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ChecklistWedding type · Micro wedding

Micro wedding checklist

A micro wedding, usually under 30 guests, still has the same key decisions as a larger wedding, but many tasks shrink or disappear. This checklist shows what to focus on, what you can likely skip and how to spend your budget where a small group will feel it most.

Create my planSee all 147 tasks

By The ReadyToWeddy Team · Updated

Quick answer

How do you plan a micro wedding?

Plan a micro wedding by agreeing on a firm guest number and your top priorities first, then booking an intimate venue such as a restaurant private room, house or garden. Choose a photographer and caterer with small-wedding options, send personal invitations and plan a relaxed day around the ceremony and a shared meal. Skip room blocks and favors.

What’s different about a micro wedding

  • The guest cap comes first

    A firm number shapes the venue, the budget and how personal the day can be.

  • More per person

    Budget shifts from scale to quality, often toward food, drink and photography.

  • Different venues

    Restaurants, houses and gardens open up, while some large venues won’t take small parties.

  • Fewer logistics

    Room blocks, shuttles, favors and most signage usually aren’t needed.

  • One shared table

    Seating, toasts and the reception flow can center on a single long meal.

The tasks that matter most

  1. 1
    Agree on your top wedding priorities

    With fewer guests, the budget per person rises, so priorities matter even more. Many micro-wedding couples put their money into food, photos or a special place rather than scale.

  2. 2
    Estimate your guest count

    Agree on a firm number before anything else and treat it as a cap. With under 30 guests, each extra person is a noticeable share of the room, the table and the budget.

  3. 3
    Draft your guest list in three tiers

    Use one simple rule you both apply, such as immediate family plus the people you both see regularly, and agree how to answer anyone who asks why they weren’t invited. A later casual party can help.

  4. 4
    Book your venue

    Ask whether pricing is a hire fee or a minimum spend, whether you’ll have the space to yourselves, and what time you must finish. Restaurants may need a full private-hire booking for evening exclusivity.

  5. 5
    Book your wedding photographer

    Ask about shorter coverage or small-wedding packages of a few hours. With fewer people, photographers can capture every guest, so share who matters most and leave time for relaxed portraits.

  6. 6
  7. 7
    Sketch the reception flow

    A small wedding often centers on a long, relaxed meal. Build toasts between courses, leave room for guests to speak, and don’t feel you need a traditional dance floor.

  8. 8
    Create your wedding-day timeline

    Even a small wedding needs a timeline, especially if you’re moving between a ceremony and a restaurant. Add travel time, a photo window and the moment the restaurant needs you seated.

Micro wedding checklist: 147 tasks

Every task that applies, in the order you’ll need it. Tap any task for its step-by-step guide.

Getting Started

Just engaged? Enjoy it first. The planning can start slowly.

Agree on your top wedding priorities

Pick 3–5 shared priorities to guide every later choice

Timeline & LogisticsEssential

For a micro wedding: With fewer guests, the budget per person rises, so priorities matter even more. Many micro-wedding couples put their money into food, photos or a special place rather than scale.

Set your working budget

Agree on a total, add a contingency, then split by priority

BudgetEssentialGuide: How to Set a Wedding Budget (Step by Step)

For a micro wedding: Budget per guest rather than per item, then check the total. A small wedding isn’t automatically cheap: higher-quality food, drinks and a beautiful location can easily absorb what you save on numbers.

Talk about family contributions

Clarify amounts, timing and any strings before you plan

Budget

Estimate your guest count

Your headcount drives venue size, catering and most costs

Guest ListEssential

For a micro wedding: Agree on a firm number before anything else and treat it as a cap. With under 30 guests, each extra person is a noticeable share of the room, the table and the budget.

Draft your guest list in three tiers

Must invite, would like, if space allows — adjust later

Guest ListEssentialGuide: How to Make a Wedding Guest List (3-Tier Method)

For a micro wedding: Use one simple rule you both apply, such as immediate family plus the people you both see regularly, and agree how to answer anyone who asks why they weren’t invited. A later casual party can help.

Choose a season or date range

A flexible window makes venue and vendor dates easier

Venue & DateEssential

Decide where you want to get married

Near home, near family or abroad shapes budget and guests

Venue & DateEssential

Decide what kind of ceremony you want

Civil, religious or symbolic — it shapes venue and paperwork

CeremonyEssential

Set up a shared planning system

One shared home for budget, guests, vendors and tasks

Timeline & Logistics

Insure your engagement ring

A specialist policy or your home cover protects against loss

RingsOptional

Share your news the way you want to

Tell close people personally first, no details promised yet

Guest ExperienceOptional

12+ Months Before

Plenty of time. Start with the foundations.

