Plan a Micro Wedding: Checklist and Timeline
Pink floral arch and chairs set up for a small wedding ceremony.
If you don’t want the headache of a traditional wedding, but still want to celebrate, think about planning a micro wedding.
What is a Micro Wedding?
A micro wedding is typically 25 people or less. Planning a micro wedding gives a couple the chance to celebrate with those who are truly their nearest and dearest. A micro wedding can have all the romance and tradition of a typical wedding, just on a smaller scale.
By choosing an intimate celebration, a couple can save money, time and stress. A micro wedding can be held at a smaller venue without a traditional caterer. It’s easier to plan and execute, especially for a DIY couple.
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Before You Start Planning
Before you start booking things, take some time to think about how you want your wedding to be. Do you want it to be formal, semi formal or casual?
Do you want a wedding that feels traditional, just with a smaller guest list? Or do you want to skip some of the events that usually happen during the reception?
Traditional Micro Wedding Timeline
The best thing about a micro wedding is that it can look any way you want. You can include everything from a first dance to a grand exit. Or you can skip most of the traditions and just host a simple dinner.
If you want to have all the traditional wedding events, plan a typical timeline for your micro wedding:
6:00 pm Guests mingle at cocktail hour.
7:00 pm Guests are seated.
7:15 pm Bride and groom make their grand entrance and first dance.
7:25 pm Parents make a welcome toast.
7:30 pm Dinner is served.
8:15 pm Maid of honor and best man make their toasts.
8:30 pm Special dances.
8:40 pm Open the dance floor.
9:30 pm Cut the cake.
9:45 pm Toss the bouquet and/or garter.
10:00 pm More open dance floor.
11:00 pm Bride and groom make their grand exit.
Micro Brunch or Lunch Wedding Timeline
If you’d like to have a daytime wedding, you can plan a brunch or lunch instead of dinner. For a typical lunch or brunch, you can start your reception at 11:00 am:
11:00 am Guests are seated.
11:15 am Bride and groom make their grand entrance and have a first dance.
11:25 am Parents make a welcome toast.
11:30 am Brunch or lunch is served.
12:15 pm Maid of honor and best man make their toasts.
12:30 pm Cut the cake and serve dessert.
12:55 pm Toss the bouquet and/or garter.
1:00 pm Special dances and open the dance floor.
2:00 pm Bride and groom make their grand exit.
Short Micro Wedding Timeline
If you’ve got a smaller venue or you’d rather skip the dancing, you can plan a super easy reception. A micro wedding can be as simple as a nice dinner, a few toasts and conversation.
With a small group, you don’t need squeeze in all the typical wedding events if you don’t want to. You can just arrive and be seated at the same time as your guests:
7:00 pm The group arrives and are seated.
7:15 pm Appetizers and drinks are served.
7:30 pm Toasts can be made by the couple, the parents or the bridal party.
8:00 pm Dinner is served.
9:00 pm If you’ve ordered a special cake, you can cut it and serve it for dessert.
10:00 pm Reception ends and the group departs.
Table set for a micro wedding reception.
Plan a Traditional Micro Wedding Checklist
Once you’ve decided on your wedding style and timeline, write your guest list and start looking at venues. If you’re looking at traditional wedding venues, like hotels and ballrooms, I find that it’s best to start planning a year ahead of time.
12 Months Before Your Wedding
Set the budget.
Choose a wedding date.
Decide on your guest list.
Choose a venue and officiant for your ceremony.
Decide what type of a meal you’d like to serve.
Choose your wedding venue and caterer.
11 Months Before Your Wedding
Book any rentals you’ll need for your wedding.
Choose your bridal party.
Ask or plan a bridesmaid proposal and a groomsman proposal.
10 Months Before Your Wedding
Order your wedding dress.
Book a wedding photographer.
Book a wedding DJ or band.
8 Months Before Your Wedding
Send out Save the Date cards.
Order bridesmaid dresses.
Choose your florist.
Book your hair and makeup artist.
6 Months Before Your Wedding
Book a rehearsal dinner venue.
Book your wedding cake baker.
Book a day of wedding coordinator.
Plan and book your honeymoon.
3 Months Before Your Wedding
Buy or rent the groom and groomsmen outfits.
Attend pre marriage counseling or courses.
2 Months Before Your Wedding
Attend your bridal shower and bachelorette party.
Buy your wedding rings.
Send out your wedding invitations.
Meet your officiant to plan your wedding ceremony.
1 Month Before Your Wedding
Attend your wedding dress fittings.
Make sure your bridal party has all their clothes and accessories.
Finalize RSVPs and confirm with your caterer.
Create a seating plan.
Get your marriage license.
1 Week Before Your Wedding
Confirm arrival times with your vendors.
Write your day of wedding timeline.
1 Day Before Your Wedding
Attend your rehearsal dinner.
Hand out thank you gifts.
Day of Your Wedding
Get married!
Tree decorated for an intimate wedding ceremony.
Plan a Non Traditional Micro Wedding
If you’d rather have a simpler wedding, you can book a non traditional wedding venue in a much shorter timeframe. For example, if you plan a restaurant wedding reception, all you’ll need to do is organize your ceremony and choose the menu for your wedding dinner.
Or you could plan a non traditional micro wedding in a rented room, a community center or even a private home. If you’re a casual couple, you could have an I Do BBQ wedding in your own backyard.
If you’re planning a unique reception or doing DIY, you might not need all the vendors I’ve included on the checklist. If you’re not hiring all the vendors I mention, just cross them off and keep moving down the list:
Before You Start Planning
Set your budget.
Choose your wedding date.
Write your guest list.
Choose Your Venue and Menu
Choose the venue for your wedding reception.
Decide if you’ll hire a caterer, order from a restaurant or DIY your wedding food.
Book your caterer or restaurant or start to plan your DIY menu.
Plan Your Wedding Ceremony
Decide where you’ll have your ceremony.
Choose an officiant to perform your wedding ceremony.
Attend any pre-marriage or counseling classes.
Write or choose your wedding vows.
Plan any ceremony readings or music.
Plan the decorations for your ceremony venue.
Get your marriage license.
Choose Your Bridal Party
Decide if you’ll have a bridal party.
Ask your bridal party to be in your wedding.
Choose dresses and suits for your bridal party.
Make sure everyone orders their outfits.
Buy thank you gifts for your bridal party.
Invite Your Guests
If you’ve got 6 months or more before your wedding, send Save the Date cards to your guests.
Send your wedding invitations 8 weeks before the wedding.
Collect the RSVPs.
Hire Your Wedding Vendors
Wedding photographer.
Day of coordinator.
Florist for bouquets, boutonnières or decor.
Wedding cake baker.
Hair and makeup artist.
DJ or band.
Buy or Rent Your Wedding Items
Wedding dress and accessories.
Groom’s outfit and accessories.
Wedding rings.
Wedding favors.
Programs or menus.
Decorations.
Plan or Attend Any Extra Events
Engagement party.
Register for gifts.
Bridal shower.
Rehearsal dinner.
Honeymoon.
