If you’re recently engaged, you’ve probably already felt the pull in two directions. On one side: excitement as you envision your wedding day, surrounded by the people you love most. On the other: the creeping dread of being the center of attention for six hours, a guest list that somehow keeps growing, and a planning process that turns into a part-time job. If you’re looking for how to plan a small wedding, read on!
A lot of couples end up defaulting to a big wedding because it feels like the only real option, and others choose to elope just the two of them. But there’s a middle ground that doesn’t get talked about enough — and it’s not a compromise. This guide is for the couple who is curious about eloping, but simply can’t imagine spending this day without their closest friends and family.
What Makes a Small Wedding Different
Elopements have been trending for a decade because there’s something really unique about throwing out the rule book and creating a day “all about you.” And taking your wedding portraits in an epic place like Yosemite is so much fun! I absolutely love adventure elopements, and for some couples, it’s the perfect way to spend their wedding day.
But some of my couples want something that feels like an elopement but would more accurately be simply called a small, outdoor wedding. It keeps the ease and intention of an elopement while making room for the handful of people who you genuinely want to be there. You’re not scaling down a big wedding — you’re scaling up an elopement. That’s a meaningful distinction, because it changes how you plan it, where you do it, and what the day actually feels like. The sweet spot is typically about 20 or fewer guests.
Who to Invite to a Small Wedding
This is the part that trips people up the most, because of course there really are at least 100 people in your life that you both love. My suggestion is to start with the people you talk to regularly, not just the people you’ve known the longest. Think about who you’d want in the room if something hard happened. Who would you call first? Who shows up? That’s your list.
For some of you, your family may be big enough that only family is the list! Just parents and siblings. If you’re drawing the line at 20 people, it helps to decide on a number before you start naming names. Once you have a number, the decisions get less personal and more mathematical. People are rarely as hurt as you think they’ll be, especially if you’re clear and kind about it early. A small wedding isn’t a secret — you can share photos, celebrate with a bigger group later, and let people feel included in other ways. What you’re protecting is the day itself. (I actually have a custom guide I wrote to help with this process, which I will send to all of my couples.)
The only real rule is that everyone in the room should genuinely want to be there, and you should genuinely want them there too. If either of those things isn’t true, reconsider.
Finding a Location That Works for a Group
The more people you invite, the more limited the options become. I’ve photographed small weddings at remote alpine lakes, campgrounds, open fields, as well as some off the beaten path restaurants. The main things to consider are accessibility, permits, and logistics for a group.
Accessibility matters a lot. Not everyone in your circle hikes, and that’s fine — it just means the dramatic alpine lake that requires 6 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation gain probably isn’t the move. The good news is that some of the most stunning locations in places like the Eastern Sierra are completely drive-up.
Permits are required for some spots, and not in others. All national parks need permits. Many areas in Mammoth do not need a permit as long as you are not setting up chairs and don’t exceed a certain cap on people.
Logistics for the group: The couples I’ve seen pull this off best treat it a little like a destination wedding — they pick a home base (a vacation rental, a campground), and the ceremony location is a short drive from there. Then dinner is either catered at the rental, or you go out for a nice dinner.
If you’re considering the Eastern Sierra, I put together a full location guide that breaks down the options by accessibility and season — check it out here.
The Vendors You Actually Need
If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking of hiring at least a photographer. As an elopement photographer, I actually help guide you through so many of these decisions! Read more about what it’s like to book an elopement package with me.
Here are the other vendors that I personally find the most useful at an elopement or small wedding!
Hair and Makeup: Even if you’re getting married on a trail in the mountains, having someone else handle this frees up your morning and makes you feel like yourself on camera. If you decide to do this yourself, I highly recommend doing a few test runs in the weeks prior!
Florals are optional but go a long way to elevate the day. They add color, texture, and detail! A bouquet, a flower crown, or even a simple arrangement for a ceremony table adds something to the photos that’s hard to replicate otherwise.
An officiant is legally required in California — you need someone ordained and a witness to make it official. That person can be a friend or family member (anyone can get ordained online), or you can hire someone.
Food is worth putting real thought into. A small guest count means you can actually do something memorable — a long dinner at a restaurant you love, a catered picnic at the ceremony site, or a private chef experience.
For a deeper dive on local vendors in the Eastern Sierra, this post has my full recommendations.
Finding the Right Photographer
You want a photographer who has actually done this before — someone who knows the area, can help put together a timeline, and guide you around the best spots for wedding portraits without taking over the day.
What I hear most from couples at the end of their wedding day — long before they’ve even seen a single photo — is that they had no idea how smoothly everything would flow and that they are full of gratitude for how I helped make it happen. To me, that is just as important as the photos themselves.
If you’re considering the Eastern Sierra or anywhere in California, I’d love to hear about what you’re planning. Get in touch here.
