How to Plan Your Own Micro-Wedding: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
From Hollywood dramas to online forums, the world probably has you thinking that getting married is complicated, stressful, and expensive.
If you’re planning a big, traditional wedding… they’re pretty much right.
If you’re planning a small, contemporary wedding… they’re very wrong.
Putting together your own microwedding can be straightforward and affordable. And while everyone’s special day looks different, below are the primary components that go into planning a small, intimate wedding.
Colorado Micro-Wedding & Elopement Packages
Starting at $1,300
—Officiant (starting at $300)
—Photography (starting at $500)
—Videography (starting at $900)
—Flowers (starting at $100)
—Wedding Planner (starting at $500)
Everything you need for a beautiful and stress-free small wedding!
All-Inclusive | 100% Customizable | 0 - 80 Guests
Vendors | Venues | Marriage License | Permits | Dining | Lodging
The Planning Steps
Pick your ceremony site.
Pick your wedding date and time.
Whatever works for you!
Also check with your friends and family—if you want them to come :)
Mon-Thursday are always the best times to get good deals and avoid crowds in public parks. It’s always best for micro-weddings to avoid Saturdays when possible due to high demand for vendors and traditional weddings.
Pick your “reception” location—generally just a local restaurant.
Pick your wedding vendors (officiant, photographer, etc.)
Having a professional photographer, officiant, or planner who has agreed to organize and run the ceremony is HIGHLY suggested.
Work with your vendors for their services: Officiant—ceremony planning, photographer—photo list, florist—bouquet style, stylist—hair and makeup.
Make a detailed day-of timeline
Include the full day from start to finish.
Add buffers for delays and bad weather
Ask each vendor when they arriving
Make sure your timeline gives optimal lighting for photos (generally a ceremony time at sunrise, or 2 hours before sunset is best, but ask your photographer).
Learn how to get the marriage license in your area.
Show up and get married!
Give yourself plenty of extra time on the day of.
Trust your wedding vendors to lead the day!
Everything You Need to Know About Planning Your Own Micro-Wedding
Do You Need a Wedding Planner?
Wedding planners and coordinators exist for a very good reason. But if you’re planning a laid-back ceremony in a park, you can probably handle it on your own. On the other hand, if your micro wedding is a detail-driven day with a fully-catered dinner and formal reception, I highly recommend finding a professional wedding planner in your area. (And do keep in mind that some planners offer “day of” packages that are perfect for small weddings.)
The Budget / Guest Count
Micro-weddings generally cost between $3,000 and $15,000. Deciding your budget and guest count are you first steps. Are you planning a simple mountaintop elopement, and trying to create the cheapest wedding possible? Or you planning on feeding your three dozen closest friends caviar? Once you have these numbers estimated, you’re ready to dive into the other details.
When is the Best Time for a Micro-Wedding?
In the wedding world, there are: seasons, days, and times. Wedding season (roughly May - October), weekends, and evenings are the highest demand. The higher the demand, the higher the price, and the more limited the venue/vendor availability. If you’re flexible with your scheduling, consider working with off-season dates, weekdays, or mornings/afternoons. It’s a great way to save money and opens up a lot more options.
If you’re having an outdoor ceremony, don’t forget to factor in…
Temperature––which may affect makeup, outfits, comfort, etc.
Time of day––which will impact your lighting for photos (near sunrise or sunset is best; noon is the worst)
Once your ceremony is pinned down, plan the rest of the day accordingly. You don’t want to leave your guests in limbo for five hours between the ceremony and the reception. (We’ve all been to a wedding like that, and it wasn’t fun.)
Where is the Best Location for a Micro-Wedding?
Wedding venues are a dime a dozen, but venues willing work with small weddings aren’t quite as common. Beyond the traditional spots, try looking for public parks, mountaintops, breweries/restaurants with event space, and rental homes with beautiful backyards.
Venue Pro tip:
Trying to find a venue that’s ideal for both the ceremony and reception radically limits your options. Keep in mind that you can always hold the ceremony at the top of a mountain or in a local park, and hold your reception in the private event room of a restaurant or brewery nearby.
My favorite spots: “Where to Have Your Microwedding”
What Other Vendors do I Need for a Micro-Wedding?
