What It's Like to Have a Micro Wedding (From a Photographer Bride)

Intro

When I was planning my own wedding, I knew I didn’t want a huge, overwhelming day. As both a guest & as a photographer, I’ve seen all kinds of weddings. I quickly understood that when it came to be my turn to get married, I wanted a wedding that was small, intimate, and calm.

Once we got engaged, the search was on to find a small, intimate venue that would allow us to have a traditional ceremony, cake cutting, and dancing! We eventually found Rhinestone Wedding Chapel, and having our micro wedding there ended up being one of the best decisions we could have made. You can even opt to have Elvis marry you! (Considering this for our future vow renewal.....)

Why I Chose a Micro Wedding

For us, it came down to wanting something that actually felt like us.

We didn’t want a packed timeline or the pressure of entertaining a huge guest list. We wanted to be present, to enjoy the moment, and to focus on what the day was really about.

A micro wedding gave us the space to do exactly that. It felt calm, intentional, and personal in a way that a bigger wedding might not have. Not to mention the huge difference in price tag!

The Experience

Getting married at Rhinestone Wedding Chapel was such a special experience. The setting made everything feel intimate and meaningful without needing a lot of extra details. The ceremony space has the most wonderful, Graceland-like charm to it- finished with gold accents, lush pink curtains, and chandeliers.

The day itself felt relaxed from start to finish. There wasn’t a rush, and there wasn’t pressure to perform or stick to a strict schedule. We were able to take it all in, and have time to speak to all of our 30 guests! Which is something I think a lot of couples miss during larger weddings.

Instead of a cocktail hour, we opted for a mobile coffee cart! Soulfire Coffee was absolutely amazing, with delicious lattes. My husband and I are huge coffee lovers, so this part of our day made it feel even more like us. Our coffee paired with our Cracker Barrel breakfast-for-dinner catering made it feel so unique to us and special.

Some of my favorite moments were the simplest ones. Just being together, celebrating in a way that felt natural and true to us.

Advice for Couples Considering a Micro Wedding

If you’re thinking about having a micro wedding or elopement, my biggest advice is to focus on what actually matters to you. Your wedding should focus on the love you and your partner share, and the things that make you happy together. Maybe that's going on a hike to elope on a mountaintop, having a backyard wedding at your childhood home, having Elvis marry you, or maybe it's having Cracker Barrel breakfast for dinner with your most special people.

You don’t have to follow a traditional timeline or meet anyone else’s expectations. Your wedding day can look however you want it to!!

Choose a setting you love, keep the people who matter most close, and give yourself space to enjoy it.

Closing

As both a bride and a photographer, I’ve seen how powerful these smaller, more intentional wedding days can be, and I've found that my true passion lies in documenting these intimate wedding days.

If you’re planning a micro wedding or elopement in Nashville, Tennessee or beyond, I would love to help document it in a way that feels natural and true to you.

xx

Lindsey

Our amazing wedding photos were done by Rayanna Termer Photography!