From micro-weddings to intimate celebration that includes a sit-down dinner at your favorite restaurant, small weddings are all the rage right now. If you’re looking for some of the best small wedding ideas for you and your partner, you’re in luck.
Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most romantic small wedding ideas that are sure to leave you both beaming. First, let’s go over what is actually considered a small wedding and if it’s a good fit for you.
What Are Small Weddings?
A small wedding is exactly what it sounds like: a wedding with a small number of guests. Generally, a small wedding is considered small when there are anywhere between 20 to 80 guests.
Why a Small Wedding May Work for You
There are many pros associated with having a small wedding, but there are also some cons. We’ve outlined our favorite positives below but remember to do your research before committing fully to the idea of a smaller wedding.
An Intimate Wedding = A More Intimate Celebration
With fewer people involved in planning and executing the event, you’ll have more time to enjoy the process. Because there aren’t as many guests, your guests will feel more special. They’ll probably appreciate that you didn’t invite every person you know!
Intimate Weddings Allow You to Save Money
In New York, the average wedding will set you back around $40,000, according to Verve Event Co. That’s a lot of money! But between paying for the food and beverage of many guests, entertaining them with music, and renting out the wedding venue, we can see how it adds up.
A small wedding, on the other hand, will set you back an average of $8,550. That’s a savings of $31,000+!
Wedding Planning for a Small Wedding is Less Stressful
When planning a small wedding, you don’t have to stress about the perfect venue or hiring all the right people. You can just focus on what’s really important: your family and friends!
When you only invite your closest family and friends, you’ll find that the stress of planning your wedding diminishes significantly. You won’t have to worry about seating charts or guest lists. That means less time spent stressing about those things and more time getting excited about the big day!
Drawbacks of Having a Small Wedding
While it’s true that hosting a small wedding is a great way to save money and still have an elegant, memorable event, the primary drawback is that you simply can’t invite everyone you might absolutely want.
If you’re planning on having fewer than 200 guests, there are going to be people who will be disappointed at not being able to attend—and this may make them feel left out of your special day.
If this happens, make sure that your loved ones feel loved and appreciated anyway. Calmly explain to them that you can’t invite everyone that you want to due to the restraints of having a small intimate wedding, and reassure them that you feel just as strongly about them as you always have.
10 Small Wedding Ideas for the Perfect Intimate Wedding
1) Jet-Off to a Destination Wedding
Destination weddings are the perfect way to create an intimate gathering for loved ones. Imagine a small wedding ceremony on the beach in the Bahamas followed by dancing and drinking under the stars.
Plus, you can choose a destination that’s close enough for your guests to travel to but far enough away from home that it feels like a vacation. This will help everyone relax and enjoy the occasion. Just be sure to let your guests know that you are planning a destination wedding ahead of time, as this will allow them to begin saving up for the flight to your dream wedding.
2) Keep it Simple with a City Hall Wedding
When you’re looking for a small, intimate wedding, city hall is the perfect place to host it.
Whether you want to get married in the city where you grew up or the one that’s now your home, city hall weddings are perfect for the bride-to-be seeking a timelessly chic small wedding.
City halls are often historical buildings that have been around for centuries. They’re filled with character and charm, but they also have modern facilities like Wi-Fi and restrooms—so you don’t have to worry about being stuck in an old building with no modern amenities. The staff at most city halls will help you plan everything from catering to music to seating arrangements—and they’ll also take care of all the paperwork for you!
Plus, there are beautiful historic spaces just waiting to be transformed into one of your most memorable days ever!
3) Take it Outside with an Outdoor Reception
If you want to keep your wedding small and intimate but still have it be a celebration of love, then an outdoor reception is a perfect choice for you.
There are so many outdoor wedding venues to choose from, such as beachside or garden venues. Choose an area that has plenty of room for dancing and other activities but also has some shade if you plan on hosting an outdoor wedding in the summer months. You can also decorate the area with plants and flowers for added color and ambiance. Besides, the alfresco wedding style never goes out of style, and your guests are sure to love the intimate atmosphere of an outdoor reception.
