Let’s Start With the Basics, What is Considered a Small, Intimate or Mirco Wedding?

Some people think small weddings are easy to plan, but they are not because you still need to deal with the same logistics as a big wedding. The need for a wedding photographer, the videographer, the caterer, the musician, the chairs, tables, the flowers, the transportation, etc. Intimate weddings have all the same moving parts as larger, more traditional weddings, regardless of size. 

Typically, a small or popularly known as an intimate wedding has fewer than 80 guests. This can be a more intimate affair that’s less expensive. If you’re considering a small wedding, there are a few things to remember.

Remember that you can still have all the elements of a traditional wedding, just on a lighter scale. You’ll still need to decide on a venue, catering, flowers, and décor. The key is finding experienced vendors for small weddings who can provide the services you need within your budget.

Another thing to remember is that you may have to get creative with your guest list. Keeping your guest list under 80 people may be challenging if you have a large group of family or friends. In this case, consider inviting narrowing down your guest list based on who you have spoken to in the last few years or who has been there to support you as a couple throughout your relationship. Last but not least, remember small weddings can still be just as beautiful and as memorable as a larger engagement. Take the time to plan every detail to ensure your day is everything you’ve always dreamed of. With these tips, we are confident you can plan an intimate and unforgettable small wedding.

Small Intimate Wedding Ideas

The possibilities for wedding planning are endless. But sometimes, you want a small, intimate affair with your guest. If that sounds like your ideal wedding, these small, intimate wedding ideas are for you! To start,

Small Backyard Wedding Reception

For a small backyard wedding reception, you will need the following:

• Tables: You will need enough tables to comfortably seat all your guests, especially if you plan to serve meals. You can rent tables from a party rental company or borrow them from people you know.
• Chairs: Again, you will need enough chairs for your guests. You can rent chairs from a party rental company or borrow them from any available source.
• Tablecloths: Tablecloths will add a touch of elegance to your reception tables. You can either rent tablecloths from a party rental company or purchase them from a local department store.
• Table Settings: Ensure you have enough plates, silverware, and glasses for your guests. You can rent these items from a party rental company or purchase them from a local department store.
• Centerpieces are a great way to add some decoration to your reception tables. You can create your centerpieces or purchase them from a local florist or crafts store.

Get Married at a Family Home

If you’re looking for an intimate wedding, one of the best ways to achieve that is by getting married at a family home. This can be a great way to save money on your wedding venue and make your wedding feel more personal and intimate. Plus, it can be a lot of fun planning your wedding with your family members!

Small Destination Wedding

Small destination weddings are becoming increasingly popular, as they offer a unique and intimate setting for your special day. Here are some tips to help you plan the perfect small destination wedding:

Choose a location that has meaning to you and your fiancé. There are so many wonderful options for small destination weddings! For example, consider a charming little café as your location if you’re dreaming of a Parisian wedding. Alternatively, for a tropical feel, how about a beachfront villa? And if you want something truly unique, Iceland has some stunningly beautiful landscapes that would make an unforgettable backdrop for your big day. No matter what kind of destination wedding you envision, there’s sure to be a perfect location to suit your needs.

• Keep your guest list small.
• Have realistic expectations.

A small destination wedding won’t be the same as a traditional big wedding, so try to keep things in perspective. Don’t expect everything to be perfect – embrace the imperfections and enjoy every moment!

Small Restaurant Weddings

Regarding wedding planning, some couples want nothing more than a small, intimate affair. And what could be more intimate than a restaurant wedding? If you’re considering a restaurant wedding, here are a few things to remember:

• First, pick a restaurant that has meaning to you and your partner.
• Second, keep your guest list small.
• Third, work with the restaurant to create a unique menu for your wedding.
• Fourth, take advantage of the restaurant’s intimate setting by creating unique decor.

Get Married at City Hall

City Hall weddings are becoming increasingly popular, as they are intimate, unique, and budget-friendly. If you’re looking for an intimate wedding, consider getting married at your local city hall. Make your City Hall wedding special with these tips:

• Plan and reserve a spot at city hall in advance.
• Get there early on your wedding day to avoid the rush.
• Choose a simple, elegant gown or suit for your city hall weddings.
• Opt for a small bouquet or boutonniere of flowers.
• Forgo a traditional wedding cake and choose cupcakes or another dessert.
• Skip the formal reception and go out for drinks or dinner after your nuptials to celebrate your new marriage!

