Mallorca Micro Wedding Guide
Why would you want to downplay one of the most important celebrations of your life?
Less is more as they say, perhaps it`s a budget thing, maybe you`ve done the big wedding and you`re not into repeating the past. Could be a time constraint or that you have bigger plans for your money or another celebration planned back home.
Back in 2010, studying a masters in event management I remember the module on guerrilla events (not to be confused with gorilla, this has nothing to do with monkeys) and then flash mobs became a thing. You know, making the intricately planned appear spur-of-the-moment and effortless.
I also remember first learning that beaches in Spain can`t be privatised and therefore beach weddings being almost impossible. It was then that the guerrilla wedding idea crossed my mind, way back when. Now the idea is showing up as the Micro Weddings (or Minimony) trend, a sign of the financially trying times and not a bad idea, even if I do say so myself.
Imagine, turning up to a quiet beach as the sun is starting to set, just a couple, a celebrant and a few of their closest people. Find a spot and say the vows, the talented one of the group singing a sweet song. Drinking champagne and picking at platters of sushi, maybe even taking a dip as a couple to symbolise a new beginning.
No planning, no venue, no big budget.
Sounds simple right?
Maybe, just maybe it could work. And that's the reason we don't see everyone doing it. Maybe isn`t the world you aim for on such a special occasion.
So what are the risks & how can we fix them?
If the above scenario is just what you had in mind, low season is your best bet for a quiet beach spot. Keep a few days available incase of bad weather, then you can move the wedding to the day before or previous. But if this all sounds a bit too precarious let's think of another way forward with this micro wedding idea…
So where will you hold the ceremony? Some smaller venues or hotels will allow you to hold a ceremony on their terrace which means a hire fee. As we know, beach weddings are not permitted in Spain as the land cannot be privatised so perhaps a back garden ceremony at your holiday villa could be an option but remember…
Standing room only - You know your guests, their age range and leg strength. Even with a group of fit young things keep the ceremony short and engaging so your guests won`t get tired without seating. Don`t stick your head in the sand when it comes to…
Weather - Rain isn't always the problem, too much sun can also make everyone very uncomfortable and distract from the joy of the celebration. So there needs to be some shelter, which means…
A venue - There are so many beautiful smaller venues and restaurants that will accommodate a small group for a wedding dinner. The space may not be exclusive so you will be amongst other guests which means…
Speeches & music won't be so easy to select for yourself and share with each other. There may be a separate room for your group or perhaps the speeches can be done just after the ceremony during an aperitif at the bar or on the beach (unofficially of course, mini champagne bottles anyone?). We come back to having a private space, a villa perhaps…
Villa Micro Weddings on Mallorca
I had many requests for villa weddings in my past life as an events manager for a high end Villa & Concierge company across Ibiza & Mallorca.
It's understandable to think that if you hire a villa for a week you could have a simple ceremony and dinner in the privacy of your own space, right? Well not exactly…
Keep guest numbers waaay down - Most villas don`t have an events licence so you will need to have minimal guests, the kind of amount that can pass for a simple family dinner.
Keep music simple and manageable - Balearic law states all music must be off or inside after 12pm, if you are too relaxed or get a bit cheeky with this neighbours will call the police and once they arrive that will be the end of that so keep everyone happy and keep it contained.
Get everything written into the hire contract - Hire of outside sound equipment or musicians will be at the discretion of your villa owner, they don't want trouble and trust me, neither do you. Be sure to state your plan to hold an event & have these extras written into the hire contract (and make sure your suppliers clean up after themselves) so you won't have scary surprises with your deposit upon checkout.
Pick your wedding day wisely - These days a lot of villas require a 1 week (or even 2 week!) minimum hire in high season, commonly Saturday to Saturday. If you want your wedding day on a Saturday but you can't check in until 4pm (Spanish check in time) this just doesn't work. So a Sunday or later on in the week, Thursday or Friday for example, is going to work out much better.
Figure out your overall event budget before you book the villa - Depending on what the villa already has in terms of furniture and kitchen equipment, a villa wedding could end up being much more expensive than a wedding venue. Hiring chairs and table ware, bars & lighting all add up. Be sure of what you are getting yourself into before locking into a villa hire contract.
Access & parking - Even for a small number of guests it is advisable to arrange transport to avoid parking problems and trying to book taxis in the middle of the night (95% unlikely to work out for you). Between the rural villa locations and the small access roads, things can get tricky. Organise this in advance, you`ll be very happy you did (and so will your guests).
So, will you or won`t you?
If you`re going to do it small, you can really go to town on the design details and personalised special touches.
With a little bit of flexibility, imagination and a joyful spirit a micro wedding can be so unique, elegant & special. Just make sure your guests understand the concept and are dressed for the occasion (heels & sand/ lawn aren't a good combo).
Creative events in blank canvas spaces is how I started & where I do my best work. I`ve had brides who hand painted their own cakes, built a helter skelter in a photography studio for a Stella McCartney launch, installed bicycles to generate electricity for an eco wedding, staged a luxury BBQ for 300 people served individually to guests at their tables.
If there is something you want to create or you`re looking for a creative celebrant for your micro wedding, let`s find a way together, impossible is nothing.