If you’re worried about weather conditions ruining your big day, then consider having a backup plan ready in case of inclement weather. If possible, try to find a venue that comes equipped with indoor seating areas in case there’s rain or snow outside (or even just cold temperatures).
4) Stay Tiny with a Small Chapel Wedding
Combine the traditional wedding venue of a chapel with various elements fostering intimacy, such as string lights and a comfy lounge area for guests to sit in a small chapel wedding venue.
If the chapel has a basement, you can host your wedding reception there, or if it’s near your home, consider having your family members and friends back to your family house for a more casual vibe.
5) Serve Breakfast at a Brunch Wedding
You and your love are the stars of the show, so why not have an intimate vow ceremony before inviting your wedding party and guests out for brunch? Instead of traditional wedding cake, offer a tower of stacked waffles and pancakes.
The best part is that you can make it as elaborate or simple as you like. You can make the pancakes yourself or buy them from a local bakery and stack them in an over-the-top way—which will be sure to impress all who see it!
6) Rent Out a Coffee Shop for a Caffeinated Ceremony
Your wedding day is supposed to be one of the most magical moments of your life. So why not make it extra special by combining your love of coffee with your desire for a unique venue?
Host your small wedding at your favorite coffee shop!
Incorporate sweet wedding favors in your theme by gifting coffee beans for a caffeinated pick-up the next morning. Hang twinkling string lights and encourage your guests to play board games for a casual wedding that bucks the traditional venue and beliefs.
Just be sure that the shop you choose has ample seating. Nook in Brooklyn, NY, is the perfect example of a unique wedding venue with its tall floor-to-ceiling windows and lush plant-filled interior.
7) Keep it Casual with a Family Style Dinner
After a short but sweet ceremony, invite your bridal party and guests to sit at a long table with you and your partner squarely in the middle. Serve dinner family-style by passing out large portions of delicious foods.
The best part about serving food family-style is that it allows you to get all your favorite foods on the table at once while prompting dinner conversation – a win-win in our book.
8) Feed Your Guests with Your Favorite Food Truck
Customize your wedding reception by feeding your guests from your favorite food truck. The possibilities are endless! You can choose from a wide range of cuisines—from tacos to burgers, from pizza to ice cream, from fried chicken to crepes—the list goes on and on! And with so many options, you’re sure to find something that will please everyone at your small intimate wedding.
9) Open Up a Dance Floor for Swing or Jazz Dancing Only
When you’re planning a wedding, it’s easy to get caught up in the big picture—the flowers, the venue, and whatnot. But there are some things that are just as important but often overlooked: how your guests will feel.
At small weddings, especially among friends and family, there can be a lot of pressure to make sure everyone feels comfortable. And one way to do that is by encouraging them to dance!
How? Play swing or jazz music! Give your guests an excuse to throw some moves and have a great time. You’ll be surprised by how much fun they have!
10) Include Your Guests in an Impromptu Photoshoot
If you’re planning a small wedding, then it’s the perfect excuse to involve your guests in your nuptials. And what better way than introducing an impromptu group photoshoot?
It doesn’t have to be fancy—just ask everyone to bring their cameras (or if you’re feeling particularly crafty, print out some fun signs!) and take some photos together. You can even set up a backdrop and bring along props like hats and flowers or even make sure everyone has their favorite snacks on hand.
The best part is that this is something that everyone will remember forever—you’ll have photos of yourself surrounded by all your loved ones, who are also posing for photos with each other. It’s a great way to show off how much everyone means to each other!
Celebrate Your Small Wedding with a Wedding Band from Clean Origin
Want to celebrate your small wedding with a wedding band from Clean Origin? We’ve got you covered.
Clean Origin is the leading provider of wedding bands, and we’re here to help you find the perfect one for your big day. Whether you’re looking for something simple or something extravagant, we can help you find the perfect fit. Our bands are made from recycled precious metals, so they’re not only beautiful but also ethical.