Cut the Wedding Party

One of the easiest ways to reduce your guest count and make your wedding more intimate is to cut down on the size of your wedding party. If you don’t need ten bridesmaids and groomsmen, consider having a smaller party or doing away with attendants altogether. This will reduce the number of people you have to pay for and make things less chaotic on your big day.

Create an Intimate Lounge Area

If you want to make your wedding more intimate, one way is by creating a lounge area. For instance, you can put up soft furniture like couches and armchairs in a designated area, maybe in your home or a place of your choice. You can also add personal touches to this space, such as photos and candles. This will give your guests a place to relax and mingle and make your wedding feel more intimate.

Small Brunch, Small Budget Wedding

When it comes to intimate weddings, small brunch weddings are becoming increasingly popular. And there’s no wonder why! They’re intimate, budget-friendly, and allow you to spend quality time with your closest family and friends. If you’re considering a small brunch wedding, here are a few things to remember:

1. The guest list should be limited to close family friends.

2. Keep the decor simple but elegant.

3. Make sure the food is delicious! The cost of food for brunch is less expensive because it involves eggs, bacon, sausage, mimosas, fruit juice, and champagne, the typical American brunch.

4. Remember the drinks!

5. Make sure to have plenty of activities for your guests to enjoy.

Small Chapel Wedding

No doubt, the venue you choose will greatly impact the tone and vibe of your wedding day. If you’re dreaming of an intimate affair with close family friends, then a small chapel might be the perfect and romantic place to exchange your vows. Chapel weddings are incredibly romantic, and often, these venues come with a lot of history and character.

Splurge on Special Details

Do not be afraid to splurge on the details important to you and your partner on your wedding day. Whether it’s a stunning designer dress, luxurious flowers, or gourmet catering, your wedding should reflect your unique style as a couple. And when it comes to intimate weddings, there’s no need to skimp on the details. They can often make or break the event. So what are some of the best ways to splurge on your big day?

• For starters, take a look at your venue. Think outside the box regarding your venue – endless possibilities exist.
• Next, focus on the food. Whether you opt for a family-style meal or passed hors d’oeuvres, choose something that reflects your taste.
• If you like classical piano music, don’t hesitate to go all out and get a pianist to play all of your dinner or a musician to accompany you.
• Finally, don’t forget the little things that will make your wedding day special. From custom invitations and personalized favors to live music.

Make it a Whole Weekend

Making your wedding a weekend-long event is a great way to spend more time with your guests. Here are some tips to ensure your weekend wedding is everything you’ve dreamed of: This list will help you make the most of your weekend when planning an intimate wedding. As you choose the perfect venue and plan the events, you can enjoy the days leading up to your big day.

The first step is finding the right venue. You’ll want somewhere that is convenient for all your guests, has plenty of space for everyone to stay and play and is beautiful enough that you won’t have to do much in the way of decoration. Once you’ve found the perfect spot, it’s time to start planning your events.

Keep things low-key on Friday, pick things up on Saturday, and have a farewell brunch on Sunday. Better still, you can have a Sunday afternoon or evening wedding if you want to save money. Let’s face it; we usually don’t do much on Sunday evenings. Why not use the time to enjoy it with your guest?

Intimate Ceremony, Large Reception

If you’re planning an intimate wedding, you may wonder how to make the most of your small guest list. Here are some ideas to help you plan a beautiful and memorable intimate ceremony and large reception. You should consider the size of your guest list first. When planning a small wedding, it’s essential to keep your guest list manageable. Your party will be much more enjoyable if all the guests can participate freely without having to sit on your lap. Please keep it simple and focus on quality over quantity. Once you’ve decided on the size of your wedding, it’s time to start thinking about the details. You can get creative with the setting for a small ceremony. Consider an outdoor ceremony in a beautiful garden or park. This will give you more flexibility with your decor and allow you to personalize your space. If you’re thinking about inviting lots of people, then mention a few important reasons to do so:

1. You’ll need to find a venue to accommodate your guest list.
2. Think about the flow of the event and how you can best utilize the space.
3. Choose a menu that will please your guests, from young children to adults.
4. Don’t forget the details that will make your big day even more special!

Pros and Cons of a Small Wedding

There are many pros and cons to having a small wedding.

