Written by our rad team member, Kiersten Roy
So you’ve got your ceremony spot picked out, your photographer booked, and now you’re thinking about your micro wedding dinner. Good! Because your celebratory meal deserves just as much thought as where you choose to say “I do.”
We’re going to share tons of intimate wedding reception ideas and tips we’ve learned over the years, but if we could only tell you two things, they’d be these:
Give yourself time. We recommend at least 90 minutes for your meal (though 2-3 hours is even better!). Your micro wedding reception isn’t just about eating. It’s about making your meal an experience and actually tasting that incredible food instead of inhaling it between photos.
Hire a private chef if you can. We’ve never had a couple regret this. Not once. Whether you’re dreaming of a candlelit cabin dinner or a gourmet picnic on a mountaintop, having someone else handle the food means you get to just be present for your whole experience.
In this guide, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about planning your elopement celebratory meal. From creative ideas to timing tips to real examples from couples we’ve worked with, we want to help you dream up a meal that feels just as special as the rest of your day. Ready to start planning your small wedding reception? Keep scrolling!
Planning Your Elopement Celebratory Meal: Quick Guide
- 6 Ideas for Your Micro Wedding Dinner
- What Actually Happens at a Micro Wedding Reception?
- Top Tips for Planning Your Micro Wedding Dinner
- Small Wedding Reception Ideas from Real Couples
- Micro Wedding Dinner FAQs
- Ready to Plan Your Best Micro Wedding Dinner (and Day) Ever?
6 Ideas for Your Micro Wedding Dinner
Your celebratory meal is where you get to gather your favorite people, share amazing food, and actually celebrate what just happened (the start of your marriage!). It’s one of those parts of the day that couples often don’t think about right away, but it deserves just as much thought and planning as the rest of your celebration.
Over the years, we’ve seen a lot of different types of celebratory meals! From private chefs who handle everything to catered setups at day-use areas to intimate dinners at local venues, there are options for every style and budget, so don’t be afraid to get creative. Here are some of our favorites:
Hire a Private Chef
We are big fans of hiring a private chef for your celebration dinner! Seriously, when else in your life do you get this opportunity? Hiring a private chef for your intimate wedding reception is one of those investments that feels like a luxury, but in all our years of photographing weddings and elopements, we’ve never had a couple regret going this route. You can hire a chef for one meal or even for your entire trip (one of our couples did this and loved it because they didn’t have to worry about food at all!).
What we love about working with a private chef is how they turn dinner into a five-star experience. They’ll bring beautiful table settings and sometimes (depending on the weather) they even cook outdoors so you can watch the magic happen right in front of you. On top of that, many of the private chefs we work with source ingredients locally, so you get to taste the freshest ingredients in every bite.
Catered Meal at a Day-Use Area or State Park
One of our favorite options for micro wedding dinners is reserving a day-use area or state park picnic shelter. These spots are often stunning (think lakeside views or forest settings), surprisingly affordable, and perfect for groups of 15-50 people.
Your caterer brings the food and handles all the logistics while you and your guests get to enjoy this beautiful outdoor space. We’ve seen setups with long farm tables under the trees, string lights that glow overhead, and views that are honestly better than most traditional venues. And you pay a fraction of what a venue would cost while getting an incredible backdrop for your celebration.
Insider Tip: Don’t forget trash bags! We know it sounds random, but when you’re celebrating in a day-use area, you’ll need to pack everything out. Leave No Trace isn’t just a principle for us, it’s how we honor these incredible places and make sure future couples can have the same experience!
Intimate Dinner at Your Airbnb or Cabin
If you’re staying at an Airbnb for your elopement, this can be the coziest, most magical spot for your celebratory meal. String up some lights, set a beautiful table, light candles everywhere, and before you know it, your rental feels like the most romantic restaurant you’ve ever been to.
There’s something really special about gathering your closest people in a space that feels like home. You can take your time, kick off your shoes, and dance in the kitchen while dinner is being prepared.
We are big fans of this type of micro wedding reception, just remember to get approval from your Airbnb host beforehand (trust us, this makes everything smoother!). Most hosts are happy to accommodate small dinner parties, especially when you’re upfront about your plans.
