It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No, we’re not talking about holiday plans, turkeys, Christmas trees, crisp leaves and the scent of pumpkin in the air…It’s wedding trend forecast season!

If you read last year’s 2024 wedding trends blog post, you may see some overlap as many 2025 wedding trends are continuing strong from 2024. However, this year we’ve put extra thought into considering micro weddings and how these trends can be practically applied to smaller weddings, notably how these trends can be done sustainably and affordably (spoiler alert: saving money on your wedding will be a big trend in 2025!).

Keep reading for our top 2025 wedding trend predictions—specifically catered towards micro weddings and small weddings!

‘Til debt do we part?

Recently the topic of going into debt to pay for your wedding has taken social media by storm. Countless TikTok videos and Instagram posts have flooded our algorithms with brides sharing the cold reality of paying off wedding debt once the honeymoon is over, with many taking on additional jobs and delaying their dreams of traveling or buying a home.

We personally avoid debt whenever possible in not only our personal lives but also our business, and we often speak this same value to our wedding photography clients. We never want a potential bride or groom to feel a need to go into debt simply to pay for our wedding photography services, nor do we think that going into debt to pay for a wedding has to be the new norm.

So is it really possible to get married without going into debt? We say yes—and we’re here to share a few helpful tips to saying “I do” without the debt.

Micro weddings have been around for as long as couples have been tying the knot, but they made a big resurgence in the post-pandemic era, and they’re not going away anytime soon.

Our 2025 wedding season prediction: micro weddings are IN—and they’re here to stay.

Now, we may be biased (speaking as a micro wedding photographer), but there’s a good reason we have a soft spot for intimate weddings. There’s a certain magic about smaller gatherings where a couple and their nearest & dearest gather together to celebrate their love and commitment to one another, and while we’re all for big weddings too, the unique beauty of a micro wedding is just in a league of its own.

If you’re thinking of having a micro wedding in 2025, we’re here to share the reasons why these intimate, small weddings are continuing strong in the new year’s wedding trends and why they’re here to stay—and most of all, why you should consider one, too.

In this economy, it almost feels like the cost of buying fresh fruit at the grocery store is about the same as booking your wedding venue.

As most of us are tightening our wallets and seeing our dollars stretch thinner and thinner, weddings are also feeling the pinch. Many couples are opting for a small, intimate or micro wedding as a means to tie the knot on a budget or even getting married in their own backyard. And finding the wedding venue of your dreams without breaking the bank? That feels more like a pipe dream.

However, finding an affordable wedding venue doesn’t have to cause undue stress. Whether you’re booking an Orlando-area wedding venue under $2,000 or just looking to pinch a few pennies, we’re here to share some creative ways to save a few extra dollars on your dream wedding venue.

Save your pennies for a rainy day and try these 9 wallet-friendly tactics to save money on your wedding venue (I guarantee you #8 will surprise you)!

If you’re looking to plan a wedding in Orlando or the Central Florida area, your first Google search for “affordable wedding venues near me” will yield an overwhelming amount of results (trust me, I’ve looked). Orlando, FL is an incredibly popular wedding destination for locals and destination weddings or elopements alike, due to its theme parks, beautiful natural scenery, gorgeous weather, and proximity to beaches. From unique wedding venues to traditional wedding venues; indoor weddings to outdoor elopements—Central Florida has it all.

But when you’re planning an intimate micro wedding or elopement, it can take hours of planning and researching to find the perfect wedding venue that’s also affordable and inexpensive.

We’ve done the hard work for you: as a couple who struggled to find affordable wedding venues in Central Florida for our own wedding, we’ve compiled the ultimate list of the best wedding venues under $2,000 in the Orlando area in Central FL: proving that it is possible to have the wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank.

When you’re looking to hire a wedding photographer, you might see the phrase “micro wedding photographer” pop up during your online search. As a newly engaged couple who’s just trying to find someone who can hold a camera within your budget and with Insta-worthy quality, the last thing you need is one more complicated term to confuse your search efforts.

But what exactly is a micro wedding photographer, and what makes them different from the hundreds of other wedding photographers out there?

The answer might surprise you—and it might make a world of difference to your wedding day.

We’re here to share what micro wedding photographers do differently (including why we decided to niche into this very special type of wedding) and how hiring one—or not hiring one—could impact your wedding day.

Just because you’re throwing a small wedding doesn’t mean the planning process will be any easier. In fact, some might say that throwing an intimate micro wedding comes with even more to-do’s than planning a larger bash, simply because more of the details and decisions are on your shoulders. So when you’re juggling planning your own wedding, fending off decor ideas from your mother, and paying your bills, things are bound to fall through the cracks—either intentionally or unintentionally.

Worse, many couples treat planning their intimate wedding a bit too casually and discover all too late how a lack of planning can end up costing them their dream wedding day. Many of these mistakes are totally preventable, yet newly-engaged lovebirds can fall prey to entering their micro wedding planning season thinking that love is all they need.

