DIY

37 Gorgeous Small Wedding Ideas for a Meaningful Celebration in 2024

by: Kristy Bowen

Published on Oct 2nd 2024

Weddings, whatever their size and scope, are memorable occasions. Even the tiniest gathering can be a perfect way to commit to your partner and make lasting memories. So what then is classed as a small wedding? Usually, weddings that boast 20 guests or fewer are considered small, often just involving the special couple, immediate family and close friends. Sometimes called micro-weddings, these events can be as luxe or budget-friendly as the couple desires.

How do you actually have a small wedding? Limiting the guest list is key. This can mean a simple recitation of vows with you and an officiant or a small group of those you want to be present for your special day.

How do you make a micro wedding fun? We’ve rounded up some great ideas that are perfect no matter your budget or the size of your guest list. Even small gestures and DIY approaches can make the occasion the perfect day for celebrating your love and union.

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How To Plan a Simple Affordable Wedding

1. Pick a Location

Small outdoor wedding — *Home weddings will always offer great value (via Canva)*

How do you plan a simple affordable wedding? Location is key since the bulk of the price for any wedding is often taken up with renting the venue. This means that something smaller and more DIY is better. Private homes are great for spaces you don’t have to pay for, as are public parks with rentable shelters (usually under $100.)

2. Choose an Officiant

You can choose your officiant if you plan to marry outside of a church setting. Judges, ship captains and public notaries are usually licensed to perform ceremonies. You can also have a friend or relative do the honor who is licensed by the Universal Life Church, a non-denominational church that grants licenses to perform ceremonies. Having a close friend lead the ceremony allows for it to be perfectly catered to the couple.

3. Affordable Wedding Attire

Smaller weddings often require much less in the way of formal attire as opposed to larger, higher-budget affairs. Instead of extravagant multi-thousand-dollar bridal dresses, opt for something simpler you can possibly wear again after the wedding in your preferred color.

Men’s suits and other wedding attire can also be rented for the day, which prevents having to break the bank to buy them outright.

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4. Buffet-Style Dining

While many larger weddings offer sit-down, multi-course dining experiences, you can opt for buffet-style dining that is usually much cheaper without the additional labor costs for servers. A great small wedding idea, many caterers will still offer onside help to serve the meal behind the buffet. Or you can have family or friends assist with plating and serving.

5. Make Your Own Invitations

Handmade wedding invitations — *Hand-making wedding invitations can save thousands (via Canva)*

You can make beautiful handmade invitations with luxe papers available from retailers and craft stores for a lovely small wedding idea. Handwrite the invites or print them on a home printer. You can also create a simple postcard invitation and have it printed by Staples or OfficeMax for a low price. For less formal weddings, consider an E-vite, an electronic invitation that allows guests to RSVP with one click.

6. Take Your Own Photos

While many recommend splurging on a professional photographer for the big day, you can also take a more casual approach and have a family member or friend take photos for you. While professionally printed photos are nice, digital ones are just as great for sharing widely and can trim your budget significantly.

You can also set up a photo booth at the reception and allow guests to take fun photos of themselves or distribute disposable cameras among guests for candid shots.

7. Use In-Season Flowers

Whether it's for bouquets or centerpieces, choosing flowers that are in season can save you a lot of money. For a great bargain, hit up a retail store like Trader Joe’s or Walmart and grab a bunch of fresh flowers the morning of the ceremony to use as bouquets and centerpiece flowers on a budget.

8. Handmade Favors

Giving your guests something to remember the occasion by can be a great way to show your thanks by offering wedding favors for guests. For a perfect small wedding idea on a budget, make the whole thing more personal by making the wedding favors yourself. Great options include decorated matchboxes, handmade candles or home-baked goods.

9. Simple Centerpieces

Handmade Centrepiece Small Wedding Idea — *Simple handmade centerpieces can be even more elegant (via Canva)*

For an affordable wedding decoration idea, create centerpieces using elements from discount retailers like Dollar Tree. Use simple jars filled with sand and a votive candle for casual elegance or fill multiple mason jars with wildflowers for budget-friendly centerpieces that are always elegant.

