Do Couples Regret Their Micro Weddings? 18 Honest Answers
If you're considering a micro wedding, you've probably wondered: Will I regret this decision years from now?
It's a valid concern. When you're choosing intimacy over a big celebration, cutting your guest list down to 20-50 people, and saying no to the traditional wedding experience, you want to know you're making the right call.
So we asked couples who've been there: Did you regret your micro wedding?
Here's what 18 real couples had to say about their experiences, the good and the not-so-good.
The Overwhelming Verdict: Zero Regrets
Let's cut to the chase. The vast majority of couples who chose micro weddings absolutely loved their decision.
One couple who married in 2024 with just 22 guests kept it simple: "It was amazing."
Another who celebrated in October 2025 said it perfectly: "Simple, intimate, comfortable, affordable. Have not once wished it was more extravagant."
A couple who had their micro wedding back in 2010—before the term even existed—shared: "Absolutely zero regrets!" And after more than a decade, they still feel the same way.
What Couples Loved Most
The Intimacy Factor
With 28 guests and a great planner, one bride shared: "I was present through the whole thing. No stress."
That presence is something many couples mentioned. When you're not managing 150+ guests, you actually get to experience your wedding day.
The Financial Freedom
"It was beautiful and saved a ton of money," one couple noted simply.
One sister took this approach and created something magical: a 20-minute ceremony in a Boston rose garden followed by a family-style dinner for 50 people on a Wednesday afternoon. The total cost? Under $5,000. Everyone raved about the food and they had the best time.
Getting What You Want (Without the Rest)
As one couple who married in 2003 put it: "You get all the stuff you want—dress, flowers, photos, great food, cake—and none of the crap you don't want: the rigamarole of a full reception, all the guests you wish you didn't have to invite."
Perfect for Parents
Got kids? Multiple couples with toddlers shared that micro weddings were ideal for their situation.
One couple married last August with kids aged 2.5 years and 9 months old: "We planned several things to accommodate ourselves and many of our friends with babies. It went way easier than I expected."
The Few Regrets That Did Come Up
"I Wish I'd Invited a Few More People"
This was the most common regret, though notably it was mild.
One couple with 20 guests shared: "Looking back I wish I had invited just a few more people. There are a few more people that I would've liked to have included. I wasn't super close to them, but I think it would've been nice to have them there. One of them I became closer to so I especially wish I had invited them."
But even they clarified: "Not super regretting... maybe 25 or 30 people. And I'm OK with how it turned out."
The takeaway? If you're on the fence about a few guests, consider bumping your count slightly. Going from 20 to 28 people likely won't break the bank but might prevent that small twinge of "what if."
The Photography Investment
"I regret not getting better photos. I don't regret eloping with a micro ceremony."
This is important. Your photos are what you'll have forever. Even with a micro wedding, invest in quality photography that captures your day beautifully.
The Long-Term Social Consequences
One couple shared a sobering perspective about their wedding from 15 years ago:
"We invited parents + step parents, siblings, and 2 close friends each. My husband's cousins had big weddings after us, and baptism ceremonies for their children, etc, and everyone was always invited except my husband and I. Since we didn't invite them to our micro wedding almost 15 years ago, they still don't invite us to their events."
This isn't about regret exactly, but it's something to consider: in some families and cultures, not inviting extended family can have lasting social implications.
Possible solutions? Some couples handle this by having a micro ceremony with immediate family, then hosting a larger casual celebration later for extended family and friends.
Creative Approaches That Worked
The Two-Event Strategy
One couple got creative: "I did one in 2025, just parents & siblings & then had a party a couple months later."
This gives you the intimate ceremony you want while still celebrating with a broader circle later.
The Casual Alternative
One couple heard about coworkers who did a courthouse wedding and dinner at a dive bar with about 30 people. "They were getting married earlier than expected for health insurance and planned to do a traditional wedding later but had so much fun they never did the big wedding."
Sometimes the low-key version turns out to be exactly what you wanted all along.
The Unexpected Day and Time
That Boston wedding on a Wednesday afternoon? Genius. Non-traditional timing can help with:
Venue availability and pricing
Guest expectations (people know it'll be shorter/simpler)
Creating a unique, memorable experience
The Bottom Line
Out of 18 couples who shared their experiences:
17 had zero regrets or only minor "wish I'd invited 3-5 more people" thoughts
1 experienced lasting social consequences (though didn't express direct regret)
0 said they wished they'd had a traditional big wedding instead
One commenter summed up the sentiment many shared: "Everyone I know who did one also says no regrets."
So, Should You Do a Micro Wedding?
A micro wedding might be perfect for you if:
You value intimacy and presence over spectacle
You want to save money or allocate budget differently
You have a small circle or are estranged from extended family
You have young children and want to keep things manageable
You want to actually enjoy your wedding day stress-free
Just remember to:
Invest in quality photography even if everything else is scaled back
Consider inviting a few more people if you're on the fence about them
Think through family dynamics and potential long-term social impacts
Communicate clearly with those who aren't invited
Consider a two-event approach if you want both intimacy and broader celebration
As one wise commenter noted, maybe it's time we stop calling them "micro weddings" and just embrace them as what they are: small weddings. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Planning a micro wedding and want more guidance?