Elopement VS Micro Wedding
the difference, why it matters & how to decide
Elopement vs. Micro Wedding – What’s the Difference?
Are you wondering what the difference is between an elopement and a micro wedding, or trying to decide which one you prefer for your day? Then you’re in the right place!
We’ve been where you are- trying to decide on an elopement VS micro wedding when planning our own day. Now, after photographing and planning elopements and micro weddings for couples all over Colorado, we’ve seen firsthand how these two options play out in real life. Understanding the difference early on helps you plan a day that actually aligns with what you want – not what you feel pressured to do.
In this guide, we’ll walk you though the difference between an elopement and a micro wedding, key considerations to make your decision and one of our favorite tricks so you may not have to choose one or the other. Plus, we’ll explain how our planning process and services differ between the two events.
Definition of elopements vs micro weddings
If you’ve started planning a small, untraditional wedding – you may have noticed the terms elopement and micro wedding used almost interchangeably. While they can look similar on the surface, they actually create quite different experiences.
At the most basic level, the difference between an elopement and micro wedding comes down to guest count and intention. An elopement is focused solely on the couple, while a micro wedding includes a larger group and naturally introduces more structure and logistics.
What Is an Elopement?
an elopement has 0-10 guests
An elopement is typically just the two of you, or with a very small number of guests. The focus is on the experience rather than hosting. This often means choosing a location because it feels meaningful or epic, not because it can accommodate a crowd or is easily accessible.
Elopements allow for flexibility – slow mornings, private vows, adventure, and a timeline that revolves entirely around what feels right for you. There’s less pressure to perform, no expectations and more space to be present. Read more about the modern meaning of eloping.
What Is a Micro Wedding?
a micro wedding has 10+ guests
A micro wedding usually involves 10 or more guests and starts to resemble a traditional wedding, just on a smaller scale. With guests comes the need for a ceremony space, often a reception area, and a more structured timeline.
Micro weddings are still intimate and meaningful, but they require more planning. You’re not just planning an experience for yourselves – you’re hosting people, which changes the flow and priorities of the day.
elopement vs micro wedding – which should you choose?
How to Decide Between an Elopement and a Micro Wedding
Choosing between an elopement and a micro wedding can be a really difficult decision. The right choice comes down to what you value most on your wedding day, from how you want to feel to how you want to spend your time. Asking yourself a few intentional questions can help bring clarity and make the decision feel a lot less overwhelming.
These considerations aren’t meant to sway you in one direction or the other – they’re simply based on our experience after being in your shoes. We actually started out considering a micro wedding before ultimately deciding to elope, and walking through these factors helped make that decision clear for us.
At the end of the day, listen to your gut. Do what you want to do, not what you feel like you “should” do. People will adjust, opinions will fade, but you only get one wedding day – and that’s something you can’t redo.
consideration 1
Location and Venue Requirements
If you elope, you can get married pretty much anywhere in nature for free, without a reservation. You’ll have more flexibility with where you can go for your ceremony.
However if you have 10+ guests, a reservable space will be more suitable to accommodate your group size. This will ensure that your ceremony location is easy for your guests to get to, that there’s enough flat space for everyone to gather, enough parking spots, etc.
If you’re leaning toward a micro wedding, starting with a venue designed for small weddings is key. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite options in this guide of the best small wedding venues in Colorado and guide on VRBO and Airbnb wedding venues in Colorado.
consideration 2
The Overall Experience of the Day
One of the biggest differences is the experience and focus on the day. Elopements are deeply personal and couple-focused. The day is designed around what feels meaningful to you, without any outside expectations. Unlike traditional weddings, you’ll actually get to spend quality time with your spouse on your wedding day!
Micro weddings naturally shift some of that focus outward. While celebrating with loved ones can be beautiful, it does mean more attention on hosting, coordinating, and making sure everyone else is taken care of. However, guests can add even more joy to your day with special moments like helping you get ready, toasts and first dances.
consideration 3
Micro weddings are Typically more expensive
While both elopements and micro weddings are more affordable than large traditional weddings, micro weddings often cost more than elopements. Once guests are involved, expenses add up quickly- from the ceremony venue, reception space, food/drinks, rentals (such as chairs and ceremony decor), possibly even transportation and a coordinator if you have a lot of guests- there are a ton of costs that you can avoid by eloping instead.
With an elopement, your ceremony location is almost always free, and there’s no need for a formal reception venue- you can opt for a picnic or celebrate afterward at your Airbnb. Less spent on things like food and drinks for guests means you can splurge more on things that really matter to you- like experiences on the day, and how you remember it (your photos + videos). Read more about the cost of eloping.
consideration 4
Pressure & Expectations
Do you WANT to invite guests- or do you feel pressured to? Keep in mind- guest counts have a way of snowballing. What starts as “just immediate family” can quickly turn into feeling obligated to invite more people than you intended. This can add stress, pressure, and compromises that take away from the experience you originally envisioned.
It can feel uncomfortable to tell people you’re eloping or keeping things very small. But it’s worth asking yourself whether you’d rather have those conversations now, or feel stressed and pulled in different directions leading up to/on your actual wedding day. However, if you can’t imagine getting married without your people around- you should definitely have a micro-wedding!
can’t decide? do both!
How to have an elopement AND a micro wedding
If you’re torn between an elopement and a micro wedding, here’s the good news – you don’t actually have to choose. One of our favorite options is doing both: one day that’s just for you, and another day to celebrate with your people.
This could look like a private elopement in the mountains where you exchange vows, explore, and fully soak in the experience without pressure. Then, on a separate day, you host a post-elopement party with family and friends. Splitting the days takes the pressure off trying to make everyone happy at once and allows each experience to be exactly what it’s meant to be.
how the planning process & our services differ
elopement vs micro wedding planning & services
Elopements and micro weddings may look similar, but the planning process is a bit different. With elopements, the first step is booking your photographers/planners (hi, us!), but with micro-weddings, we suggest choosing a venue first.
This is because with elopements, we help with locations and you can get married pretty much anywhere without a reservation- so availability of the location is not a concern. With micro-weddings, since a venue is involved, we recommend securing your venue at the same time as booking us to ensure availability on both sides.
Micro weddings require a different level of coordination. While we still handle the elopement-style aspects of the day (photo locations, timeline, etc.), we strongly recommend hiring a dedicated micro wedding planner to handle setup, coordination, and guest-focused details while we focus on capturing your day. Having a planner ensures everything runs smoothly, even when we are away taking photos, and allows you to actually enjoy your day instead of managing it.
Hey, we’re Savannah & Greg!
Colorado Elopement Photographers, VIDEOGRAPHERS & PLANNERS
We’re a husband and wife team specializing in elopement photography and videography in Colorado. We believe eloping is the best way to get married, so much so that we did it ourselves! We know it can feel overwhelming not knowing where to start, which is why we help couples set a date, pick a location, make a timeline, etc!
planning Resources
Planning guide
The Best Places To Elope In Colorado
Planning guide
Colorado Elopement Planning Guide
Planning guide
Small Wedding Venues in Colorado
