Small Intimate Wedding Checklist

Small intimate weddings are a whole lot easier to plan than big ones. For one thing, your choice of venues is much greater. You could use the private dining room of a restaurant, or a room in a community center, or even your own home. Or you could search for an "elopement package" (which typically allows for a wedding of that size), in which you may be able to get almost everything you need taken care of for you. If everyone knows each other, they will tend to spend the time catching up, so you don't need a lot of fancy entertainment. Really all you need to do is to have an officiant and a marriage license, and then make sure everyone gets food and drinks afterward.

I wish I could help but I’m in the same boat! Curious if you’ve thought of plans for after the ceremony? Do intimate weddings still have receptions?

Our checklist was somewhat the same (15 guests) as for a big wedding. But we just enjoyed a great dinner, no DJ/dancing (we had a soloist for the ceremony & reception, then a playlist during dinner) for the reception.

It’ll be a total of 10 of us for our DW. We have a dinner the night before on a Thursday, the ceremony is at 2pm on Friday, and right after we will have another dinner “reception” at a restaurant.


We have an elopement package so my officiant, videographer, photographer, musician are already booked. My officiant recommended our florist and helped with setting up our marriage license appointment. Since we are having a dinner reception I didn’t need to hire a DJ/band or a DOC. My florist is only getting me a bouquet and leis, so I saved tons not needing to pay for decorations. My ceremony location was chosen from a list of locations our officiant knows, and he’s taking care of any necessary permits.
It’s so much easier with a smaller group!

View Quoted Comment We’re gonna do a dinner at a restaurant after and rent a private room. We may or may not have a small gathering a little down the road (after honeymoon) for a few of our friends