Elopement vs. Micro Wedding: What’s The Difference?

If you are planning a small Massachusetts wedding you may be deciding between an elopement vs. a micro wedding. During the pandemic, these small and intimate weddings became very popular. Couples really embraced stepping outside of the box and doing something completely different than a big traditional wedding. However, these small weddings are here to stay! What’s the difference between an elopement and a micro wedding? 

What’s the difference between an elopement vs. micro wedding?

An Elopement: This is typically a wedding with just you and your partner! Oftentimes couples will still hire a photographer for a few hours to document the day and get great portraits. Couples have done elopements in a lot of different ways! Some like to go to city hall and go to dinner afterward. Some will do big hiking elopements and spend the day outdoors. 

A Micro Wedding: A micro wedding typically follows a similar structure to a traditional wedding with a ceremony and some sort of reception. The difference is that it is on a much smaller scale with usually 15-20 people or less. 

Both elopements and micro weddings are special and personalized to the couple. You really get to make your own rules and design a wedding day that feels authentic to you! Whether you are looking to maximize your budget or have a relaxed day I can’t recommend a small wedding enough! Here are some couple’s stories to inspire your micro wedding or elopement. 

Massachusetts Micro Weddings

Abby & Sean’s micro wedding at The Chocksett Inn was a beautiful day. Abby’s mother sadly was suffering from terminal cancer, so they wanted to make sure to include her on their wedding day. They held an intimate ceremony outside at the gazebo with just their closest family and friends. I ended up photographing their bigger wedding exactly a year later at the same venue.

Evan & Mackenzie had a micro wedding at North Point Park in Cambridge, MA. They had their parents and siblings attend their ceremony, and we took some family photos. Their family headed out after the ceremony to a nearby restaurant to wait for them. The majority of my time with them was spent doing their portraits on a beautiful fall New England day!

Massachusetts Elopement Photographer

Carlos and Daria eloped at Boston City Hall in February of 2024. Their son Trey joined them. We then did some portraits around Boston after they tied the knot! It was laid back and fun! Read more about getting married at Boston City Hall and check out Stephen and Nick’s micro wedding! 

Maritza & Mike had a small elopement ceremony at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline, MA with only Martina’s mom and Mike’s mom and stepdad attending. 

Sam & Michael traveled from Nevada to Salem, MA for their elopement. They kept their ceremony at the Ropes Mansion in Salem, MA completely private. Then they had me show up right after to spend their whole session doing portraits of the two of them around Salem.

Even without a large guest list, these couples still celebrated in style – wearing their best, holding beautiful bouquets, and creating meaningful moments that reflected their love story. Their connection and emotions were the heart of the day, and the stunning portraits we captured tell their story perfectly. Deciding between an elopement vs. a micro wedding in Massachusetts? Contact Katlyn Reilly Photography to get started planning!