The rise of the micro wedding, typically a celebration with around 20 to 50 guests, reflects a shift away from spectacle and towards presence. Fewer tables, fewer compromises, more time with the people who matter. And, often, far more room in the budget for meaningful details, including the jewellery you will wear long after the last glass is cleared.
At Hatton Jewels, we have noticed a clear pattern: couples planning micro weddings are putting more thought into pieces that feel personal, wearable, and lasting. The day may be pared back, but the sentiment is anything but.
What is a micro wedding?
A micro wedding sits between a traditional wedding and an elopement. It has the structure of a full wedding day (ceremony, drinks, dinner, speeches, photography) but with a carefully curated guest list. That smaller scale changes everything, from the venue options to how you experience the day itself.
The biggest difference is time. With fewer guests, you can actually speak to everyone. You can linger. You can take in the moment rather than managing it.
Why micro weddings are trending now
Micro weddings first appeared when restrictions forced couples to cut guest lists, but the format has outlived the circumstances. Smaller guest counts also unlock options that are either impossible or wildly expensive at scale: private dining rooms in favourite restaurants, family homes, boutique hotels, countryside retreats, even a ceremony in the city followed by a long-table supper somewhere candlelit and relaxed.
There is also a practical element. Costs have risen across venues, catering, floristry and photography. Many couples are choosing to host fewer people, then reinvest the savings into what matters most to them, such as an elevated meal, a destination weekend, or heirloom-quality jewellery.
The micro wedding mindset: meaning over magnitude
Micro weddings tend to be story-led. Instead of asking “What do weddings usually look like?”, couples ask “What feels like us?” That might mean:
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A morning ceremony followed by an indulgent lunch
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A vow exchange outdoors with a private chef at night
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A weekend celebration with a small group staying together
It also means the details land differently. When every guest is close enough to you to know your history, sentimental choices feel natural, not performative.
How micro weddings are changing jewellery choices
With a more intimate celebration, couples often choose jewellery that is less about “bridal” and more about identity. Pieces that work on the day, then become part of everyday life.
1) Rings become the focal point (in the best way)
When the wedding is smaller, photographs tend to be closer, more candid, and more about hands, gestures and emotion. Your rings feature constantly, so couples often invest in the craftsmanship and finishing.
If you are choosing both an engagement ring and a wedding band, it is worth thinking about the set early. How will they sit together? Do you want a flush fit? A contour band? A mixed-metal look? You can explore styles and options through our weddings and engagement jewellery page.
2) Heirlooms and vintage pieces feel perfectly at home
Micro weddings lend themselves to family history. We see more brides wearing a grandmother’s diamond pendant, resetting an inherited stone into a modern engagement ring, or selecting a vintage piece that already carries a sense of story.
Pre-owned and vintage jewellery can also offer exceptional value for quality, particularly for diamonds and distinctive settings that would cost significantly more to recreate today.
3) Personalisation replaces tradition
Rather than following a standard checklist, micro wedding couples often commission small, meaningful touches: engraving a private phrase inside a band, adding a hidden gemstone, incorporating birthstones, or creating a bespoke ring that nods to where you met or travelled together.
Bespoke does not have to mean complicated. In many cases, it simply means taking a classic idea and making it unmistakably yours.
Planning tips for a micro wedding (that make the day feel effortless)
Choose the venue first, then build the guest list around it. If the space fits 32 people seated, that becomes your boundary. It saves months of back-and-forth.
Design the day like a dinner party. Think about flow, conversation, comfort and warmth. A micro wedding is at its best when it feels unhurried.
Invest where guests will feel it. Better food, better wine, better music, better lighting. Small upgrades have a huge impact at this scale.
Give jewellery enough lead time. If you are commissioning something bespoke or resizing a vintage piece, build in breathing room. Even for ready-to-wear rings, you will want time for fitting, tweaks, and a final polish before the day.
The lasting appeal of smaller celebrations
A micro wedding is not about doing less. It is about doing it with intention. When the guest list is thoughtful and the atmosphere is personal, the entire day becomes more vivid.
And that is exactly where jewellery matters most. If you would like help choosing an engagement ring, wedding band, or a bespoke piece for an intimate celebration, Hatton Jewels would be delighted to help you build something personal, beautiful, and made to last.
