10 Micro Weddings That Will Make You Rethink Tradition
When couples tell us they’re planning a micro wedding, they already know they want a more intimate and meaningful celebration. Oftentimes, their question is not “Should we plan a micro wedding?”, it’s “How can we plan a celebration that feels like us?”
And while we have resources on the blog like 6 things to consider before you elope and how to know if an intimate wedding right for you, we thought it would be helpful to show you some examples of what our past couples have done for their micro wedding. No two weddings are alike, and while you don’t need to copy anything you see online, we hope these examples and stories will help inspire you to think outside the traditional wedding box and dream about what’s possible.
What Makes a Micro Wedding So Special?
Before we share these incredible celebrations, first, we want to clarify what we mean by a micro wedding. Generally, micro weddings include 20-50 guests (though this can vary) and combine the intimacy of an elopement with the celebration of a traditional wedding. Unlike elopements though, that focus on the couple or traditional weddings which are more about the guest experience, micro weddings allow you to celebrate with your closest loved ones while still keeping it intentional and personalized.
One important thing we want to share, though, is that micro weddings are not just small parties that are thrown together. While they can be planned on a short timeline (like Christie and Andrew’s), an intention micro wedding still requires thoughtful planning. That’s where having an experienced photographer can help. If you are considering planning a micro wedding, reach out – we’d love to hear all about your vision and help you plan something incredible!
Micro Wedding Inspiration from 10 Real Weddings
1. Kevin & Brian – An Intimate Summer Camp Wedding with Community
100 guests at Camp Mendocino, California
Kevin and Brian’s summer camp micro wedding redefined what LGBTQ+ celebrations (or any wedding celebration, for that matter) can look like. Their three-day micro wedding at Camp Mendocino included traditional camp activities like zip-lining and scavenger hunts, which helped create an environment where their chosen family could truly relax and connect.
The camp setting Kevin and Brian chose allowed for a level of playfulness and community-building that is often hard to find at traditional venues. And, because they opted for a multi-day experience, it gave everyone time to connect and celebrate beyond just the ceremony.
Micro Wedding Ideas We Loved:
Looking around at Kevin and Brian’s loved ones, it was clear that everyone had a place. All types of love were present making it feel like a celebration of community in addition to also being a celebration of the couple’s love.
How to Make this Intimate Wedding Idea Your Own:
When considering who to invite, think about who you cannot imagine your day without and build your guest list from there. Just because someone is family does not mean they automatically get an invite unless you want them there.
2. Kasey & Mark – A Greek Island Destination Celebration
30 guests in Milos, Greece
Kasey and Mark are no strangers to the wedding world. Kasey is a destination elopement photographer and educator who travels the world documenting love stories. So, when it came to planning their own wedding, Kasey and Mark wanted to choose a location they had never been to before. The landed on Milos, Greece, and on top of being an incredible destination wedding location, it was also a chance for the couple to get to introduce their families to the kind of adventurous life they’d built together through their work.
Despite unexpected weather that delayed some of their guests’ arrivals and changed their boat plans, they made the most of every moment. Day one featured boat adventures around the island and jumping into crystal-clear waters while day two included a poolside ceremony, sunset cliff photos, and dancing under the stars to live saxophone music.
Intimate Wedding Ideas We Loved:
What made this Greece micro wedding so special was watching how Kasey and Mark poured their hearts into creating an experience for their families. Their wedding was full of beautiful details, but it was also filled with so much care for their loved ones and them getting to take a peek into Kasey and Mark’s world.
How to Make This Micro Wedding Idea Your Own:
Consider how you want your wedding guests to feel. What type of experience do you want them to have?
3. Alexis & Brad – Meaning-Filled Intimate Wedding in Oregon
30 guests in Oregon
Alexis and Brad’s Oregon micro wedding was another example of a couple bringing together family and meaningful locations. Their celebration began with a woodland ceremony and reception surrounded by string lights, followed by a second day at the Southern Oregon coast – the same place where the couple had taken their first road trip together.
What made their celebration even more special was how their family came together to make this day happen. With relatives contributing to ensure they could have their dream photographer to everyone traveling from Texas to be a part of their day to Alexis’ grandfather even officiating their ceremony, it truly was a family celebration.
Intimate Wedding Inspiration We Loved:
Alexis and Brad didn’t just get married anywhere, they chose to return to a location that held a lot of meaning for their relationship. Not only is the Oregon Coast stunning, but this personal element added so much meaning and significance to their intimate wedding celebration.
How to Make This Micro Wedding Inspiration Your Own:
Think about the locations you and your partner love. Are there any places that feel significant to your relationship and, if so, can you incorporate them into your intimate wedding?
4. Katie & Justine – Full-Day Kauai Intimate Wedding with Family
25 guests in Kauai, Hawaii
Katie and Justine’s Kauai micro wedding proved that intimate celebrations can be just as dramatic and breathtaking as any large wedding celebration. When they started planning with us, these brides were asking themselves, “Should we elope or plan a micro wedding?” Once we started talking and they learned that an elopement with their loved ones was possible, they knew a micro wedding was right for them!
