What is a Minimony?
A minimony is essentially a mini sized wedding ceremony. Minimonies started getting popular in 2020 when the COVID-19 lockdown was at its worst. These small ceremonies were often held on the original wedding date, with the intention to have a larger wedding event at a later date. With their intimate guest lists and focus on meaningful moments, minimonies are becoming a popular trend for modern couples post-pandemic.
Minimonies: A Modern Twist on Saying “I Do”
Sometimes life throws us a curveball and we can’t host our wedding on the date that we’d planned. This was commonly due to situations outside of our control like the social distancing measures put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the dates already sent to friends and family, many couples opted to host a minimony instead of postponing their nuptials. A minimony served as a placeholder ceremony for couples that wanted to honor their original wedding date and then some then planned to have a sequel wedding for the future when the pandemic was under control.
There are many reasons why couples might opt for a minimony:
Intimacy and Focus: Minimonies prioritize a warm and heartfelt atmosphere, allowing couples to truly connect with their loved ones on their special day.
Budget-Conscious: With a smaller guest list, minimonies can be a more budget-friendly option, freeing up resources for other aspects of your life together.
Flexibility and Creativity: Minimonies open the door to exploring unique venues, breaking free from traditional constraints, and personalizing the ceremony to reflect your love story.
Perfect for Destination Weddings: Dreaming of saying “I do” in a stunning location? Minimonies are ideal for destination celebrations, allowing you to share your special day with a select group of loved ones in a dream setting.
If your minimony is in lieu of or in addition to a bigger and more formal wedding celebration, you can choose to get legally married at this small gathering, or wait until a later wedding event to make it official. Even though the pandemic has died down and most of us are back to our usual social lives, including attending events, the minimony trend has become more generally accepted for many reasons, including being less stressful, more budget-friendly, and a more intimate gathering.
Minimony vs Micro Weddings and Elopement
If you’re considering skipping the pressure of planning a massive wedding, there are a number of different ways to plan a smaller and more intimate wedding event. Are you wondering how a minimony is different from a micro wedding or an elopement? While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there are a few subtle differences. Let’s break it down.
A minimony is typically a mini version of a wedding, with no more than 10-15 guests, either planned as a stand alone event, or a smaller gathering hosted on your original wedding date, with a larger sequel wedding event planned for the future.
A micro wedding, like its name suggests is an intimate celebration typically with no more than 50 guests. Micro weddings are intentionally small, with no larger follow-up wedding celebration. It’s simply an intimate, cozy gathering of people to witness the marriage of a couple.
Traditionally an elopement is when a couple takes off somewhere and weds in secret. Elopements feel more spontaneous, intimate, and laid back than a minimony. These days, couples often invite a handful of witnesses to join them in eloping.
A minimony gives you the chance to tie the knot, legally or ceremonially on a date that holds significance for you. You can host a small-scale version of a wedding, with only a handful of guests, then celebrate on a bigger scale at a later date or stick with the one event. A minimony or micro wedding isn’t just about saying “I do” with fewer people, it’s about creating a celebration that’s deeply personal and reflects your unique bond as a couple. So, if a cozy and intimate ceremony sounds like your dream happily ever after, consider embracing the magic of minimonies or scaled back wedding events.
Historic Acres of Hershey is a beautiful wedding and event venue, perfect for small gatherings, amidst rolling hills in the Pennsylvania countryside. Contact our team to learn more or to schedule a tour.