Microwedding. A new termed coined due to Love in the time of Corona, and I ain’t hating it.

As I have previously defined, a microwedding is effectively a condensed wedding—all the things of a larger wedding, just on a mini scale (and I love miniatures, so these are so cute in my book).  You still get to do all the things—flowers, dances, details—just smaller. A lot of 2020 Couples are doing this now, and having their larger reception or vow renewal later. 

There is an unsung perk to microweddings: They can happen anywhere. This is the chance to get creative and think of those picturesque settings that would be so ideal for wedding photos, but yet are incredible impractical for real weddings because they just aren’t big enough. If you had a microwedding, they would be big enough…

I have five locations that pop into my mind as ideal and unique spaces for a small, intimate wedding:

1.) STELLA MARIS CHAPEL – ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY

This is the adorable chapel feature in the image banner for this post. Isn’t it simply adorable? Located on the campus of St. John’s University, this restore chapel was once on an island, but thanks to receding waters of Lake Sagatagan it is now on a peninsula and accessible by foot as well as by boat. Original built in 1872, it was destroyed by fire in 1903. It was rebuilt by monks residing in St. John’s abbey in 1915, and has gone through several renovations since. Too cute to not host an “I do!”

2.) B’NAI ABRAHAM SYNAGOGUE – VIRGINIA, MN

As hard as it might be to believe, the Iron Range of Minnesota had a vibrant and thriving Jewish populations throughout the twentieth century. That resulted in several synagogues sprinkled throughout the mix of Lutheran and Catholic churches. As the population decreased in the late 1980s and 1990s, many of them consolidated and closed. The last one to close their doors was B’nai Abraham of Virginia, which was acquired by a non-profit in 2004. It is now a cultural center, but it still hosts an annual service in conjunction with Temple Israel in Duluth. It would be a wonderful place for an intimate ceremony.

3.) BLUE MOUND WAYSIDE CHAPEL – LUVERNE, MN

I came across this place in a Facebook group called Abandoned Minnesota, and I immediately fell in love. This is a chapel smaller than most walk in closets, and it is freaking awesome. It is located just a beat north of Highway 90 on Highway 75, and literally right next to Blue Mound State Park. The picture opportunities are endless with this littlest location! Such a sweet spot for any elopement.

4.) PALISADE HEAD – BEAVER BAY, MN

Virtually every Minnesota photographer wants to photograph a wedding here. The cliffs, the lake, the drama…can you blame us? People can walk right up to the edge of the 300-foot rock face, and it is equal parts terrifying and beautiful. I have yet to shoot here, and I want to in the worst ways. It is perfect for a microwedding, as it is easily accessible for a small group of people, it isn’t too terribly far from vendors in Duluth, and it screams adventure (which is always a bonus).

5.) MADELINE ISLAND, WISCONSIN

A wedding on an island. Do I need to say more? How about the fact that this is an island is in Lake Superior, which is possibly the greatest of the Great Lakes? This island is accessible from Bayfield, Wisconsin, via ferry, so it’s not completely inaccessible to your small group. It provides lots of little nooks and crannies, however, to allow you to feel off-the-grid while still being connected to all the things you may need for your microwedding or elopement. 

So…where are we going? How can I join you? Learn more about KLP Wedding and Elopement Experiences here to see if we’d be a great fit for your adventure-driven, one-of-a-kind microwedding!

Kayla Lee is a Minnesota-based wedding and elopement photographer. She provides services to elegant, authentic, sentimental couples who not only choose their own adventures, but also live them to the fullest! See more about the KLP Wedding Experience!

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