How to Plan the Perfect Small Wedding

Mariah Treiber Photography
small weddings by Mariah Treiber Photography
outdoor wedding

Megan & Jeremy’s Small Wedding at Rustic Acres Farm

What are wedding dreams made of? This right here! I loved everything about Megan and Jeremy’s intimate wedding. These two wanted a simple yet romantic boho-themed ceremony. Rustic Acres Farm in picturesque Volant, Pennsylvania provided just the retreat they were looking for. 

Rustic Acres Farm wedding venue PA

We may be in the middle of a pandemic, but that doesn’t mean couples have to throw in the towel. Intimate weddings can be just as – if not more – special. I’m a huge fan of intimate weddings because they give couples the time and space they need to really enjoy their day. Plus, the couple can spend quality time with their nearest and dearest.

One of Megan and Jeremy’s family members couldn’t attend, so we FaceTimed them right into the ceremony. It was perfect and completely doable because of the smaller setup. 

small weddings

And, there’s a bonus to small weddings: more delicious food options and better drinks for you and your guests!

Megan and Jeremy opted for an outdoor wedding ceremony with a super romantic backyard reception. It was all so much fun and relaxed with all the good vibes and zero stress. There was never a moment when these two weren’t smiling. They ended their magical day dancing, eating cake, and sharing toasts beneath twinkling string lights. Cheers to the newlyweds!

Feeling Megan and Jeremy’s boho wedding vibes? Here are 3 ways to plan the perfect small wedding.

3 Steps to Planning a Romantic Small Wedding

1. Choose the Venue

First, choose a venue that fits your budget, style, and guest count. Imagine the types of photos you hope to have from your wedding day. Are you dreaming of a remote place in the mountain with a charming cabin feel? Would a family backyard wedding mean the world to you? Maybe a place with a glassy pond and trees? Or you could go with a rustic-chic farm look like Megan and Jeremy. The venue and setting set the overall tone for the wedding day and your wedding images. Opt for a venue that authentically reflects your style and personality as a couple. 

2. Narrow Down the Guest List

For some couples, this part is easy. They know they want parents and siblings and no one else. For others, this process is a bit trickier. You start adding in best friends, and then eventually, you get to people who used to be super close, but maybe you’ve grown apart over the years. And what about close aunts and uncles – or if you invite one cousin you have to invite all ten. If you don’t want your list to grow and grow, I would recommend setting a number upfront and then deciding on some criteria for each of you to follow. For instance, maybe you decide on immediate family members only, plus the wedding party (maybe 2 best friends each). If you’re worried about how others will feel, let them know that you’re planning a small wedding and inviting immediate family members for the wedding day; however, you would love to celebrate with them later. You could also send photos from the ceremony or cheerful wedding announcements so they feel included. (Live streaming is another option. But this is your special day – do what makes you happy. Loved ones will understand your decision.)

3. Plan the Details

The great thing about an intimate ceremony is that you may have a little extra moolah to spend on things that matter most to you. Maybe you’re foodies and would love to share some incredible chef-inspired food in celebration. Since you don’t have to provide 100 meals, you can spend up in that area. Or maybe you’ve always dreamed of wearing a designer wedding gown or planning a magazine-inspired wedding. Use the money you would have spent on a large venue to incorporate personalized details into your big day. Many couples use this as a chance to have a full weekend-long getaway, celebrating with those they love in a romantic location. An intimate wedding provides the opportunity and flexibility to make your big day – or weekend – your own! Make it an experience of a lifetime.

Want to see the rest of their incredible day? Check out the full story below! Enjoy.

To book your wedding or elopement, connect with me HERE — can’t wait to meet you!

how to plan a small wedding
small wedding inspiration
best wedding photographers
best wedding photographers
Colorado wedding photographer
Mariah Treiber Photography
best small wedding venues
small wedding venues
Mariah Treiber photography
couples portraits
outdoor small weddings
small wedding venues
small wedding photographer
small wedding
small wedding photographer
small wedding
small wedding reception
small wedding reception
first dance photos
small wedding reception
small wedding reception
small wedding reception
small wedding reception
small wedding reception
small wedding reception
small wedding reception
small wedding reception
small wedding reception
small wedding reception
small wedding reception
small wedding reception
small wedding reception
Elopements, Tips, Weddings
December 14, 2020
  1. […] wedding, or adventure session. Find more tips for planning your engagement session and ideas for small weddings in my recent posts. Be sure to visit the BLOG for more […]

  2. […] If you need more small wedding inspiration, make sure to check out this post too! […]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CATEGORIES

BROWSE THROUGH MY

From the beginning of the planning process, to the delivery of the final gallery, Mariah can promise you her devotion to delivering a genuine experience. She works closely with her couples and your other vendors to create the day you envisioned.

Whether you need assistance planning outfits, timelines, design, or lighting, she is here to guide you along the way and document this timeless tradition for you in an authentic and sophisticated way. 

Inspired by the unique richness of each couple's stories and the lives that they are creating together, Mariah strives to creative soulful images that not only reflect the authenticity of the moment but also stand the test of time.

A CUSTOM EXPERIENCE

FROM BEGINNING TO END,

I dont believe I will ever will get tired of looking through our album and legitimately feeling the love, excitement, and uniqueness of that day. Our pictures are gorgeous and authentic. Mariah helped organize the timeline to make sure we got the most perfect photos without missing a beat of our special day. She truly is so talented and particularly knows how to pay attention to the details of the day. 

"TRULY TALENTED AND PARTICULARLY
KNOWS HOW TO PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL."

JAMIE & JOHN

I felt I could connect to Mariah right away and knew she was the photographer for us because she’s so sweet and easy to talk too. the communication was amazing! She was timely with any and all questions I had. Looking at my photos which were delivered to me in a very timely manner came out astonishing! She captured our wedding day photos with every vision I had planned plus more! a lot of my favorites were the ones that weren’t even planned or posed that conveyed the raw powerful emotions of love through our photos.

"SHE CONVEYED THE RAW & POWERFUL
EMOTIONS OF LOVE THROUGH OUR PHOTOS."

MADELEINE & MAX

My husband and I decided that a big wedding wasn’t for us and we had a vision of getting married somewhere new and beautiful where we would be able to capture gorgeous photos that would last a lifetime. Mariah helped us through the entire process and made it the most memorable experience we could have ever asked for. She is so incredibly professional and she works her hardest to make sure your experience is nothing short of perfection.

"WE HAD A VISION OF GETTING MARRIED
SOMEWHERE NEW AND BEAUTIFUL."

CLAUDET & CARLOS

We immediately felt comfortable and at ease with Mariah. And we couldn't have been more pleased with the product delivered when it came to our engagement pictures. Our wedding was no different! Mariah knows what she's doing, she's incredibly professional and gifted. She's super attentive and responsive in communicating. She flew in for both our engagement shoot and our wedding from out of state and truly came across as though she knew the area better than we did. She does her homework and she commits to quality in her work. She's organized, patient, kind, and very willing to help in any way. 

"SHE FLEW IN FOR THE WEDDING. SHE
COMMITS TO THE QUALITY IN HER WORK."

OSCAR & ODETTE

Aura captured the wonders of our day. Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the. 

"felt surrounded the allure
of grace every single second."

OSCAR & ODETTE