Local Restaurant or Brewery
Sometimes the best celebratory meal is the one you don’t have to plan (at all!). We’ve had couples rent out their favorite local restaurant for a private dinner or gather at a local brewery near their ceremony location. This micro wedding dinner idea works especially well if you want a more casual vibe or if cooking logistics feel overwhelming (no judgment here because weddings are a lot to coordinate!).
Campfire Cookout
If you’re camping after your elopement, a campfire dinner can be so special. Whether you’re roasting s’mores, grilling over an open fire, or heating up a meal you prepared earlier, there’s something magical about eating under the stars after your best day ever.
Cook Together (If That’s Your Thing!)
We’ve had couples who love to cook together make their celebratory meal an activity. And if that sounds fun to you, then absolutely do it! Just know that this option takes time. Between prep, cooking, and cleanup, you’re looking at 3-4 hours. Which is totally fine if cooking together is something you love and want to make part of your day! Just factor it into your timeline and know that those hours will impact what else you can do with the hours you have.
What Actually Happens at a Micro Wedding Reception?
One of the questions we hear A LOT from couples, is “What actually happens at a micro wedding dinner beyond eating?”. If you’re worried about awkward silences or people leaving early, don’t be. We’ve found that when you bring your favorite people together with good food and drinks, they entertain themselves just fine.
Here’s how most micro wedding dinners naturally flow:
Cocktail hour (30-45 minutes): Guests arrive, grab drinks, mingle. This is when you’re greeting everyone, hugging people, soaking in the fact that you’re married and get to celebrate with your favorite people!
Dinner (60-90 minutes): Food is served and drinks (and conversation) are flowing. This is the heart of the celebration.
Toasts and cake (30-45 minutes): A few people give toasts, you cut the cake, and maybe even share a first dance. This is usually the signal that the night is winding down (though people often linger longer!).
Insider Tip: When deciding your seating arrangement, put people near someone they know AND someone new they’ll like. Then, simply trust that your guests know how to have a good dinner conversation. You don’t need games or entertainment. The celebration is the entertainment.
Top Tips for Planning Your Micro Wedding Dinner
While most micro wedding dinners flow naturally on their own, there are a few tips that can help make your celebratory meal even more seamless and memorable.
Give Yourself Enough Time
The minimum time we recommend for a celebratory meal is 90 minutes. But if you can swing 2-3 hours, then even better! You want enough time for cocktail hour, for actually tasting your dinner instead of rushing through it, for toasts, for cake cutting, and for just sitting and mingling with your guests. Your wedding day goes by fast (and your celebratory meal does too!), so give yourself the gift of time.
A lot of couples worry about what their guests will do with that much time dedicated for a meal, but we’ve found that the natural flow of a dinner party takes care of itself. Cocktails and mingling, then dinner where you’re visiting tables and thanking people, then toasts and cake. By the time you cut the cake, you’ve easily filled 2-3 hours and people are usually happy to linger even longer.
Insider Tip: If you’re planning a summer sunset ceremony in Washington, keep in mind that sunset can be at 8 pm or later. That means your meal happens either mid-day or at 11 pm (when most people are exhausted and just want to sleep). We’ll help you decide the best timing for your ceremony and your celebratory meal, but in general, we recommend couples do either a sunrise-to-sunset package, where they don’t worry about catching sunset, or a two-day elopement where day one is all about the meal and celebration at a normal dinner hour.
Guest Count Also Plays a Big Role in Timing
If it’s just the two of you or a handful of guests (let’s say under 10 people), a celebratory meal can easily fit into a full-day elopement package. You can adventure all morning, have your ceremony, then gather for an intimate dinner all in one day.
Once you start inviting more people, especially 15-50 guests for a micro wedding, we highly recommend a two-day package. This gives you proper time to actually sit at the table, enjoy your meal, hear every single toast, and be present instead of rushing off to catch golden hour light.
Think About Location and Logistics
Where your meal happens matters for so many reasons beyond just the view (though the view is pretty important too!). Here are a few things to consider depending on where your micro wedding dinner takes place.
Airbnb or Cabin: Get approval from the host and ask about parking for guests, bathroom facilities, and any noise ordinances in the area. The last thing you want is to have the perfect dinner planned and then realize there’s nowhere for your guests to park or that quiet hours start at 8 pm.
