Micro Wedding vs. Elopement: Which One Is Actually Right for You?

We understand that big weddings aren't for everyone. Some couples want 250 people and a dance floor that doesn't quit. Others want five people, a bouquet, and a really good cutting cake. Both are wonderful… and both are offered at Bread & Chocolate!

But sometimes "elopement" and "micro wedding" get used interchangeably online, but they're not the same thing. Here's the real breakdown, so you can stop guessing and start planning!

Leah Rife Photography

The Short Version

Elopement: Up to 20 people (you two included). A tight, all-in package. One price, almost nothing to decide.

Micro Wedding: More than 20 guests, built à la carte — you pick the time, the menu, the bar, the extras — closer to a full wedding, just smaller.

If you're picturing your parents and a handful of close friends in one room for a couple hours: elopement. If you're picturing 30, 50, or 80 people with a real dinner and a bar: micro wedding.

Elopement: The Details

An elopement at Bread & Chocolate gets you a private room for 2 hours, tables, chairs, and white linens, a wedding officiant, bouquet(s) and/or boutonnière(s) for the couple, a cutting cake with fresh fruit topping, a champagne toast, lemonade, and cupcakes for your guests. Officiant included means you can genuinely book this last-minute and still walk away married.

Pricing is refreshingly simple with no separate catering menu to build, no bar package to choose — it's designed to be decided in one conversation.

Leah Rife Photography

Micro Wedding: The Details

Once your guest list crosses 20, you're in micro wedding territory — and here the package opens up. Our packages include a private room, tables and chairs, white linens, real dishes and glassware, service staff, an officiant, and bouquet(s)/boutonnière(s) for the couple. 

From there, you build the day: hors d'oeuvres, dinner, dessert, and bar are all separate menus with their own pricing, so a micro wedding can be as simple or as full as you want it. Like elopements, micro weddings run Monday through Thursday, with the same January–March exceptions.

So, Which One's Actually Right for You?

How many people are you inviting? Twenty and under, cleanly, is an elopement. Anywhere above that, you're building a micro wedding — even if it only ends up being 22 people.

Do you want decisions, or do you want done? The elopement package is intentionally low-decision: one price, one menu, one straightforward yes. The micro wedding gives you real choices — plated vs. buffet, which bar tier, whether you want a cocktail hour — which is the point if you want your day to feel more custom, but it does mean more conversations along the way.

How much time do you actually need? Two hours covers a ceremony, toast, and cake with a small group comfortably. If you're picturing a full dinner, drinks, and time to actually sit and talk with your guests, you'll want the room time a micro wedding allows for.

Two different ways to celebrate, both wonderful!

Ready to talk through which fits your day? Book a tour with us and we'll walk the space, talk through the details, and help you land on the right package. Located in the historic Old Bag Factory in Goshen, Indiana — creating celebrations for over 30 years, 1,000+ and counting.

Introducing the Champagne Tower: A New Addition to Our Bar Menu

Some details earn their place on a menu because they're practical. Others earn it because the moment they create is worth it on its own. Our newest bar menu addition is firmly the second kind.

We're excited to introduce the champagne tower, now available as part of our bar service at Bread & Chocolate.

What It Is

A champagne tower is exactly what it sounds like, and exactly as beautiful as it sounds. Stemmed coupe glasses are stacked into a tiered pyramid and champagne is poured from the top glass, cascading down through every tier below it as it fills.

It's a moment built entirely around anticipation. Guests gather. The pour begins. And for a few seconds, an entire room watches one continuous stream of champagne fill glass after glass in front of them.

Why We Added It

We're always looking for small additions that create a big moment without complicating your day. The champagne tower does exactly that - it doesn't require a theme, a particular season, or an elaborate setup. It simply needs a reason to celebrate, which a wedding always has.

It also happens to be remarkably photogenic. Set against our exposed brick and original hardwood floors, a champagne tower becomes one of those images that ends up framed, printed, and shared for years after the wedding itself.

When It Works Best

A few moments where couples have found the champagne tower fits naturally:

The Toast: Instead of a standard pour at each table, gather everyone around the tower for the toast itself. It turns a familiar tradition into something visual and memorable.

Cocktail Hour: A champagne tower set up during cocktail hour gives guests something to gather around while they mingle, and gives your photographer a striking shot before the reception even begins.

A Quiet Surprise Moment: Some couples skip the announcement altogether and simply have the tower waiting when guests walk into the reception space. The reaction alone is worth it.

How to Add It to Your Wedding

The champagne tower is available as an addition to your existing bar service. If you're already planning your bar package with us, just ask!

Come TOUR!

If you haven’t already come and toured Bread & Chocolate, we encourage you to do so! You can book a tour here or email us at events@breadandchocolate.com. Cheers!

10 Questions to Ask Before You Book a Wedding Venue

Touring wedding venues is exciting! It can also be overwhelming, especially if you're seeing three or four spaces in a weekend and trying to compare apples to oranges. After years of hosting weddings and working with couples at every stage of the planning process, we've put together the 10 questions we think every couple should ask on every venue tour.

(We've also included how Bread & Chocolate answers each one, so you can see what to look for.)

1. What's included in the price?

This is the most important question on the list, and the one that creates the most confusion. Some venues charge a flat rental fee and nothing else is included— you're renting a space, full stop. Others (like us) include tables, linens, chairs, dishes, staffing, set up, tear down, bar services, and catering. Make sure you understand exactly what you're getting for the number you're quoted.

2. Is catering in-house or do I need to hire externally?

This changes your planning process dramatically. External catering means another contract, another coordinator, another vendor relationship to manage. At Bread & Chocolate, catering is in-house— scratch-made, on-site, and included in your package.

Are you licensed to provide alcohol service?

If you’re planning on having a bar, you will want to do exactly what this looks like. Some venues, like ours, has a liquor license so legally we must serve all alcohol. Other venues do not, which means you will need to hire and coordinate with a separate company for licensed bar services.

4. Is there a noise curfew or time restriction?

Many venues, particularly those near residential areas, have hard cutoffs on amplified music or require all guests to be out by a certain time. Know this before you fall in love with a space.

5. What does the staffing model look like?

Who is actually working your event? Is it the people you met on your tour, or are they day-of staff who've never seen your layout? At Bread & Chocolate, our experienced team manages setup, service, and teardown for every event.

6. What's your inclement weather plan?

For outdoor or partially outdoor venues, this is critical. For fully indoor venues like ours, it's a non-issue, which is one less thing to worry about in Indiana where weather can change in an hour.

7. What is the parking situation?

This sounds mundane until you're watching elderly guests walk half a mile in heels. Ask about parking capacity, proximity, and whether there are accessible options. Our venue is completely ADA compliant with plenty of parking.

8. Can I see a sample contract before I commit?

A good venue will have no hesitation sharing their standard contract. Read it carefully, especially the sections on deposits, cancellation policies, and what happens if something beyond anyone's control disrupts the event.

9. Do you have a preferred vendor list, or am I free to bring my own?

Some venues require you to use their preferred vendors for things like florals, photography, or entertainment. Others are fully open. Know which type you're dealing with and make sure it aligns with your plans.

10. Can I schedule a tasting before booking?

If catering is part of your package, you should know what you're getting before you sign. At Bread & Chocolate, every couple receives a complimentary tasting as part of the booking process. It's one of our favorite parts.

Ready to Ask Us These Questions in Person?

We love a well-prepared couple, and we're happy to answer every one of these — and anything else on your mind. Schedule a tour at breadandchocolate.com/contact.