Elopement vs Micro-Wedding | Las Vegas Wedding Photographer

Elopement, micro-wedding, intimate wedding, mini-mony—there are so many names for a small marriage ceremony. So, what the heck is the difference and which one should you do? Honestly, there are only tiny differences between what each of these types of ceremonies are and what you choose to call yours ultimately depends on what feels right. There’s no set rule for what you can and can’t say or include or exclude from your wedding day, so it’s totally up to you! Let’s take a look at the most common differences I see to-be-weds discussing.

Las Vegas Elopement Versus Micro-Wedding

The difference between an elopement and a micro-wedding or intimate wedding most often comes down to the size of your guest list. Typically, fewer than ten people total equals elopement while ten to twenty guests fit an intimate wedding or micro-wedding. From there, we can also look at the structure of your day. Weddings of all sizes tend to follow a traditional schedule including a first look, portraits, a ceremony, and a reception of some kind. An elopement may have just a few (or none!) of these things with the focus placed primarily on the ceremony and the couple itself.

Which one to use: Las Vegas Elopement or Micro-Wedding?

Ultimately, it comes down to what feels right for your day. Because there are no hard-and-fast rules, it’s completely your choice! When you’re searching for vendors, venues, and other marriage-related things, providers tend to use “elopement” interchangeably with small weddings of various names. This is because people often confuse an elopement with intimate weddings or micro-weddings, so industry pros are going based off what others are most likely to search. Many people have also never heard terms like “micro-wedding” or “mini-mony” so they go with the most familiar name for a small ceremony: an elopement.

All of this means that you get to enjoy the best part of an elopement or micro-wedding: freedom to do what you want! If you have more questions on the difference between the types of ceremonies, send me a message and let’s chat!

Amber is a Wedding and Elopement Photographer who is available in Las Vegas and beyond for travel for elopements and weddings. Send in a contact form through the link above to schedule your free consultation.

Getting Ready and Celebration Hotel: The Venetian Las Vegas

Bouquets: DIY with flowers from Trader Joe’s

Chapel: Sure Thing Wedding Chapel

Cake: Jamie’s Bakery

Jewelry: Diamond Jim’s Custom Jewelry