Day-Use Area or Campground: These are some of our favorite spots because they’re often stunning and underutilized! Just remember that you (or your coordinator or catering team) will need to bring everything and pack everything out. Many state parks in Washington have day-use areas that are perfect for this, as they already have picnic tables and benches, not to mention they’re often really affordable to reserve.
Venue: Some couples choose to rent a venue for their micro wedding dinner, especially on a weekday when they can often get a great rate. We’ve even worked with couples at venues in state parks that were only a few hundred dollars to rent!
Remote Areas: If you’re eloping somewhere remote, the vendors we recommend are used to it (that’s where we thrive!). They’ll work with you to figure out logistics, whether that means hauling equipment up a forest service road or setting up in a day-use area that’s only accessible by hiking trail.
Hire Out As Much As You Can
We know budgets are real, and every couple prioritizes differently. But if there’s one place to invest in help, this is it.
When you’re in charge of setup, cooking, and cleanup, that time comes from somewhere else in your day. Setting up tables and decorations might take two hours that could have been spent taking photos or adventuring with your guests. And instead of enjoying cocktail hour, you might find yourself worrying about whether the food is staying warm or if there’s enough ice.
Some couples are totally fine with that tradeoff! But it’s worth thinking through what you want your day to feel like and where you want to spend your energy.
Don’t Forget About Dietary Needs
Dietary needs are one of the most important things to consider for a micro wedding dinner with guests. Make sure to communicate any dietary restrictions or preferences to your caterer or chef early on. Most vendors are super accommodating and can create beautiful menus that work for everyone. We’ve seen them work magic with vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly options that are so good, everyone at the table is asking for the recipe.
Taking your guests’ dietary needs into consideration also shows them that you care about making sure everyone can fully participate in the celebration. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference.
Small Wedding Reception Ideas from Real Couples
Want to see what these meals actually look like in real life? Here are some of our favorite micro wedding dinner ideas from couples we’ve worked with.
Melanie & Will: Micro Wedding Dinner with a Private Chef and Planner at Their Airbnb
Melanie and Will hired both a planner and a private chef for their micro wedding reception, and oh my gosh, it was stunning! Their planner created a dreamy table scape with string lights right in the backyard of their Airbnb, and their private chef created an incredible locally-sourced menu full of PNW flavors. Having both a planner and a chef meant Melanie and Will got to just show up and soak it all in without worrying about preparation or timing.
Alyssa & Jordan: Full-Service Caterer at Their Airbnb
Alyssa and Jordan worked with a caterer who brought everything. And we mean everything. Rentals, table settings, plates and glassware, and (of course) the food. They set up in the backyard of their Airbnb along the edge of a river, and it was absolutely beautiful. They got to enjoy dinner surrounded by the sound of the water, views of the mountains rising from the valley, and their favorite people around one long table.
Later in the day, after sunset photos, they stopped by a local brewery for ice cream and beer. The perfect, casual ending to their night.
Daniella & Cara: Catering and Family Decorations at a Day-Use Area Picnic
Dani and Cara used picnic tables at a day-use area and had a caterer bring in the food. Cara’s mom set up all the decorations, and when we arrived, the space looked like a professional planner had designed it! Flower-filled vases and draping linens lined the center of the table. It was gorgeous and so meaningful to the brides to have their family help bring it all together.
Katie & Mick: Local Takeout for a Cabin Micro Wedding Dinner
Katie and Mick set up their cabin dinner the day before their elopement, so it was all ready to go. They strung lights across the rafters, set the table with beautiful glassware and candles, and picked up food from their favorite restaurants in the city to reheat that evening.
This worked really well for them because it gave them that personalized meal vibe (food they love) without the stress of cooking on their elopement day. Plus, setting up the night before meant they got to wake up on their wedding day to a space that already felt celebratory.
Sarah & Grant: Cabin with All Rentals Included and an On-site Cook
Sarah and Grant chose a cabin that provided all the rentals (tables, chairs, dishes, everything!), then hired Paella Works to cater their meal. If you’ve never seen Paella Works in action, you need to. They bring a full outdoor kitchen setup and cook right in front of you. The smell, the sizzle, and watching them build each layer of flavor makes this so much more than a micro wedding dinner – it’s a show.