On the plus side, a smaller guest list means that you can save money on your overall wedding budget. You’ll also have time to interact with your guests since fewer will be at the ceremony.

Additionally, a smaller wedding is often more intimate and can be more sentimental than a large one.

Small weddings do, however, have some downsides too.

For instance, you may only be able to invite a small group of friends if you have a shorter guest list.

Also, your wedding venue and vendors may need help making space for a smaller event, so you may need to be more flexible.

How To Plan a Small Wedding

When it comes to weddings, size only sometimes dictates the level of grandeur. Many couples are now opting for smaller, more intimate celebrations. If you’re considering a small wedding, here are some tips to help you plan the perfect day:

1. Keep it simple – A small wedding doesn’t need to be over-the-top or overly complicated.
2. Invite only your closest family friends – Rely on your intuition to narrow your guest list to those who will love to participate in this meaningful event.
3. Choose a venue that fits your style – Pick a place that reflects your style and comfortably accommodates your small guest list.
4. Focus on the details – Pay attention to the little things, from invitations and decor to your menu and wine selection.
5. Remember photography – A small wedding is still a major life event, so hire a photographer to capture all important moments on film (or digital).

Consider Your Budget

When it comes to intimate weddings, budget is often one of the first things couples consider. And for a good reason! Whether you’re working with a smaller budget or want to keep costs down, there are plenty of ways to have a beautiful and memorable intimate wedding without breaking the bank. When planning an intimate wedding, consider these tips:

1. Set a realistic budget. Be realistic about how much you can spend, and only spend what is necessary just because you need a successful wedding.
2. Prioritize your expenses. Make a list of your must-haves and prioritize accordingly.
3. Don’t be afraid to get creative. Get creative with your ideas and look for ways to save money without sacrificing style or quality.

Create Your Guest List

The guest list can seem daunting when deciding who to invite to your intimate wedding. But with a little preparation, you can easily whittle your list of attendees down to those who matter the most.

To start, sit down with your partner and list everyone you want to invite. Once you have your initial list, look at it as a whole and see if there are any areas where you can trim it down. For example, if you have a large extended family, you may only want to invite immediate family members. Once your final guest list is locked in, start thinking about how you want to invite everyone. Will you send out traditional invitations or opt for something more unique? Make sure each invitation you send is thoughtful and personal, so your guests know how special they are to you.

Choose Your Venue Carefully

Your venue is one of your most important choices for your intimate wedding. It sets the tone and style for your entire event, so choosing a venue that reflects your personality as a couple is important. Here are a few things to remember when selecting your venue:

• Capacity: Make sure your venue can accommodate everyone comfortably.
• Budget: How much are you willing to spend on your venue? Keep in mind that some venues may require additional fees for catering, decorations, etc.
• Location: If you’re planning a destination wedding, make sure your venue is easily accessible for all of your guests.
• Style: Do you want something formal or informal, classic or modern? Your venue should reflect the overall style of your wedding.

Add Small Touches

When it comes to weddings, many couples feel like they must go all out to make the day special. However, this is only sometimes the case. Sometimes the more intimate weddings will make the day special with a few new details.

For example, instead of having a large wedding cake, you could opt for a small one just for the two of you. This way, you can share a special moment while indulging in something sweet.

Another small touch that can make a big difference is adding some personalization to your wedding vows. This could be anything from adding an inside joke to pledging your undying love for one another. Whatever you choose, adding something personal will make your ceremony that much more memorable.

Finally, remember the little details on your big day. Things like having custom napkins with your initials or ordering specialty drinks for your reception can make your wedding day perfect. So don’t be afraid to add a few small touches here and there—it’ll make all the difference!

Ask for Help with Virtual Wedding Planning 

If you’re overwhelmed planning your intimate wedding, don’t hesitate to ask for help! Whether enlisting a friend or family member to help with DIY projects or hiring a virtual wedding planner to take care of the details, getting some extra assistance will make the process much less stressful.

That’s where Keep Calm And Wed On comes in. We teach couples how to plan the wedding of their dreams with our virtual wedding planning 60-Minute sessions. Click the banner below to learn more.

Our Thoughts?

No matter your budget or how many guests you invite, there are plenty of ways to make your wedding intimate and special. Our intimate wedding ideas have inspired you to make your wedding day unforgettable. Remember, it’s all about the little details that will make your big day unique.