“How to have a tiny wedding” is something a lot of my couples never thought they’d be asking themselves. They dreamed of the big celebration with all their people, but especially as the past few years have unfolded, they’re finding themselves in a position of, “What if we figured out another way to do this?”
Whether this tiny celebration will now be in lieu of their original big wedding plans, or they’re choosing to have the tiny wedding to tie them over until their bigger reception at another time, there are so many incredible parts about having a tiny wedding.
Before we get into the “how” to have a tiny wedding, let’s look at some of the reasons people have tiny weddings in the first place!
- Way less planning
- You can focus more on the details that mean something to you
- They provide an opportunity to be vulnerable in a way a large wedding doesn’t always provide. They are intimate, emotional, and so very sentimental.
- You’ll remember it more! Sometimes the big weddings are so grand that couples get “wedding day amnesia.”
- Your budget goes so much further
While having a tiny wedding may not have been your original plan (and you are so so welcome to feel big feelings about that change), I hope you can see a few positives about this new idea. Now, the part we’ve been waiting for!
How to have a tiny wedding:
- Pick an alternative space or venue. A cozy Airbnb? A sentimental campground? I specialize in adventure elopements here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, so truly no tiny wedding adventure is too much in my eyes!
- Draft your invite list: it could be anywhere from 5-25 people. Start with your family members, then consider which friends feel more like family. Have they and will they be in your life for the long haul?
- Appoint a coordinator. Someone to set the scene, get the florals in place, all that jazz.
- Invite your photographer to partner with you and support you through the whole process. Your photographer should be more than thrilled to help you with many logistics beyond photos – lodging and location research, timeline creation, and ensuring you feel at ease and joyful throughout your tiny wedding day adventure.
- Plan a few design details that will help make the day still feel special and beautiful. Maybe a few rentals a beautiful, intimate tablescape? Or hire a florist to create a beautiful arbor.
- Make it a true experience for your guests. They’re the most special people in your life – and how incredible is it that you get to celebrate with them alongside you? Bring in a private chef to really elevate the dining experience. Take your guests wine tasting the day before. Send them off with a special wedding favor that wasn’t in the budget with a bigger wedding.
- Send out announcements to all the people who couldn’t be there. No doubt a lot of people love you and wish they were able to come. Sending a little acknowledgement and a “we missed you” card may go a long way.
Of course as you navigate these new waters of planning a tiny wedding, always feel free to reach out to your vendors to help you. They’ve likely been through this before and would be so happy to help you have the most special day of your lives.
For some tiny-wedding inspo, check out Patrick and Oli’s Leavenworth adventure wedding blog! Or even Leslie and Andy’s snowy adventure elopement in the North Cascades.
A few more resources to check out!