In this follow-up blog post to our previous one, 9 regrettable mistakes couples make with their wedding photography, we’re covering common mistakes couples make when planning a small, intimate wedding or micro wedding. Keep reading for an intimate wedding day that’s stress-free, smooth, and everything you’ve dreamed it will be!

When newly-engaged couples think about hiring a wedding photographer, usually it’s just relegated to a single item on a checklist: “✅ Hire a wedding photographer.” Once that contract is signed, all that’s left is to tell your wedding photographer when and where to show up!

Right?...

As an intimate micro wedding and elopement photographer and videographer, I’ve seen so many beautiful wedding photo moments—tears, laughter, pure magic. But I’ve also witnessed some common mistakes couples make when it comes to capturing the most treasured moments of their lives. In short: there’s a lot more that you need to think about in regards to your wedding photography before you walk down the aisle.

Let’s chat about these 9 regrettable pitfalls couples make with their wedding photography—and how you can ensure your special day is captured in all its stunning glory.

When you think of eloping in Florida, the image of a sunset exchanging of vows on a sandy beach is often the first thing that comes to mind. Dreaming of feeling the sand between your toes as you stand hand-in-hand with your beloved? Oh-so-romantic. Creating lists of all the technical hoops, legalities, and logistics of planning a Florida elopement? Not-so-romantic.

No matter where you’re traveling from to elope in Florida—whether you’re a local to the Sunshine State or a traveler from abroad—it can be overwhelming to conduct research on getting married in another location. We’re here to share a Floridian wedding professional’s advice for planning your destination elopement right here in sunny Florida. Grab your sunglasses and get reading!

When adulthood hits and that ring finally makes it to your finger, planning a wedding looks nothing like our childhood imagingings. From finding out your dream wedding venue costs how much?! to late-night arguments *ahem, discussions* about wedding budgets with your soon-to-be-spouse, the reality of planning a wedding—especially in this economy—can be a bit…daunting.

So when you’re cozied up on the couch, scrolling through wedding venue options and feeling the sting of those hefty price tags, consider a thought: what if your dream wedding venue was just a few steps away?

Getting married at home might sound unconventional, but it’s an increasingly popular trend that’s not just practical but full of heart. As a micro wedding photographer, we at Author Made have witnessed the rare beauty of home weddings, and we’re here to spill the beans on why you should consider this heartfelt option.

Wedding photography? In this economy??

I feel you. Planning a wedding in 2024’s economy is like trying to juggle flaming torches while riding a unicycle—it’s daunting, and the budget is often the first thing that goes up in flames.

If you’re stressing about capturing the memories of your special day without setting your wallet ablaze, you’re not alone. As a wedding photographer who specializes in small, intimate micro weddings and elopements, I know the struggle is real. As newly-engaged couples increasingly opt for small weddings, micro weddings, or elopements as a smart way to save money on their wedding, finding a wedding photographer and videographer who fits their minimalist budgets is difficult.

But you don’t have to sacrifice quality while you’re trying to save money on your wedding photography. Before you throw in the towel, let’s dive into these 7 savvy ways to make sure your wedding photos are as beautiful as your love story—without the financial stress.

You’ve found your perfect match, and the two of you are buzzing about beginning your happily-ever-after together. Wedding planning is in full swing, you’ve said “yes” to your dress, and everything is falling into place. But there’s one thing that sends a shiver down your introverted spine—being the center of attention, posing for countless photos and videos on your wedding day.

As a wedding photographer and wedding videographer who specializes in capturing the beauty of small, intimate micro weddings and elopements—and as an introvert myself married to another introvert—I get it. The idea of flashing lights, staged smiles, and forced poses can be daunting for introverts like us, especially when we already feel self-conscious about appearing in photos. It’s not just about saying “I do” anymore; it’s about saying it in front of the lens while still feeling authentically you.

So if your fear of appearing on camera is overshadowing your excitement for your big day, let’s dive into the world of wedding photography from one introvert to another and learn how to balance preserving cherished memories and wanting to avoid the spotlight.

Feeling uncomfortable about showing up in your own wedding photos? We’re sharing tips to make your wedding day photos as genuine and comfortable as your love story.

They say time flies when you’re having fun, and if your wedding day is supposed to be the best day of your life, then you’d better believe the hours will feel like seconds while you’re tying the knot. Especially for couples planning small, micro or intimate weddings (often without hiring a wedding planner), having a wedding day-of timeline or schedule is crucial to making sure you have time for everything you hope to happen on your special day.

But if you’ve never planned a micro wedding before, it can be a wild guess to determine how much time you need for each aspect of your wedding day. And if you want to keep the festivities short ‘n’ sweet, a wedding day timeline is more crucial than ever (after all, there’s a reason why many wedding days last 12+ hours!).

As a wedding photographer and videographer in Orlando who specializes in small, intimate micro weddings and elopements, we frequently consult with our happy couples about their wedding day timeline to make sure we’re aligning with their hopes for their wedding day and ensuring we have ample time to capture every moment. Having seen a micro wedding or two in our time (okay, a lot more than two), we’ve compiled a completely free micro wedding timeline, or wedding day-of schedule, for you to steal for your own intimate wedding!

