could do it again?
As we were married in early August, everything was very last minute. Suits were ordered within weeks as the shops had only just opened. The only thing I would change is spending the time to enjoy it. But I wouldn’t change anything- it was just perfect!
What was the best thing about having a micro wedding rather than postponing your day?
We had everyone who mattered to us there (apart from Rich’s sister of course) and we managed to speak to every single person. I hear friends saying they spend hours just trying to get around to speak to everyone. We didn’t have that problem.
“I hear friends saying they spend hours just trying to get around to speak to everyone. We didn’t have that problem.”
What was the hardest part of planning a micro wedding?
Cutting down our guest list and not being able to have everyone in the church. However, everyone was very accepting and understood the situation. During the initial start of lockdown, we didn’t really know what was going on. The unknown back in Spring 2020 and early Summer made it difficult to get excited and everything had to be quite last minute. When Boris gave the green light, it was go go go!
What were the main things you changed about your plans for the day?
We had originally booked a large barn for our reception. Early on, we made the decision to cancel it and fortunately my sister and brother – in law came to the rescue with the use of their very large garden! Bread and Flowers (our caterers) were utterly incredible. After an idea by my Mum, we decided to go down a picnic route and the food they created in our individual picnic hampers was just outstanding!
Are you planning to have a bigger party later or are you ‘done & dusted’?
Rich and I often talk about this. We feel like it was the most magical day and night, and it was everything we wanted. We won’t be having another ‘party’ in the near future but maybe to celebrate a special 10 year anni? Any excuse for another party!
Do you feel your wedding was any less special than a ‘big’ wedding?
Not at all! It was just perfect and actually, everything we ever wanted from our wedding. We just didn’t know it at the time! We are so thankful for our friends and family who helped to make it possible. The photos that you took just show the happiness and love of the day!
“It was just perfect and actually, everything we ever wanted from our wedding.”
Helena & Rich’s Dream Team
Dress: Anna Bridal
Flowers: Arcade Flowers / Marquee Flowers done by a friend
Hair: Sloanes
Marquee: Shipseys
Marquee Furniture: Furniture 4 Events
Catering: Bread & Flowers
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