For small weddings, the primary vendors are the officiant, photographer, florist, and some way to feed people. The next ones on the list would be hair stylist or videographer. Small weddings generally don’t need DJs, but a live musician for the ceremony can be a nice touch. I breakdown how to round up vendors like a pro: here
What Does a Micro-Wedding Ceremony Look Like?
Religious or secular? Unity candle or whiskey-blending ceremony? Guests standing or sitting? And who walks down the aisle first? If you have a wedding planner and/or a competent officiant, they should help you figure these things out. Generally speaking, the ceremony consists of...
Processional—aka the walk down the aisle. Some couples have a full bridal party, some just have the groom and officiant start up front, and the bride walk down after. Totally up to you!
Intro—the officiant talks about your story, maybe a bit about love. Now is a good time for religion if you’re looking to incorporate it.
Readings, Unity Ceremony, Etc.—all of this stuff is optional, but is a chance to add some create layers to the ceremony if you’re looking for it.
Vows and/or Love Letters—the couple will read something to each other, it can be there own words (what I call “Love Letters”), or it can be repeat-after-me-vows. There are no “traditional” vows, so simply Google to find options you like.
The Declaration of Intent—aka the “I Do” part of the ceremony. The officiant will ask if you wanna get married, and you’ll hopefully say yes :)
Ring Exchange—the officiant explains why wedding rings as special, and then you each put on the other person ring. Try to slow this part down a bit so you can get some nice photos.
THE KISS!— close out the ceremony the old fashion way.
I dig more into the actual ceremony planning: here
Do I Need an Officiant for a Micro-Wedding?
Depending on your state, you may or may not need to legally have an officiant or judge sign your marriage license. However, they are not required to actually perform the ceremony. Lots of small weddings opt to have a friend or family member officiate instead.
Friend or Family Wedding Officiant Guide: click here
Tips on finding the right officiant: click here
Marriage License for a Micro-Wedding?
Don’t forget about this one. Exact details vary, but generally, you’ll get the wedding license in the state where the ceremony will be held. Your officiant should have all this information; if they don’t, that’s a big red flag.
The easiest option is to call the government office responsible for issuing marriage licenses and ask questions. Familiarize yourself with the waiting period, general requirements, and any logistical concerns that may arise related to non-citizens, divorcees, witnesses required, etc.
How much does a micro-wedding cost?
Micro-weddings generally cost between $3,000 and $15,000, depending on your guest count, venue, and vendors.
How long does it take to plan a micro-wedding?
If you're having a truly simple micro-wedding, you should be able to plan the whole thing within a couple weeks. Most couples give themselves a few months for flexibility with venues and vendors.
What's the difference between a micro-wedding and an elopement?
There's no official definition, but generally an elopement is a very small group of 6 or fewer people—a simple ceremony in a park or on a beach, then dinner at a restaurant. A micro-wedding is typically 20–40 guests, with a private ceremony site with seating, and a reception at a restaurant or private home.
How do I tell my family we're having a micro-wedding?
Simply tell them that your wedding day is your day, and you're making the decision that works best for you and your budget. Many couples have had their weddings hijacked by friends and family, and some may be upset or try to make you feel selfish. It's more common than you think—checking out Reddit threads for small wedding and elopement planning can be helpful to read other people's experiences.
Do I need a permit for an outdoor micro-wedding?
It depends on the location. Many public parks don't require permits, but almost all private or reserved sites do. It also depends on group size, whether you're setting up chairs, and if you're doing photography.
Relax!
I’ll say it again: planning a small, simple wedding doesn’t need to be stressful. Do your research, give yourself plenty of time to talk to vendors/venues, and remember to breathe. If you do find yourself feeling buried, reach out to a local wedding planner. Whatever they charge, it’ll be worth avoiding an anxiety-attack blackout on your wedding day.
Colorado Micro-Wedding & Elopement Packages
Starting at $1,300
—Officiant (starting at $300)
—Photography (starting at $500)
—Videography (starting at $900)
—Flowers (starting at $100)
—Wedding Planner (starting at $500)
Everything you need for a beautiful and stress-free small wedding!
All-Inclusive | 100% Customizable | 0 - 80 Guests
Vendors | Venues | Marriage License | Permits | Dining | Lodging
Iver Marjerison
Owner / Lead Planner
Iver@MicroWeddings.org
MicroWeddings.org