We’re sharing the perfect, tried-and-true 4hr micro wedding day timeline for intimate celebrations!

No wedding planner, no problem?

Actually…anybody who’s planned their own intimate or micro wedding or elopement without a wedding planner will tell you they had plenty of problems. From missed communications to coordinating details with your vendors while you’re getting ready to walk down the aisle or even finding out the day before your wedding that you hadn’t actually booked your venue (yes, this actually happened to one of our brides…)—planning your own wedding is not for the faint of heart.

However, most couples planning a small, intimate micro wedding or elopement often opt to handle planning their own wedding themselves, primarily to save costs on their wedding budget. In fact, not only do most of our clients opt to handle wedding planning themselves, but Michael and I also planned our own wedding, too. Based on our own experience and that of many of our wedding photography clients, we’re sharing things to know if you aren’t hiring a wedding planner.

Can you plan a wedding without a wedding planner? We say yes! Here are 11 simple tips for a stress-free wedding without a wedding planner.

When it comes to planning your small, intimate micro wedding or elopement, choosing a wedding photographer and videographer is no easy feat. Not only is the market often saturated with dozens of talented wedding photographers in your area, but everyone’s price points, editing styles, personalities, and packages are so vastly different (or so similar that it’s hard to differentiate). And once you’ve settled on your wedding photographer, you have to go through the entire process again to find a wedding videographer as well.

No wonder they say planning your own wedding is a full-time job!

In recent years, dual wedding photographers and videographers have become more and more popular, as engaged couples start seeing the benefits of hiring just one individual or team to handle every aspect of capturing the memories of their wedding day. And we’ll be honest: we began Author Made as just a wedding photographer, but we soon realized for ourselves the added value, cost-saving benefits, and reduced stress that our clients experienced when we provided them with both wedding photography and wedding videography. Now, we’re here to share exactly why and how you too should consider hiring a dual wedding photographer and videographer for your intimate wedding or elopement.

So why choose a dual wedding photographer & wedding videographer? Here are 5 compelling reasons.

As a wedding photographer and videographer passionate about small, intimate, micro weddings and elopements, we’re not kidding when we say we know what it’s like to plan a small wedding—because we had one, too.

In 2017, Michael and I said “I do” underneath the canopy of a 100-year-old oak tree in historic Oakland, FL (just outside Winter Garden, 30 minutes west of downtown Orlando). If I remember correctly, we had just under 95 guests attending our wedding…about half of which was my extended family.

When I reflect on our own small wedding, it’s hard not to be filled with warm fuzzies at the beautiful moments we shared with one another and our closest family and friends. And remembering our own small wedding gives us tons of empathy for our brides and grooms who are planning their own affordable, micro-weddings or small weddings—and all the challenges that come with planning a small-scale celebration.

In the spirit of sharing our experience, we’re highlighting what we absolutely loved about our own small wedding—and what we wish we would have done differently.

As an Orlando wedding photographer and videographer, we’ve shot weddings of many shapes and sizes, from micro weddings to intimate weddings to elaborate celebrations, each with their own unique personality and style. However, we’re seeing the internet buzz with several hot wedding trends in 2024, and as bookings fill in for the 2024 wedding season, we’re excited to see how many of these predictions come true for our own wedding photography clients.

While there are so many other lists sharing 2024 wedding trends (after all, it isn’t a trend if it’s not being talked about everywhere!), we’re offering our own spin on some of these from the perspective of a wedding photographer and videographer.

Here are our most anticipated wedding style and wedding photography trends for 2024!

There’s something intrinsically magical about getting married outdoors. Whether the wedding is a backyard bash or a scenic ceremony, it makes sense that saying “I do” while surrounded by nature is becoming ever more popular.

As a wedding photographer and videographer in Central Florida, I’ve shot my fair share of outdoor weddings: and have seen plenty of mishaps along the way. Whether it’s makeup running during the noonday heat or nighttime parties with no lighting, while none of these incidents caused any major damage to the wedding day, they did each impact my ability to give my clients the absolute best wedding photography and videography experience.

If you’re considering holding your intimate micro-wedding or elopement outdoors, you’ll want to read this list of 9 things your wedding photographer wants you to know for a stress-free outdoor wedding: rain or shine.

When Amy and I got engaged, our least favorite—yet most commonly asked—question was:

“So when’s the big day?”

No sooner had the ring been on her finger than people left and right started asking how the wedding planning was going. We’ve only been engaged for 2 days!

Wedding planning is basically a full-time job in and of itself. Now that we’ve been married for almost seven years (!), all I remember from our own wedding planning seasons is a blur of meetings, Pinterest boards, and a lot of stress as we juggled wedding planning with a full-time job.

Given how elaborate weddings seem to be these days, it’s no wonder that small, intimate weddings such as micro weddings or elopements are becoming more and more popular. We get it: we had a small wedding too, but even trying to pull that off felt like a drawn-out ordeal.

So when you’re looking to say “I do” to your love while saying “No way” to all the stress and chaos of wedding planning, micro weddings or elopements may seem like a perfect solution. But what’s the difference? Should you have a micro wedding or an elopement? Which one is right for you?