Ballrooms are out."Micro weddings" are in — and they might be smarter, too.
Why it matters: Some couples are skipping big weddings to save money and throw a more intimate gathering, and some Portland businesses are embracing the trend.
By the numbers: The average guest count nationwide was 131 in 2024, down from 184 in 2006, according to data shared with Axios by The Wedding Report.
And smaller celebrations, those with 50 guests or fewer, made up 18% of nuptials last year, compared to 10% in 2013, per the research company.
Zoom in: Vegas-style chapels and businesses offering curated micro weddings and elopements have opened in Boston, Dallas and Portland, where Weddinglandia offers next-day nuptials for small parties.
The $250 "Courthouse" package gets you a 20-minute chapel experience with two guests, free use of Weddinglandia's "something borrowed" bouquet and boutonnieres and complimentary photos.
The chapel also offers a number of other packages for larger parties.
Reality check: While certain people "just like low-key events," most go smaller to spend less, Shane McMurray, CEO of The Wedding Report, tells Axios.