Christy & James: Renting a Venue for 30 Guests
With about 30 guests, Christy and James wanted a fully private space for their intimate wedding reception. They rented a venue on a weekday (which made it more affordable!) and had access to all the venue’s resources such as tables, chairs, a full kitchen, bathrooms, etc.
This worked perfectly for their slightly larger micro wedding, where they wanted that venue feel without the traditional wedding price tag or the stress of DIY. Their guests could relax and enjoy without anyone worrying about setup or cleanup.
Helen & Ryan: State Park Venue with Local Takeout
Helen and Ryan had a micro wedding at Silver Lake State Park and rented one of their picnic shelters for around $200. The space was so cool (a covered shelter with lake views and plenty of space for their guests). They hired a coordinator who handled setup and brought in pizza from a local brewery for the meal. It was casual, affordable, and totally them.
Micro Wedding Dinner FAQs
What does a celebratory meal typically cost?
Cost varies wildly depending on what you’re looking for! Some caterers charge $50 per plate, while others charge $300+ per plate. Food (along with photography and lodging) tends to be one of the higher costs when planning an elopement or micro wedding.
But think of it this way, you’re not feeding 150 people. You’re feeding your 10-30 favorite people in the world and creating an experience you all can share together. That perspective often helps couples evaluate what’s important to them. For more details on budgeting, check out our complete guide on elopement costs.
How many guests can we realistically include at our micro wedding dinner?
We typically work with couples who have anywhere from 15-50 guests at their micro wedding dinner. That’s the sweet spot where you can still have an intimate meal without it feeling like a full traditional reception.
Just remember that the more guests you have, the more time you’ll want to allocate for the meal (people linger, toasts happen, conversations flow. It’s all good stuff, but it takes time!). We typically recommend our two-day packages for micro weddings, so there’s plenty of time to actually enjoy the experience without feeling rushed.
What if we’re getting married in a remote area?
Remote locations are where we thrive! All of the vendors we recommend are experienced with getting to remote spots and making the magic happen. Whether it’s a backcountry cabin, a mountain day-use area, or a state park campground, they’ve seen it all and will work with you to figure out logistics.
That’s literally their job, and they’re really good at it! They know how to pack equipment efficiently, how to work with limited resources, and how to create something stunning even when there’s no electricity or running water nearby. Don’t let a remote location stop you from having the meal you’re dreaming of.
Where can I rent elegant tableware for a small wedding reception?
Many caterers and private chefs will bring their own plates, glasses, and cutlery as part of their service! It’s often included in their packages, which is one less thing for you to worry about.
If you’re going the DIY route, look for local event rental companies (we can provide recommendations during the planning process!). Some cabins and venues also provide these items, so always ask before you book additional rentals, as you might not need them.
Do we need to bring anything special for a day-use area meal?
Yes! Trash bags. This might sound random, but people forget them all the time. When you’re celebrating in a day-use area or public space, you’ll need to pack out everything you bring in. Following Leave No Trace principles isn’t just important to us. It’s how we protect these incredible places for future couples to enjoy. We want these spots to be just as beautiful for the next couple as they are for you. That’s the responsibility we all share when we celebrate in nature.
Ready to Plan Your Best Micro Wedding Dinner (and Day) Ever?
Your elopement celebratory meal is a chance to slow down, be present, and savor every moment of your best day ever. Whether you’re dreaming of a private chef experience where every detail is taken care of, a catered meal at a day-use area, or an intimate dinner at your cabin with your favorite people, we’re here to help you bring that vision to life.
Your micro wedding dinner is about so much more than just food. It’s about creating an experience that allows you to celebrate everything that brought you to this moment.
Want more help planning your elopement or micro wedding? Check out the resources below or contact us to start planning your micro wedding.
- How to Plan a Micro Wedding – Your complete guide to planning an intimate wedding with 15-50 guests
- How to Plan an Airbnb Wedding – Everything you need to know about hosting your elopement at an Airbnb
- Best Places to Elope in Washington – Explore day-use areas, state parks, and stunning ceremony locations in our home state
- How to Include Family and Friends in Your Elopement – Tips for including your favorite people
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