10. Music and Entertainment

While DJs and live music can be expensive parts of your wedding reception, consider using a prepared Spotify mix of your favorite songs and wedding classics for dancing late into the night. All you need is a phone and a bluetooth speaker. For a small wedding idea on a budget, have a friend or family member be the official emcee to present the bride and groom and make announcements.

11. Have a Signature Cocktail

Instead of an open bar, a great small wedding idea is having one or two signature cocktails on tap for revelers supplemented with a cash bar option. This offers flexibility and affordability but also allows you to get creative in designing a special drink determined specifically for the occasion. You can also choose to do a wedding punch served in a pretty container, a budget-friendly option.

12. Small Cake or Cupcakes

Instead of a large multi-layered wedding cake, opt for a smaller cake supplemented with cupcakes for easily serving to guests. The smaller cake is great for the bride and groom to slice into ceremonially and for photos, but the cupcakes are more portable and require less labor to serve.

Small Wedding Ideas on a Budget

13. Elope to Scenic Place

Scenic wedding location — *Elope and hold the ceremony somewhere scenic and intimate (via Canva)*

Destination weddings are often the perfect place for elopement ceremonies with just a few people and the couple. For a very small wedding ceremony idea, get married overlooking a scenic view or at the base of a waterfall. These unconventional settings make having a small and intimate wedding even more special.

14. City Hall Ceremony

A long time favorite for couples looking for affordable small wedding ideas, a City Hall marriage can be a great way to get the official business of getting married out of the way, allowing for other sorts of celebrations later on like nice dinners or raucous parties. Invite a few close family and friends to the ceremony or just do it on your own.

15. Livestream Ceremony

If you decide to do a wedding with just the two of you or invite only a small group of those closest to you, consider recording or live-streaming the ceremony for those who cannot join you the day of. Not only does this create a memorable keepsake, but is great if family and friends live too far away even for larger weddings.

16. Backyard Wedding

A great small wedding idea for a celebration closer to home is a backyard wedding The festivities can be as formal or informal as you like, including picnic-style food and recreation, BBQ grilling, potluck dinners and other affordable options when celebrating a marriage.

17. AirBnB Wedding

Airbnb Small Wedding Idea — *Rent somewhere large enough to host the whole wedding (via Canva)*

If you want to have a small wedding, rent an AirBnB or Vrbo for the celebration. Not all rentals allow parties or weddings, but many do accommodate gatherings. Rent a lake house or beach cottage for a beautiful wedding near the water or a large palatial home for a luxe event that brings together a small group.

This also makes gathering for pre- and post-wedding festivities easy since everyone is in one place. Depending on the size of the house, some make a perfect small wedding venue for 20 guests.

18. Beach Wedding

Beach weddings, whether they are on a tropical island or a lakefront beach can be great for small intimate weddings with just a few guests. Not only do you get great photos and panoramic views, but beaches lend a certain casualness to the festivities (attire, flowers, menu) that helps keep the budget low.

19. Restaurant Wedding

Many restaurants have banquet rooms with affordable rates and may give you a deal on catering and space rental when you combine them for a great small wedding idea. You can save significant money by keeping everything in one place, including the ceremony and the dinner afterward. Many eateries have beautiful event spaces with every accommodation for groups.

Unusual Small Wedding Ideas

20. Chef’s Table Reception

For a great small wedding idea for a couple that are foodies, treat your guests to a multi-course chef’s table meal either in a restaurant or by booking a private chef for your event. Prepare a tasting menu that fits your budget and the occasion and enjoy a night of culinary delights.

21. Unconventional Seating

Unconventional wedding seating — *Unconventional seating is an affordable way to add character (via Canva)*

Since a small wedding has less of a crowd, you can get more creative in your seating arrangements. For the ceremony, use a semi-circle or circle-shaped configuration with the bride and groom in the center. Use cushions, antique furniture, hay bales or other kinds of seating to fit your wedding decor or theme.

22. Planetarium Wedding

For a great small wedding idea, get married under the stars. Many planetariums, observatories and museums will allow you to perform a ceremony under the dome of beautiful stars, with options for full receptions for larger weddings.

23. Hire an Artist

Instead of hiring a photographer, hire an artist to create a custom painting or drawing of the ceremony while it is happening. Guests will be able to observe the creative process and you will have a piece of art that you can treasure for decades. This also makes a great gift for married couples or a gift for newlyweds.

