The two biggest levers on a wedding budget are the guest list and the day of the week. Pull either one and the total drops fast. Pull both, and you can have a full estate wedding for a fraction of a peak Saturday.
What counts as a micro wedding?
There's no official number, but most people mean 50 guests or fewer — sometimes up to about 70. Small enough that everyone is someone you know well, big enough to feel like a celebration rather than an elopement.
Why weekday weddings cost less
Venues price by demand, and Saturdays sell first. A Monday-through-Thursday date is the same estate with the same setup. At Chelsea Sun Inn, a peak-season weekday is $7,196 for the venue versus $12,342 on a Saturday. A 100-guest peak weekday wedding, start to finish, runs $21,716 — about $5,000 less than the same Saturday.
Weekdays work especially well when many guests are traveling anyway, for second weddings, or when you'd rather take a long weekend than fight for a Saturday 18 months out.
The off-peak season
From November 18 to April 30, venue prices are half the peak rate for weddings up to 70 guests — $6,171 on a Saturday, $5,535 on a Friday or Sunday. Winter weddings move indoors to the Grand Lobby, which seats 75–100 before a stone fireplace, or to the restored barn under lanterns.
Our Micro Wedding with the Estate Stay
For an off-peak weekday — Monday through Thursday, November 18 to April 30 — we offer one all-in package for up to 70 guests: $3,598 for the venue, a buffet, your staffed BYOB bar and one night in all 13 guest rooms. Tax and gratuity are included. Add the vendors you want — photographer, DJ, flowers — and that's the wedding.
Weekday micro weddings are one date each, so each date goes to one couple.
What you keep, what you give up
- You keep: the whole estate to yourselves, the ceremony site of your choice, the Bridal Suite, an overnight with your closest people.
- You give up: some guests' easy weekend travel, and — in winter — the outdoor ceremony and pool. Most couples find the trade worth it.
Making a small wedding feel full
- Seat everyone at one long table instead of rounds.
- Spend the savings on the things guests remember: food, music and the photographer.
- Plan a welcome dinner the night before, or breakfast together the morning after.
