Small and Intimate Wedding Photographer


In a world filled with Pinterest-perfect weddings and a million opinions on how your “big day” should look, it’s easy to forget the most important part: you and your partner. If you’re leaning towards a small, intimate wedding you're not just going against the grain, you're choosing it intentionality. You’re choosing connection over just inviting people because you feel you have it.

Here’s some tips to help you plan a small wedding that feels truly personal, completely authentic, and absolutely right for you.

Two friends work on floral arrangement with tropical palm leaves and coral colored flowers inside a dimly lit room.
Moody dinner table setting with beer glasses, green foliage, and tattooed arms holding papers at a festive gathering.
Someone in formal black tuxedo walking two dogs, a brown and black Springer Spaniel, on checkered floor.
A decorative photo board with 'Last Single Sip!' text and various photos pinned to it hangs on a stone wall under a lamp.

Do What Suits You


First things first, ditch the rulebook. There’s no one way to have a wedding. If walking down the aisle in front of 100 people makes you feel sick and break a sweat then don’t do it. If you’d rather be barefoot in a forest with 15 of your closest humans? Go for it.

Start by asking yourself:

  • What kind of environment feels safe and special to you? Maybe a location that you always go to that means the world to you.
  • Do you want a ceremony that’s formal, relaxed, spiritual, adventurous, or just plain silly?
  • Would you rather elope and celebrate later?

This is about creating a space that reflects your relationship, not a Pinterest board or social media.

A romantic dip kiss for first kiss at an small wedding ceremony with guests watching in the background.
A joyful candid moment during a wedding ceremony as two people exchange vows in an elegant indoor setting.
An intimate outdoor ceremony takes place under a majestic old tree on a grassy hillside with mountains in the distance.
A couple reads together on a couch by a window, with the person on the right wearing an elegant lace dress.

Invite People Who Truly Support You


One of the biggest gifts of a smaller wedding? You get to be surrounded by people who really love and uplift you.

Forget distant cousins you haven’t seen in years or them colleagues you feel obligated to invite. This is your chance to look around on the day and know that every face there belongs to someone who genuinely wants the best for you. I often say to couples, if you wouldn't go for tea or invite them around to your house for a brew, why you inviting them to your day? It's a question to ask yourselves and just inviting people to ensure you don't upset them isn't a reason. It's your day, not theirs.

First kiss at Lyde Court
Beautiful outdoor garden wedding ceremony under an ornate white gazebo decorated with yellow and orange floral arrangements.
A wedding ceremony scene with elegant place settings, flowers, and a warm chandelier glow overhead.
A rustic barn wedding ceremony setup with string lights overhead, white chairs, and an ornate red patterned carpet down the aisle.

Focus on What You Love


Throw tradition that don't resinate with you out the window and plan around the things that you really love. Hate cake? Have a doughnut wall. Don’t want speeches? Skip them.

Ask yourselves:

  • What moments are most important to you?
  • What kind of atmosphere makes us feel most like you?
  • What would you do if there were no expectations at all?

Focus on the small things, whether that’s hand-writing your vows, having your dog as your ring bearer, or wearing something unconventional. These are the touches you will remember and your guests will too.

Rustic wooden table with guests playing board games and celebrating at a wedding reception in a cozy barn setting.
Dinner guests raise their glasses for a toast at an elegant table decorated with greenery under a crystal chandelier.
Romantic couple dancing at sunset in a garden while musician performs in the background.
A happy newlywed couple smiles while sitting in a vintage convertible car on their wedding day.

Serve the Food You Actually Love


You don’t have to serve three courses of plated fine dining if that’s not your thing. You want a wood-fired pizza van? Do it. Obsessed with cheese boards? Go for a grazing table. Love family-style BBQ? Perfect! Remember you have to enjoy the food on your day too. It's important to eat what you enjoy.

Food is about comfort and celebration, so serve what you’d be excited to eat on your happiest day. Bonus: smaller guest lists often mean you can spend a little more per head on something truly delicious and memorable.

Couple eating cake and celebrations at rustic brick venue with dim lighting.
A bride with a parasol and groom in a vest hold hands while walking together near a stone wall.
Wedding under a large red and white striped tent during an evening wedding reception watching fire dancer
Two people sit in silhouette by a window in a moody black and white photograph during an intimate conversation.

Provide Entertainment You Enjoy


Love live acoustic music? Book a local duo. Prefer a silent disco? Go for it. Want to set up a fire pit with marshmallows and board games instead of dancing? Amazing.

The beauty of an intimate wedding is that it doesn’t have to follow the usual “DJ and dance floor” setup. Think about what makes you both light up in everyday life and build on that.

Couple sign their marriage certificate and their dog wants to get involved
A couple shares a quiet moment in formal attire while reading together on a vintage sofa in warm lighting.
A rustic Italian dinner party setup with long tables in a stone-walled room illuminated by candelabras and natural light.
An outdoor countryside wedding ceremony with a rustic wooden arch and guests seated on the hillside under blue skies.

Dive Deep Into Your Relationship


Before you book a venue or choose a colour scheme, take a quiet moment together. Talk about the things that truly make you happy, not just in your relationship, but as individuals.

Ask each other:

  • What moments in your relationship have felt the most “us”?
  • What kind of celebration would reflect the way you love each other?
  • What’s the purpose of this day for you?

When you begin your wedding planning journey by reflecting on your relationship, everything else falls into place so much more naturally. You’ll feel less pressure to perform, and more freedom to celebrate authentically.

Small wedding ceremony in a classic wood-paneled room with chandeliers and pew seating.
A white lace wedding dress adorned with a cozy fur wrap in a rustic outdoor setting with rolling hills in the background.
Wedding bouquet with orange and red flowers, dried elements and greenery in fall tones being held in front of white walls.
Black and white photo showing detailed lace garters and white heels on legs with elegant fur coats and dresses.

Enter a Heading


Small, intimate weddings aren’t about cutting corners or playing it safe, they’re about creating a wedding that’s true. True to your relationship, your values, and creating memories you'll look back on with happiness, forever.

So here’s to celebrating your way — with love, laughter, meaning, and maybe a slice of your favourite pork pie instead of cake. 💛

A couple exchanges vows during an indoor greenhouse wedding ceremony surrounded by lush plants and seated guests.