Research and shortlist venues

Filter by capacity, budget, location and your dates

Venue & Date12+ months beforeEssential

For a micro wedding: Look beyond wedding venues: restaurant private rooms, rented houses, gardens, galleries and small inns often suit under 30 guests. Many large venues won’t take small parties on peak dates, so ask directly.

9–12 Months Before

Your big pieces are in place. Now for the people and the plans around them.

Book hair and makeup

Good artists take limited bookings on busy weekends

Beauty & Grooming4–12 months beforeOptional

For a micro wedding: Many artists have a minimum booking fee for travel on a wedding day. Ask about it upfront, and consider whether you need a full team or just one artist.

Check permits for a private or outdoor venue

Homes, parks and beaches may need event or alcohol permits

Venue & Date6–11 months before

For a micro wedding: Micro weddings often happen at homes, gardens, parks or beaches. Even a small gathering may need permission for a public space, amplified music or alcohol, so ask the local authority early.

6–9 Months Before

You’re building the details now.

Decide on plus-ones and children

Set one clear rule for each, before anything is sent

Guest Experience4–12 months before

For a micro wedding: Each plus-one or child is a large share of a small guest list, so decide early and apply the rule consistently. Name exactly who is invited on each invitation.

Sketch the reception flow

Rough times for entrance, meal, speeches and dancing

Reception3–9 months before

For a micro wedding: A small wedding often centers on a long, relaxed meal. Build toasts between courses, leave room for guests to speak, and don’t feel you need a traditional dance floor.

3–6 Months Before

Things are coming together.

Finalize flowers and décor

Quantities, setup, cleanup and pieces that move between spaces

Flowers & Décor2–5 months before

For a micro wedding: Spend where guests will look: the table, the ceremony spot and your personal flowers. Ask florists about minimum orders, since some don’t take very small weddings on busy dates.

1–3 Months Before

RSVPs are arriving. The plan is getting real, one reply at a time.

Create your seating plan

Group guests thoughtfully around access needs and family

Seating2–6 weeks beforeGuide: How to Make a Wedding Seating Plan

For a micro wedding: Consider one long table or two facing tables so everyone is part of the same conversation. Decide where the two of you sit and who needs to be near an exit or the restroom.

1 Month Before

Time to turn plans into confirmations.

Choose your wedding-day point of contact

Someone other than you two, shared with every vendor

Timeline & LogisticsUp to 2 months beforeEssential

For a micro wedding: Your venue manager or restaurant host may be the best day-of contact, since most guests will be close family. Choose someone who is comfortable stepping away for a few minutes.

2 Weeks Before

Final checks now. The hard work is already behind you.

Wedding Week

Most decisions are done. Focus on handoffs and essentials.

The Day Before

You’ve planned this. Let your people take it from here.

Put rings, documents and outfits in one place

Nothing important to hunt for on the morning itself

Rings1–2 days beforeEssential

Wedding Day

Nothing else to plan. Go get married. ♡

Take a quiet moment together

Five to ten minutes alone, often right after the ceremony

CeremonyWedding dayOptional

First 48 Hours After

Rest first. Then a few small things before they slip away.

First Month After

A few final things, then you’re officially done.

What you can probably skip

These usually don’t apply to a micro wedding. If one matters to you, keep it — otherwise mark it “Not for us” and enjoy one less thing to think about.

Micro wedding FAQ

How many guests is a micro wedding?

A micro wedding usually means under 30 guests, though there’s no official definition. It’s larger than an elopement but small enough that everyone can share one table or one conversation.

Is a micro wedding cheaper?

Often, but not always. Fewer guests lowers catering and venue costs, but many couples spend more per person on food, drink, photos or location. Set a total budget and a per-guest figure to keep it in balance.

How do you tell people they aren’t invited to a small wedding?

Be kind, brief and consistent: explain that you’re keeping the wedding very small with close family and a few friends. You don’t need to justify every choice. Some couples follow up with a casual celebration later.

Where can you have a micro wedding?

Good options include restaurant private rooms, rented houses, gardens, small inns, galleries and scenic outdoor spots where permitted. Ask about minimum spend, exclusivity and whether the space can host a legal ceremony if you need one.

Do you need a wedding website for a small wedding?

Not necessarily. For under 30 guests, a single shared page or a clear group message with the date, address, timings, dress code and RSVP date often does the job.

Checklists for other kinds of weddings