Micro Weddings in Ireland: Will People Think We Are Doing It Wrong If We Keep Our Wedding Small?
When couples start planning a wedding in Ireland, one of the first things that comes up is guest numbers.
And quite quickly, I often hear a version of this worry:
“Will people think we are doing it wrong if we keep our wedding small?”
Micro weddings in Ireland are becoming more common, but there is still that quiet pressure many couples feel — that a wedding needs to be big enough, or include enough people, to feel “proper” or official.
What I see differently in my work is this:
A wedding doesn’t need to be big to be valid. And you definitely don’t need to explain your choices to everyone who disagrees.
Whether you choose a micro wedding, a large celebration, an elopement, or something in between, there isn’t a right or wrong size — only what feels right for you.
In this post, I want to talk a bit about micro weddings, what actually changes when couples choose something smaller, and why so many people end up feeling more relaxed once they let go of the idea that they have to justify it.
Videographer Breffny from Eyeflower Films with a couple for intimate photo shoot
What changed during Covid weddings
I spoke to many couples who had to have smaller weddings during Covid.
At first, there was disappointment. Of course there was — plans changed, guest lists were restricted.
But afterwards, a lot of them said something very similar:
They actually enjoyed it more than they expected.
And a big part of that was this:
They didn’t have to explain it.
There was no social pressure to justify numbers or decisions.
And because of that, the whole experience felt lighter.
More present.
More real.
A wedding in the woods of Wicklow
One wedding I remember clearly was a couple who travelled from the US with about 30 of their closest family and friends.
They got married in the woods in Wicklow.
Because they really knew everyone there, everything felt very natural.
People didn’t just sit and watch.
They were part of it.
Someone read a poem.
Someone else played music.
It wasn’t planned in a “production” way — it just made sense because the couple knew their people well.
During the ceremony, everyone formed a circle around them.
It felt like a very simple gesture, but it changed everything.
It wasn’t an audience.
It was support.
What I often see with smaller weddings
Before the ceremony, there is usually less stress.
Not because the wedding is “easier”, but because there is less noise around it.
You are not managing distant relatives you barely know.
You are not trying to please everyone.
Your guests are your people.
They know you.
And they tend to show up in a way that reflects that — relaxed, supportive, comfortable.
I also see couples slow down more.
They actually enjoy the venue.
They take in the morning.
Sometimes even including pets in the preparation or ceremony in a very natural way.
There is space for things to feel like you.
Circle of friends and family in an intimate wedding in Wicklow Mountains
Something I hear quite a lot after Covid weddings
Many couples I spoke to before Covid felt disappointed at first when guest numbers were reduced.
But afterwards, a lot of them said:
“We actually really liked it.”
And not just because it was simpler.
But because they didn’t have to explain themselves.
That mattered more than people expect.
My view on it
I really believe this:
Your wedding doesn’t need to be explained to be valid.
That’s true for micro weddings, big weddings, elopements — all of it.
Smaller weddings just tend to give you more space to actually think about what matters to you, instead of what other people expect.
And that can make the whole experience feel more grounded and more personal.
If you are considering a Micro wedding
It might be a good fit if:
you want a calmer, more present day
you care more about connection than scale
you don’t want the day to feel like a performance
you want time with the people who actually know you
There isn’t a right size for a wedding.
Only what feels right for you.
If you’re in the middle of planning a micro wedding in Ireland and some of this feels familiar — the questions, the pressure, the feeling that you’re not quite sure what you’re “meant” to do — it might help to talk it through with someone who works with couples in this space regularly.
I help couples create ceremonies that feel calm, personal, and true to them — especially when they don’t want a big, traditional production.
If you’d like support shaping a ceremony that actually fits you (and not everyone else’s expectations), you can get in touch and tell me a bit about what you’re planning.