Their Kaui wedding started off with a morning sunrise session on the beach with just the two of them. Afterward, the brides met up with 25 of their loved ones for a cliffside ceremony overlooking the Pacific Ocean. There, they exchanged vows against one of the most stunning backdrops in Hawaii before heading back to their Airbnb to celebrate over a catered backyard meal under string lights.
Micro Wedding Inspiration We Loved:
Katie and Justine didn’t just choose a wedding or elopement because that’s what everyone else did. They knew that planning a small celebration with their loved ones was what they wanted – they just didn’t quite know how to bring it all together. Instead of following examples of what others had done, they worked with us to come up with a plan that fit their vision and reflected who they are.
How to Make This Intimate Wedding Inspiraiton Your Own:
Stuck on whether or not to have an intimate wedding or an elopement? Reach out to an elopement photographer as often they can help share ideas that you might not have even considered.
5. Helen & Tommy – Multi-Cultural Intimate Wedding on the Olympic Peninsula
30 guests at Ruby Beach, Washington
Helen and Tommy’s intimate wedding at Ruby Beach beautifully brought together the couple’s cultures and families. Their celebration included traditional tea ceremonies, cultural games, and multiple outfit changes that allowed them to honor their heritage while celebrating in a way that felt true to them.
Their day started with the couple getting ready with their loved ones before coming together for a beautiful ceremony where the couple incorporated a chinese wedding tea ceremony to honor Helen’s family culture. After their cake cutting, the couple changed into Cambodian wedding attire and headed to the beach for sunset photos on the beautiful Olympic coast.
Micro Wedding Ideas We Loved:
Helen and Tommy didn’t just plan a traditional wedding. Instead, they thoughtfully incorporated meaningful cultural traditions into their intimate celebration (while keeping the traditional aspects they loved).
How to Make This Intimate Wedding Idea Your Own:
Whether it’s cultural, religious, or personal, think about what rituals you might want to include into your day. You don’t have to do everything one way. You can mix and match the elements that feel the most meaningful and skip the rest.
6. Christie & Andrew – Oregon Coast Wedding Full of Details
12 guests on the Oregon Coast
You would never know by looking at it, but Christie and Andrew planned their Oregon coast micro wedding in less than two months! Their celebration took place (in a literal castle) at one of our favorite locations in Oregon, and their cliffside ceremony was an intimate gathering with just their closest family.
Even though we were working with a short timeline, Christie and Andrew did not skimp on the details. Planning their micro wedding in less than two months, they proved that micro weddings don’t require years of planning to be meaningful and beautiful. Sometimes, the most authentic celebrations come together quickly when you focus on what truly matters.
Intimate Wedding Inspiration We Loved:
When it came to deciding whether or not to include guests, Christie and Andrew decided that either all their guests would come or no one at all. They didn’t want any family members left out. Somehow, even with short notice, everyone was able to be there to help them celebrate.
How to Make This Micro Wedding Inspiration Your Own:
This is another example of how working with experienced elopement vendors can help bring your vision to life. Especially if you are working on a shorter timeline, bringing on people to help you plan can provide you with additional support and ideas and reduce the stress of planning on your own.
7. Caroline & Anthony – A Washington Mountain Wedding That Broke the Rules
10 guests in Washington State
For their two-day Washington micro wedding, Caroline and Anthony really had one main focus: to get married in nature. Their microwedding wasn’t just a celebration of their love; it was a reflection of something bigger. A celebration of this beautiful world we get to be part of, and of the people who had supported their journey along the way.
The first day was just for the couple. We snowshoed and explored mountain trails in their camper van, then ended the day with photos by the fireplace and gazing up at the stars from the hot tub. Day two was for the celebration with their family. Their ceremony took place North Cascades and was followed by a reception at their cabin that felt more like a weekend getaway with their favorite people than a traditional wedding.
Intimate Wedding Ideas We Loved:
During both days of this micro wedding, Caroline and Anthony (and their guests), let go of all expectations and truly just lived in the moment. Their wedding didn’t feel overly planned or forced; instead it felt more like a casual hangout with loved ones where they also happened to be celebrating a wedding. And, because this couple view their vows as sacred, this was the first elopement where we did not photograph this portion of their experience – they kept it completely just for them.
How to Make This Micro Wedding Idea Your Own:
You don’t have to follow the outline of a wedding day just because that’s what’s done. If there is a moment that you want to keep for just the two of you (and not even your photographer), that’s ok. You are allowed to break the rules because when it comes to micro weddings, there truly aren’t any.
8. Melissa & Casey – Embracing the Unexpected in Yosemite
12 guests in Yosemite National Park
Melissa and Casey’s Yosemite micro wedding location was about more than just a beautiful destination; it was about the couple getting to experience the beauty of life and their love in a whole new way. They chose to elope in Yosemite and because neither of them had ever visited the park before, they got to experience it for the first time…on their wedding day.
