What is a 'Micro Wedding' ?

Micro wedding is a new term for the opposite to a "Big Fat Wedding". Here's a news clip about this 'trend' 

We have conducted 'micro weddings' since 2004.  They are also called 'elopements', 'small civil weddings', 'city hall weddings', 'pop-up weddings', 'house weddings', 'registry weddings', 'family weddings" and lots of other terms, which basically mean the way your great-grandparents were probably married. 

In earlier times, people generally got married at home, either in the 'parlour' or outside on the lawn.  You got dressed in the bedroom, and the family and local ladies made the wedding brunch.  

Today's couples often choose a park, the condo party room, someone's nice balcony, or a quiet corner of a city landmark, or any place you can gather with a small group for a half hour, the same as you would hold a graduation picnic, a birthday party, or just any little celebration. Dress-up is optional!

Feel free to write me with any questions, and I'm happy to make suggestions.

Save the funds you would have spent on the 'big fat' wedding - and go on a travel adventure! 

Micro wedding in the backyard of my apartment

How to arrange a simple legal non-religious 'civil' wedding in Toronto ('micro wedding')

We offer simple 'civil' legal wedding ceremonies:  non-religious & non-denominational, (similar to a 'City Hall' or 'Justice of the Peace' wedding) including elopements, private ceremonies, legal ceremonies for destination weddings, (aka  'micro-wedding', 'signings' or 'registration of a marriage') and friendly family & community-style weddings.  I make house calls! You may have a wedding at your home, apartment, in a park, hotel, restaurant, or other location of choice. Or hot air balloon.

Questions big or small? Use this [ENQUIRY FORM] and I'll write back! I will also send a sample contract and a fee scale. Fees are simple, and based on the size of the wedding, and include transportation and office fees. See FAQ and main website for more information for both small and larger events.

Mary is licensed as a Marriage Officiant ("wedding Celebrant") by the Registrar General of Ontario, and the Ontario Humanist Society and has performed over 1500 civil weddings. I am currently the Secular Humanist Chaplain at the University of Toronto  

HUMANISM is an ethical philosophy of secular living, stating we all share a duty of care to each other, to lead ethical lives of compassion and respect, for other people, and the world we all share. Humanist Wedding Ceremonies are simple, meaningful, non-religious legal marriage ceremonies, which reflect your wishes, your values, and your story. We also provide ceremonies for baby-namings, memorials, and other life events. 

NOTE: If you are viewing the MOBILE version of this blog, there's lots more info in the desktop version. There's a 'web version' link at the foot of the first page of posts, or view on your laptop.

Micro wedding in High Park on a sunny morning.

A "micro wedding' is a new term for an elopement or small civil wedding.  We like High Park, because it's so big you can find a nice spot for a small wedding on the day you get there.  We avoided the family picnics and daycares, and found a great spot under a trellis, for the couple, the witnesses a few friends and family and a toddler or two (who could run around a bit).  Wonderful morning, serenaded by the birds.  And then a celebration brunch.

Newly married couple in High Park

Small restaurant wedding - on the patio at dusk

 Here's a happy spring wedding.  The rain stopped JUST LONG ENOUGH for us to set up the lights and the flags and a table for signing, and a lovely time was had by all.

The restaurant is Her Father's Cider (we had weddings there before when it was LOIRE).

Great food, lovely staff, very very happy evening.

Happy couple at a small family wedding

30 guests at a 'micro wedding'

Small Legal wedding at home

Riverdale Home Wedding

 Small legal weddings are back, also called 'micro-weddings', a new term for elopements, in post-covid times.  This is in Riverdale, walkable from my home. And yes, another tall couple.  I think I'll start calling myself a Hobbit.  But it was a happy wedding, with a few friends and champagne.  

Hart House wedding - back again!

Hart House (rehearsal)

 Here's a rehearsal picture for a lovely Hart House spring wedding. I'll wear higher shoes, but I'm still dwarfed by these handsome guys!  It's nice to be back in the building again, and looking forward to some additional on-campus weddings as the weather improves.

Gerrard Laneway outdoor wedding

 

Gerrard laneway elopement

During Covid, we sometimes met outside (in this case, outside the restaurant) and held the weddings in small spaces - like the laneway!!  Quick and simple - and quite fun.

King Street condo balcony wedding, a bit cold, but Happy

The sun went behind a cloud, but the couple are pretty happy.  But we had a nice simple civil wedding, despite the chill. All you need is a quiet location, and about 30 minutes, and then perhaps a little champagne!

 

Balcony wedding King Street

High Park wedding - small and sunny!

Beautiful day - in a little alcove by the Japanese Garden

Happy Couple and mom/mother-in-law! 

 

Windy spring wedding in Riverdale Park

Riverdale Park in Spring

 

Spring backyard wedding for a long-term couple!

This couple had been companions for a number of years, and they celebrated their legal wedding in their backyard, with stories, humour, and a woodpecker!

Backyard pride wedding

Restaurant Il Ponte, Family wedding on a sunny evening

 

Il Ponte restaurant, Riverdale

Outdoor spring wedding at University of Toronto

Spring wedding at University of Toronto

 The weather looked a little blustery (well, a LOT!) and rain was threatening, so we changed our plans and found this nice portico and had a nice simple elopement - and the sun came out!  Spring flowers, April showers, and a very happy spring couple.  

Balcony Wedding on a windy spring day

Here's a little downtown wedding by OCAD.  We could open the balcony doors and get a LOT of air inside this apartment, and we took off our masks for the pix.

House wedding - with the windows open!

Here's the first 'indoor' wedding of the spring, with the windows and doors wide open, and a beautiful spring day  This was the predicted '90Km' windstorm day, and we just opened the door and let the air circulate.  The next day was snow, but we were thrilled to have the sun come out for this couple and their family.

Spring wedding with the doors open

Wintry wedding in a Toronto Condo

 The wind was blowing, so we didn't step outside, but had a lovely wedding in the couple's 'breakfast room', far away from the King Street construction madness..

Signing the Register

Sun setting in the dining room behind

A few little Covid weddings....

Revisiting a few small 'Covid weddings' ... couples and witnesses and small legal ceremonies in and around Toronto.
Current information on Covid-19 and regulations for weddings 

Winter Wedding at UofT

Rosedale Parkette

High Park

Back Porch, Roncesvalles

Oriole Park

Late September elopement wedding in High Park

Fun Fall wedding in the woods in High Park

We're ALL having fun in this pix!  The couple and their 6 guests found a grove of trees in High Park and we held a wonderful short wedding in the woods at the end of September.  The weather COOPERATED (yay), and a good time was had by all.  It's important to find a little space away from people getting outdoor exercise, and dog walkers - but it's a big park! 

Signing the registry book on a bench in High Park

Phil the photographer - available for weddings big and small.