Micro wedding at a farmhouse in Catalonia: a guide for 20–40 guests

A micro wedding at a farmhouse is a celebration for roughly 20 to 40 guests, close family and true friends, in a place that is yours alone for the day. It works beautifully even in a large Catalan masia, as long as you choose the right space for each moment. At La Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera, a 15th-century farmhouse in Tona (Osona), about 50 minutes by car from Barcelona, the venue is hired exclusively, so even if there are only 20 of you, the whole masia is yours.

What is a micro wedding and why are they growing?

A micro wedding is a small wedding that keeps everything that matters (the ceremony, the meal, the speeches, the dancing) but with fewer people and more care in every detail. It isn't a cut-down version of a big wedding. It's a different way of celebrating.

More and more couples are choosing one, for all sorts of reasons: they want real time with the people they love, they don't fancy a guest list full of obligations, they'd rather spend the money on other things, or it simply suits who they are. If that sounds like you, this guide is for you, wherever you end up getting married.

The advantages of an intimate wedding

• More budget per guest. With fewer people you can spend more on each one: a better menu, a special wine, a handmade favour.
• Time with every guest. At a big wedding the couple spends the day saying hello. With 30 people you can actually sit down, talk and listen.
• More freedom. You can break the usual format: a long lunch instead of a formal banquet, a ceremony where anyone can speak, an afternoon at the table that drifts into the evening.

Micro wedding at a farmhouse: how to make 20–40 guests feel like a full house

It's the question we hear most: if the masia holds up to 100 people, won't it feel empty with 30? Not if you don't use every space at once, but move from one to the next.

At La Masseria every space is included in the hire, whether you are 20 or 100. Here is a flow that works really well for small groups (you can see them all on our spaces page):

• Ceremony in El Jardí (the garden). 250 m² of lawn looking out over the Tona valley and the Montseny mountains. With fewer chairs, set them in a semicircle close to the arch: it feels like an embrace, not a gap.
• Drinks in La Plaça Major (the main square). The heart of the masia, with traditional stone arches and La Bodega de la Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera, a bar built into the arcade. A small group gathered around the bar creates atmosphere straight away.
• One long table in La Plaça Major or La Sala Interior (the indoor hall). A single table for everyone is the secret weapon of intimate weddings: everyone can see and talk to each other. La Sala Interior is air-conditioned and seats 70, so 30 guests are comfortable with room left to dance. It's also your plan B if it rains.
• La Sala Relax as a lounge. The restored old stable, with original stone walls and wooden beams, makes a calm corner for grandparents or a quiet chat away from the music.
• La Sala dels Nuvis (the couple's room) to get ready. A private room with natural light and the best views in the masia. At a small wedding, getting ready with your closest people is already part of the celebration.

How to write your micro wedding guest list

• Start with a number, not names. Decide whether you'll be 20, 30 or 40, then fill it.
• Ask yourselves one simple question: “Who would I love to have dinner with that day?”
• Agree on the rules together (plus-ones, colleagues, children) and apply them equally to both families.
• If there are children, plan a space for them. The masia offers an optional kids' area with a trampoline and inflatables.

Sample timeline for a daytime or evening micro wedding

La Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera has two time slots: daytime events from 11:00 to 20:00 and evening events from 16:00 to 00:00. If you need longer, extra hours can be requested. These are two example timelines; adjust them with your caterer and whoever leads your ceremony.

What to eat at a small wedding: ideas with free-choice catering

At La Masseria catering is free choice: you bring your own caterer or your own food, and we're happy to recommend trusted suppliers. There is no in-house catering. With a small group, that opens up lots of options:

• Long table, family style. Sharing platters in the middle, good bread, dishes passed from hand to hand.
• Barbecue. Perfect for a relaxed lunch. At the masia it can only be done through our barbecue service, which includes the equipment, charcoal and cleaning.
• Dessert your way. A small cake, a table of homemade sweets, or a family recipe.

La Sala Interior has an office kitchen with a fridge, ceramic hob, microwave and dishwasher, handy as back-up. Ask your caterer what they need and let us know in good time.

Decor for an intimate wedding (and our house rules)

With 30 people you can concentrate the decor: one beautifully dressed long table beats lots of scattered pieces.

• Put flowers where everyone looks: the table and the ceremony arch.
• Nothing may be nailed, screwed or stuck to the stone, beams or arches. Use freestanding pieces: easels, plant pots, self-supporting structures.
• Confetti and petals must be biodegradable.
• No fireworks, sky lanterns or flares.
• Smoking is only allowed outdoors.

How to think about a micro wedding budget

Let's be honest: a small wedding isn't proportionally cheaper across the board. Some costs shrink with the number of guests (food, drinks, furniture hire, invitations) and others are fixed (the venue, photography, music, the ceremony). With an exclusive-hire masia, the whole place is yours whether you are 20 or 80.

• Split fixed costs from per-guest costs.
• Decide where the savings go: the menu, the photographer, live music, or a thoughtful gift for each guest.
• Ask for quotes with your real guest count. Some suppliers have minimums, so it's best to know early.
• Ask about extras from the start: extra hours, the barbecue service or the kids' area.

Checklist for a wedding of 20–40 guests

1. Set your guest number and format: daytime or evening.
2. Visit the venue and picture the flow: ceremony, drinks, meal, lounge.
3. Choose a caterer and the style of service.
4. Decide where the table goes and what your plan B is.
5. Book photography, music and your officiant.
6. Plan decor that respects the house rules.
7. Send invitations and close the list.
8. Write a timeline and share it with every supplier.

For a fuller picture of the whole process, read our guide on how to plan a farmhouse wedding in Osona.

Planning a micro wedding at La Masseria de Mas Vall-llovera?

We're Fabrizia and David, and we live at the masia with our daughter Andrea. Write to us through our contact page, on WhatsApp or by phone on 621 503 716, or at lamasseria@masvall-llovera.com. We reply in under 48 hours, and visits are by appointment.

Frequently asked questions