Two things that were important to these brides were time with loved ones and intimacy and privacy for just the two of them. From exploring the park with loved ones on day one to reexperiencing it together on day two, they fully embraced the magic of this beautiful location.
Intimate Wedding Inspiration We Loved:
During sunset on day two of their adventure, we experienced some unexpected weather. However, Melissa and Casey didn’t let it hold them back from their adventure and ended up getting a magical sunset view all to themselves!
How to Make This Micro Wedding Inspiration Your Own:
No matter how much you plan for something, sometimes you have to embrace the unknown. Whether it’s traveling to a new location or embracing the weather, sometimes there’s really no way to know how your experience will unfold. But, if you hope for the best and stay open to whatever comes, oftentimes, that’s where the magic happens.
9. Kathy & Daniel – Seychelles Paradise Wedding
10 guests in Seychelles
This Seychelles celebration showed how micro weddings can include exotic destinations that might be harder to access with larger guest counts. The intimate size of Kathy and Daniel’s guest list made international travel feasible while also creating an exclusive, paradise-like experience for the couple’s closest loved ones.
After getting ready at their Airbnb, the couple took a private boat ride to an island to have some adventure time alone before meeting back up with their family for their beach ceremony. Afterward, everyone celebrated with dinner back at their Airbnb and then spontaneously ended the evening by jumping into the pool (at their daughter’s request).
Micro Wedding Inspiration We Loved:
We love how Kathy and Daniel included their kids in their celebration and allowed for spontaneity throughout. Eloping with their two little ones brought some extra considerations into the process, but by keeping their timeline flexible, Kathy and Daniel got to focus on what mattered most and lean into the experiences that felt right in the moment.
How to Make This Intimate Wedding Inspiration Your Own:
If you are bringing your children along to your wedding celebration, there may be some extra planning involved, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t have the experience you’re envisioning. Oftentimes, loved ones can help and including your children in your experience where possible can help make your experience even more special and memorable.
10. Jessica & Colton – Mountain Micro Wedding Magic
20 guests in the North Casccades
Jessica and Colton’s mountain micro wedding was all about balancing simplicity, awe-inspiring backdrops, and moments for the couple’s genuine selves to shine through. They also wanted to incorporate their family in some way, so we began planning an intimate wedding that allowed for everything they were looking for.
The first day was focused on the couple and their guests. Jessica and Colton got married on Jessica’s parent’s property which made the whole experience so much more meaningful as everyone pitched in to prepare the space for the celebration. On day two, we made space for the couple and spent the whole day together which allowed for those “just us” moments the couple had been looking for.
Intimate Wedding Ideas We Loved:
While including family was important to them, Jessica and Colton’s wedding was more about providing space for the couple to have time together. Instead of focusing on posed images, they wanted real moments like cuddling on the couch, making coffee together, in addition to the vows and family moments.
How to Make This Micro Wedding Idea Your Own:
Think about how you and your partner start your morning together or any evening rituals you might have. Including some of these elements into your wedding day oftentimes makes for some of the most intimate, meaningful moments.
Inspired by This Micro Wedding Inspiration?
After seeing these diverse celebrations, we hope you are feeling more inspired to plan your own micro wedding. These micro wedding ideas represent just a few ways your wedding day can look when you choose intention over tradition.
Whether you’re considering a multi-day destination experience, looking for ways to incorporate meaningful cultural traditions, or simply dreaming of the intimacy that comes a smaller guest list, micro weddings offer so many possibilities.
If you’re ready to explore micro wedding ideas, here are a few more resources from our blog:
- Multi-Day Planning: How to Plan a Multi-Day Wedding for couples who want more than one day of celebration
- Making It Special: How to Make Your Elopement Special for tips on personalizing your intimate wedding celebration
- Venue Ideas: Micro Wedding Venues for location inspiration and small wedding venues we love in the U.S.
- Step-by-Step Planning: How to Plan a Micro Wedding in Washington State
And, if you’re looking for a photographer to document your experience, we would love to help you plan something special!
More Intimate Wedding Inspiration
Meet Your Intimate Wedding & Elopement Photographers
We’re Henry, Sergio, and Nick, the faces behind these honest, meaningful, and artful photographs of couples eloping in the most beautiful places. Since 2018, we’ve photographed more than 200+ intimate weddings and elopements all over the world and on 6 different continents. Our work has been published on Junebug Weddings, Green Wedding Shoes, Brides, Dancing With Her, etc…We’ve won international awards for best wedding photos but what’s most important to us is actually winning our clients’ hearts with our art.
With 15 years of combined photography experience, we’ve learned that the only way to a beautiful wedding experience & photos is through intentionality.
We’re here for you and with you from “let’s do this” to “I do”, one step at a time, each step of the way. We’re in this together
