It’s no secret that I love everything micro wedding, and have been specializing in those smaller celebrations for many years. If you’ve been on this blog before, I bet you have not seen much of the banquet style weddings around here, maybe just a handful of bigger events – and when I say bigger, I mean above 50 and up to 140 which for many would be considered small. That’s because I very rarely work larger weddings these days, and if I do that’s likely that I felt a special connection with the couple or am excited about their project.
You’ve weighted your options and are considering a micro wedding rather than a big wedding affair?
We say “Go for it!”
Micro weddings are all the more special, with just your immediate family and very close friends in attendance. I myself had a micro wedding with just 17 of us!
Tahiti Is The Most Perfect Destination For A Micro Wedding
It is indeed. Not only there are tons of amazing activities to enjoy as a family or small group, but there are also plenty of homes and villa rentals where you can stay that offer the greatest level of comfort.
No matter how big or small of a destination wedding, the first question that will come to mind is about the wedding location and venue options.
Where will the ceremony be held? What are our options for our wedding reception in Moorea?
Just like for a home wedding, choosing the right wedding venue in Tahiti will be the first and most important decision, as the entire wedding experience, from music to décor to food options will solely depend on what’s available or doable – or not, at the selected venue.
If your guests list (and let’s say it, your budget) is large enough, you will be able to choose from a few options including resorts or local restaurants.
In the likelier event that your wedding party is small – not everyone of your friends or family may be able to travel overseas, and that you will have an intimate party, there will be fewer options.
If your party is not quite big enough to privatize an event space or a restaurant, you may consider turning to a more casual event and have a backyard wedding in a vacation rental villa. A backyard wedding in a vacation rental villa queues a few restrictions, so here are a few things to consider:
1. Is A Backyard Wedding / Event Tolerated?
The large majority of vacation rental houses / villas’ owners in Tahiti or Moorea will NOT allow special events in their properties. They’ll be afraid that things go awry and that their belongings get damaged during the event. Some will also face constraints with the immediate neighborhood if they are not so tolerant with wedding music or a noisy party.
Inquire with the owner or with the rental management company whether special events are allowed and what the special terms are (max. number of guests, noise ordinance or music tolerance etc.). They may give you their approval if you subscribe to a liability insurance and/or hire a professional planner to direct the event but know that there are only a handful (actually, it’s more like 2 or 3) of options. It is my recommendation that you inquire about planning an event in your vacation rental before booking it, as you don’t want to face unwanted situations during the actual event, or simply find out too late in the process that it is not tolerated and your well-thought-out plans are off.
This holds true to ANY pre or post wedding event, not just the wedding celebration itself, such as a welcome cocktail or lunch you may want to host at your rental villa or a day after brunch.
I can of course assist you in finding the right rental place in Moorea and put to work my special connections!
2. Backyard Wedding Space
If your party is very small, inside the house may simply work. But if the party is slightly larger and does not fit inside, then in addition to bringing in sufficient tables and chairs, you will want to make sure there is ample room outdoors to sit everyone. You also need to seriously consider having a tent or a marquee if there is no covered terrace as the weather in Tahiti can be very unpredictable and a shower can totally ruin your table setup, even when it lasts a few seconds or a couple of minutes.
Is there a big enough covered space, or is the garden area spacious enough to have a tented event?
Photo Credit: Turama Photography
3. Backyard Lighting & Music + Restroom Facilities
Nothing compares to the beauty of an outdoor wedding, as there’s something magical about being outside, especially in Tahiti! While outdoors allow to produce some of the most romantic and gorgeous events, it comes with some challenges as well. Most often lighting is nonexistent so you may either need to light up the trees or grounds, line all paths with candles and (warm) white lights, or to hire a professional lighting pro for more powerful spotlights and efficient light design.
If music is also part of the plan, you’ll need to check whether there is a power source available for both the lighting (unless it runs on batteries) and music, and if they can safely plug in their equipment outside.
As noted above, most vacation rental homes will not tolerate amplified music, but live, local music for example (think of a ukulele duo or trio for cocktail hour) or a playlist of your favorite songs off a portable speaker will be okay, and that’s enough to keep your squad up dancing all night!
Last but not least, restrooms must be easily accessible for your guests all night, too (and stocked with enough toilet paper, soap and hand towels for the duration of the event).
Want to read more of my recommendations for planning a micro wedding in Tahiti and using a vacation rental as the wedding venue? Here’s more:
How To Plan A Micro Wedding | A Backyard Wedding In Tahiti Part 2
** last updated on April 28, 2020 **
