All the different wedding sizes explained: Micro Wedding vs. Elopement vs. Wedding

The wedding industry since 2020 has developed a lot of names for what are essentially “not a big fat greek wedding”.

They all mean slightly different things — or nothing at all and basically the same thing — depending on who you ask. And today, you’ve asked me

So here’s my no-nonsense, possibly unhelpful, but definitely accurate guide to the different types and sizes of small-ish weddings:

👰🏼‍♀️ What is an Elopement

You, your person, a celebrant (hopefully me), maybe a photographer, a witness or two. No bridal party, no cousins, no conga line. Just the two of you doing the thing — beautifully, meaningfully, and without an audience but perhaps a few witnesses. The guest list resembles the list of people you’d invite into the birthing suite or the first few people you’d call when you win the lotto.

Purpose: Your ‘getting married’ moment is for you, not for public consumption, but possibly to be witnessed by that small group.
Guest count: 0–10 (not counting the dog)
Vibe: Deeply personal. Almost rebellious. Surprisingly powerful.
Tip of the hat to: My wife, Britt, who plans elopements for a living at The EC.

🤵🏽‍♂️ What is an Intimate Wedding

This is the “just our inner circle” wedding. The people you’d help move house. The people who already know the story of how you met. Usually 10–30 people, still has all the usual wedding moments, just without the crowd. You’re not being introduced to any plus one’s that you have never met. These are your people.

Purpose: This is basically an elopement on ‘roids. Still just for you, but with a small group of intimates.
Guest count: 10–30
Vibe: Warm, emotional, not a single awkward hug in the room.

💃🏽 What is a Micro Wedding

This is a styled, aesthetic-driven, very intentional small wedding. You still get a full ceremony, a reception, florals, outfits, and someone holding a camera with two straps and a fixed lens — but it’s all for like 15 people instead of 115.

It’s a wedding, but not that kind of wedding.

Purpose: This is a wedding for public consumption and celebration, but quite small.
Guest count: 10–20
Vibe: Magazine-worthy. Feels like a dinner party that ended in marriage.

🚗 What is a Mini Wedding

A wedding held inside a Morris Mini Minor. Celebrant in the passenger seat, couple in the back, maybe the rings in the center console.

Ok, I joke, but this is just a micro wedding or a small wedding but they used the word mini.

Purposes: When you don’t want to call your micro wedding a micro wedding.
Guest count: Whoever can fit on the roof
Vibe: Small. Classic. Slightly cramped.

💒 What is a Small Wedding

This is what most people mean when they say they’re “keeping it simple.” You still want the dress, the kiss, the speeches, the cake — just not the stress of herding 120 people. A small wedding hits the sweet spot for celebration and sanity.

Purpose: A micro wedding that is slightly larger than a micro wedding. At this rate we’re just using different words for the same thing really.
Guest count: 30–50
Vibe: Joyful and just right. Big enough to party, small enough to enjoy it.

💒💒 What is a Wedding

The one people expect. Ceremony, reception, canapés, plus a playlist that swings from Ed Sheeran to ABBA and back again. You need a run sheet. You probably need a seating chart.

Purpose: You two getting married with your tribe. Everyone celebrates with you, you’re hosting them. This is your wedding but for them.
Guest count: 4–420
Vibe: Trad wedding energy. Reliable, popular, sometimes a bit sweaty.

💒💒💒 What is a XL Wedding (aka “The Weddinator”)

This is when your guest list has guests you’ve never met. You hire a marquee, three buses, and a backup MC. There are cousins, colleagues, and that one uncle who always dances to “Eagle Rock” inappropriately.

Purpose: This is a wedding but larger … honestly no-one uses this terminology.
Guest count: 120+
Vibe: Chaos with a champagne fountain. Fun if you like noise.

🛸 What is a Galactic Wedding

Nobody’s really asking for this… but someone’s doing it. Think drones, custom cocktails, multiple costume changes, and a twelve-piece funk band flown in from Berlin. It’s not just a wedding — it’s a saga.

Purpose: Honestly at this rate I’m just filling up pixels with more definitions.
Guest count: All of them
Vibe: Massive. Mythical. Budget: don’t ask.

What matters most?

Labels are helpful-ish. But here’s the thing: your wedding doesn’t have to fit a box, a hashtag, or an industry trend.

What it should fit is you.

Whether you want a one-minute elopement on a cliff, a micro wedding with champagne and oysters, or a mini wedding literally in a Mini, the size doesn’t matter nearly as much as the meaning.

Get married your way — and let the language sort itself out later.