24. Themed Wedding

Themed weddings run the gamut from more general concepts like Halloween costumes, fall wedding colors or garden party attire to very specific fandom-focused weddings like Star Wars or Harry Potter-themed nuptials.

This is a great unusual small wedding idea to get your guests involved by dressing up in costumes or special attire and can help you focus your choices in menu, entertainment and decorations.

25. Bookstore Wedding

Bookstore small wedding idea — *Get married surrounded by your favourite texts (via Canva)*

For bookish couples who love to read, a bookstore locale makes a perfect small wedding idea. Many independent bookstores will let you use their space to hold events, including the recitation of wedding vows and special receptions for a fee. Not only will you create a memorable experience, but you can also get hitched surrounded by books you love.

26. Thrill Seeker Weddings

Not for the faint of heart, you can get married doing high-energy, thrill-providing activities like bungee jumping, parachuting or ziplining at a number of venues that specialize in such activities. You can even bring your wedding party along for the thrills. These adventures make a fun very small wedding ceremony idea.

27. Karaoke Night Reception

A fun alternative to a conventional reception following an elopement or casual wedding is a karaoke night. Attend a karaoke night at a local bar or set up a home karaoke machine to belt out your favorite tunes at a party or reception.

28. Movie Theater Wedding

A great unusual small wedding idea for movie lovers is renting out space in your favorite movie theater. Say the vows in a private room or in the lobby, then treat your guests to snacks and a movie afterward for the reception.

29. Brewery or Vineyard

Vineyard wedding — *Vineyards are perfect for small and micro weddings (via Canva)*

These locales are great for a small wedding idea since they already have a feeling of revelry and festiveness. Many often small spaces perfect for a micro wedding with food and drink provided with the rental.

They are also great for a wedding weekend getaway if they provide lodging and other kinds of dining and entertainment on-site.

Small Wedding Reception Ideas at Home

30. Use Vintage Dishware

Instead of opting for rented dishware or paper plates, add some style to your reception by using mismatched thrifted glassware and plates. They can usually be picked up for around a dollar each and will add a cozy and eclectic touch to dining and wedding decor.

31. Backyard Barbecue

Instead of hiring caterers, hit a wedding BBQ with fun rustic details like hay bales and bonfires. Cook meats on the grill and serve sides like mac and cheese, cornbread and veggies buffet style for a great small wedding idea at home. You can also roast marshmallows around a roaring fire.

32. Brunch Wedding

Dinner receptions can be more expensive to throw even if your guest list is on the smaller side. A great idea is to swap dinner for a wedding brunch reception, which can be done for much less. Great options for food include waffle or omelet stations, breakfast casseroles and easy breakfast pastries.

33. Board and Yard Games

Yard games small wedding idea — *Yard games can offer a fun alternative to the traditional dance floor (via Canva)*

If you are hosting a wedding in your backyard but feel like a dance floor isn’t a necessity, offer games and other recreational activities to enjoy during the reception like darts, cornhole, badminton or board games guests can play. You can even offer prizes for the winners.

34. Turn the Shed Into a Bar

If you have a shed in your backyard, you can clear it out to make a fun backward bar by installing a counter on the exterior and serving drinks out of the interior. You can even install a mini fridge to keep things cold and close at hand.

35. Wood Pallet Dance Floor

You can make an easy dance floor using wood shipping pallets. Place the pallets on the ground and then fix boards onto the pallet underneath. You can make it as large or small as you like and it's easy to disassemble after the wedding.

36. Outdoor Movie Night

A great reception entertainment idea is hosting an outdoor movie viewing. Use the side of a garage or a suspended sheet and a mini-projector to play favorite films complete with popcorn and snacks for guests. This is also a great activity for kids to stay occupied while adults are dining and dancing.

37. Involve Your Pets

Pets at wedding — *Dogs and cats make great ring bearers (via Canva)*

For a cute small wedding reception ideas at home involve your pets in the nuptials. Dogs and cats make great ring bearers during the ceremony or you can find other ways to involve your furry family members in the special day through photos and mementos.

These small wedding ideas are perfect no matter the size of your guest list or budget. Many ideas add a special and distinctive DIY spirit to your wedding.

For even more fun wedding ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!