Microwedding/small wedding - hiring photographer?

I think it would be great to have everything captured with a photographer! Many photographers offer "elopement" packages that are for shorter hours of coverage and cost less than the traditional 8+ hour package. I would look into one of those packages with a photographer you like!

Many photographers offer elopement packages that this would probably qualify for. Obviously this isn't an actual elopement, but they usually have guest limits of 20 or so. Definitely something worth looking into! Are you planning to do anything else at the "reception," or just dinner? If so, I would have them stay for cake cutting, dances, whatever other traditions you're participating in. I don't think photos of people eating are necessary.

I would definitely look into a photographer! This is a special event that you'll want to remember

We are doing something very similar! We are getting married on Lake Michigan followed my a mini reception at a winery. A lot of photographers that I contacted gave us elopement pricing. We are having a photographer and videographer for 7 hours. It was really important to me to have the whole day captured!

I got married in Fallbrook and because it was a weekday wedding and I didn’t want for very long, I asked for a smaller package and they offered a 4 hour one! It worked perfectly! I used Ever Love Photography and Chelsea was fantastic!

I would have the photographer there for the ceremony, posed photos after, and maybe just the first hour of dinner. I feel like you won’t need more than an hour or so worth of people sitting and eating photos hahaha. But also if you’re doing a cake cutting you may want them to stay through that!

I had TWO photographers for our DW of only 15 guests. Had 1 for 4 hours (from first look to dinner then he left), the 2nd for about 90 minutes (decor shots & another angle of ceremony). Very happy!

I photographed a wedding like this once. It wasn't odd at all. Get what you want!

We did this. We hired a photographer for some final getting ready shots, the ceremony, posed pics after, the (cheese)cake cutting, champagne toast, and some candids. Then we went to dinner without her. We had her for about 4 hours. It was a great experience and everyone keeps saying how great the photos came out. DH and I love them and that's all that matters. I highly recommended a professional photographer, even for a micro wedding. We had 5 guests plus bridal party. 10 total. My MIL took some nice photos, but I know I would have regretted not having the pro for the ceremony and posed/candids, but I'm not sorry we didn't have her at the restaurant since all we did there was eat.

Im doing the same thing and having the photographer for 2 hours. Will do photos of just the two of us first, then the ceremony followed by family photos so that we can all head straight to dinner afterwards.