Micro Weddings might just be the new elopement! If you’re not sure what a micro wedding is, first take a second to read up about them in our recent feature: Trending Now: Micro Weddings. In true micro wedding style, Cindy and Mike’s wedding was intimate and absolutely stunning- not a single detail left out! C + M wed in a gorgeous garden venue called Terrain at Styers. We absolutely love the intricate gazebo where they said their vows and the cozy greenhouse that shielded them from the elements during the reception. With a vine-covered gown, lush peach and chocolate florals, and an inviting family-style dining table, this wedding might just be the new blueprint for intimate weddings!
C shared this about their decision to host a micro wedding:
We were originally planning a larger, more traditional wedding, but it just wasn’t in alignment with our personalities and priorities. Overall, we were aiming for a day that was low key, romantic, cozy and inclusive. A day that was less about the stuff or the requirements, and more about our love for one another and those that have most supported us on our journey together. Approaching things more like a dinner party than an orchestrated wedding bonanza, provided us the freedom to really enjoy and connect with each of our guests. We were also sure to carve out opportunities for the two of us to be alone and just revel in the meaning of the day.
Let’s take a look at all of the magic through the lens of With Love and Embers!
Details of the Day
Sleek and modern wedding invitations showcased the peach and coral color palette of the day.
Bridal Beauty
A garden goddess if we’ve ever seen one!! How stunning does C look in this vine-encrusted, embroidered Enzoani gown from RK Bridal?! Here’s what she had to say about her hunt for the perfect wedding dress:
I’m fairly certain I tried on every dress in the tri-state area. I just felt so unnatural in all of the sparkle and fluff and was looking for something simple and fitted with organic or bohemian inspired touches. My mom, my husband’s mom, my sisters and girlfriends took turns attending appointments. They were troopers. Ultimately, I found my dress on Instagram. Turns out, the dress was part of the new Enzoani Blue collection that hadn’t yet been fully released. I tracked trunk shows and called every bridal store that carried the brand until I finally found the dress in New York.
This wedding is a floral wonderland and A Cottage Gardener didn’t miss a beat! We’re loving their lush, garden-style designs, especially C’s wow-worthy bridal bouquet! There’s so much texture with blooms like bearded iris, tulips, ranunculus, and peonies!
The First Look
M was up for the style challenge and was looking super handsome in his Enzo Custom attire! We love how he chose a floral tie to complement the florals and vines on C’s gown! Speaking of vine-covered wedding dresses, here are some more of our favorites below!
Carousel
Carousel
Micro Wedding Ceremony
Garden wedding perfection!! Isn’t this gingerbread-style gazebo gorgeous with a lush floral accent??
Many couples might want to host a micro wedding, but aren’t sure where to start or how to go about putting the details in place. We love how C + M shared their wedding planning story to help inspire other couples who are looking for a similar stunning but intimate day:
After a few months of planning and a lot of anxiety, we decided to scale things back, opting instead to host an intimate dinner party for just our immediate family and a handful of our closest friends. In making this shift, we were really intentional about sourcing vendors that were personally connected to or inspired by the concept of an intimate wedding.
Our photographers, for instance, also had an intimate wedding of their own. We swapped the DJ for a solo musician (Jeff Campbell Music) with a laid back vibe. And we selected our celebrant (Weddings by Janet Dunn) because of her passion for mindfulness and connection. She worked closely with us to craft a deeply personal ceremony that also incorporated our guests in the most amazing ring warming ceremony where our rings were passed around the ceremony for everyone to place wishes and love upon. We picked a venue that was beautiful on its own and splurged on an incredible florist to up the romance with natural runners and tons of candlesticks. The few décor elements that we did bring in were mostly DIY. We hand-cut and painted our own signage, made some fun macramé hangings for the chairs, and put together a photobook for guests to sign as a sweet keepsake for us.
Processional: I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – Sleeping at Last
Recessional: You Are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
First Dance: Into the Mystic – Van Morrison
Party Time with DIY Details!
Having an intimate wedding doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the details. In fact, having a smaller guest count can open up the budget to allow for really fantastic decor items like these custom signs! (PS- the bride and groom cut and painted these themselves!!)
The forecast for the day included hail and damaging winds, and it had been storming on and off all day. When I arrived at the venue, I was surprised to see the ceremony space set outside because a crazy hail storm had just blown through, and it was scheduled to hit again at the start of the ceremony. Despite the forecast, we made it through the first look, photos, and the ceremony with thunder rolling in the background and birds singing like crazy. The very second that the guests made it inside for cocktail hour, the skies opened up again to create the most magical sound on the glass roof of the hothouse. When we first toured the space, we joked about how dreamy it would be to hang out in the hothouse during a rainstorm. It seemed our wish was granted, and the added ambiance was particularly special for our first moments together as husband and wife.
DIY detail alert!! C + M made these macramé chair hangings and our boho hearts are singing!! Seriously such a creative couple!
Micro Wedding Reception
Such a lovely setup!!
An Intimate Wedding Dinner
We just love how C + M thought about their wedding as a cozy and stylish dinner party! Who wouldn’t want to walk into a reception space and see a table like this?!
Crust Vegan Bakery created the PERFECT cake for the day! This chocolate and peach colored confection with fig accents is absolutely stunning!
Dancing the Night Away
Start by defining how you want the day to FEEL and use that feeling to guide your decision making process and all of your individual planning choices. Most importantly, give yourself permission to step outside of the confines of tradition and expectation in order to plan a wedding that is truly reflective of your lifestyle and values. People will understand. And no matter the type of event you choose, there are always ways to involve those that are important to you even if they will not be present for the day.
Cindy and Mike, thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous and inspirational micro wedding with us! We’re sure other couples out there are taking note! The GWS team wishes you both the very best! Congratulations!!
photography: With Love and Embers // venue name: Terrain at Styers, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, USA // florals: A Cottage Gardener // wedding dress: Enzoani // wedding dress boutique: RK Bridal // bride's shoes: Vince Camuto // bridesmaid dresses: Lulus // groom attire: Enzo Custom // catering: Terrain // cake: Crust Vegan Bakery // music: Jeff Campbell Music // officiant: Weddings by Janet Dunn
