Our couples choose adventure micro weddings because they want to be surrounded by their closest friends and family, while skipping the parts of weddings that don’t resonate with them. It also allows them to create an experience that might not be affordable with a higher guest count.
Micro weddings often feel like summer camp for adults—a stunning outdoor setting, a slow pace, and lots of time together. (Sometimes, there are even s’mores.)
So sit your other half down, because we’re about to walk through our How to Plan a Micro-Wedding checklist. Don’t forget a pen and paper—or maybe just use the Notes app—so you can start jotting down ideas!
If the idea of an adventure elopement is tempting, but you can’t imagine getting married without your nana or your best friend present, we have the answer for you: a micro wedding!
your micro wedding checklist:
Check out these Micro Wedding Resources!
Want some expert advice? take our
You’ll also want to consider what’s manageable for your guests. We love the cozy feel of a snowy winter wedding, but driving on mountain roads in the snow might not be doable for everyone you want to invite. (Winter weddings also affect your choice of venue, because you’ll need enough indoor space for all your guests.)
No matter where you choose to host your micro wedding, we recommend that you bring your photographer along for at least 2 days. That gives you plenty of time for a ceremony, reception, and plenty of adventures.
For example, if you’re imagining yourself posing in front of a field of wildflowers, we’d recommend Washington in summer. If you want to be able to take a dip in the ocean after your ceremony, Kauai might be more your cup of tea.
When you picture your ideal wedding, what does the backdrop look like? What’s the vibe you want for the event?
With countless micro weddings under our collective belts, we want to make sure you get started right. Before you start searching for chic alpine hotels or picturesque Airbnbs, we want you to think about this:
Decide on your ideal setting
01.
Before you can make more detailed plans, you’ll need to make a tentative guest list. A micro wedding for 35 people will have different requirements than one with only 18 people on the guest list.
For example, an Airbnb venue may accommodate 15 guests easily, but might not have adequate bathrooms and parking for 40.
Similarly, if you intend to host a dinner for 30 people, you may need a planner to oversee the details and help you source additional vendors such as a caterer or a rental company.
One more thing to be aware of: public lands (such as national parks) often have restrictions on group size. That means you may not be able to hit the trail as one big group. Instead, many of our couples celebrate with family and friends—then pair that with a private hike so they can still have dramatic landscape photos in their wedding attire.
Decide how many guests you’ll be inviting
02.
A micro wedding involves lots of logistics, and our couples usually hire a planner to source vendors and oversee the details on the wedding day. (You don’t really want to be on the phone with the rental company, telling them where to drop the chairs.)
Most of our couples also hire a hair & makeup artist as well as a florist. Unless a guest is conducting your ceremony, you need an officiant—but lots of our couples ask a friend to get ordained online.
You’ll also need a caterer and a baker, and you’ll likely need a rental company for linens, place settings, and furniture, unless they’re included with your venue. If your venue is more of a blank space, you may need to consider lighting and bathroom trailers.
When you become a Between the Pine couple, we give you our list of the absolute best vendors at your destination. These are people that we’ve worked with before, so we know they deliver an incredible experience for you and your guests.
If you’re adventuring outside, you want someone who knows the area well: where to find hidden-gem spots (without hikers wandering through the background), how to handle the weather, what to do if your top choice of trail is suddenly closed for repairs.
02) You need someone with local outdoor experience
The best photos come when you can relax as if you’re around old friends. And your photographer will be with you more than any other vendor, especially if you choose to take a just-the-two of you hike or excursion as part of your micro wedding.
But whether or not you choose to work with Between the Pine, there are two things to keep in mind as you’re searching for the right photographer:
If you’re looking for a photographer to document your adventure micro wedding, we nominate ourselves.
Hire your micro wedding dream team
03.
We’ve had couples host micro weddings at retreat centers, breweries, converted fire lookouts, and ski lodges—here are a few of our favorite micro wedding venues in Washington, Oregon and around the country.
As a Between the Pine couple, you get to tap into our inside knowledge and relationships when it comes to venues. We can tell you if that lodge you’re eyeing allows events—and help you find something with a similar vibe if it doesn’t.
Your venue sets the tone for your micro wedding, and your options are nearly endless.
Some of our couples choose to do a full buyout of a small hotel or lodge, so that their guests can have the run of the property for the weekend. Others rent Airbnbs that are open to hosting events.
Alternately, you can host your micro wedding at a day-use area or an event space on public lands, especially if you’re planning a daytime event.
As you look for a venue, keep in mind how many guests can stay on the property. If your venue doesn’t have enough accommodation for everyone, make sure there are other options nearby—and enough parking for everyone who’s staying elsewhere.
Book the perfect venue
04.
Now that you know your location, you’ll want to think about what colors will work best with the landscape you’ve chosen.
If you or your partner plan to wear a dress and/or a veil, we encourage you to think about movement and volume. A longer train or veil can add depth to your photos, and looks dramatic when the wind catches it. (We actually have an entire guide to selecting the perfect dress for your adventure wedding, including recommended designers.)
For our suit wearers, we love a perfect suit at Richards Bespoke (not to play favorites, but their custom suits for all genders are FIRE), Nordstrom, and Indochino. We cover those (and more!) in our guide to choosing your elopement attire.
No matter what you select, you need to make sure it lets you move comfortably when we’re doing outdoor photos. Think about whether you can bend over, lift your arms, and walk easily.
What you wear on your wedding day matters when it comes to how your photos turn out.
But before we talk about things from an aesthetic point of view: we always tell our couples to choose the wedding attire that feels the most like you and makes you feel confident and comfortable.
Say ‘yes’ to your wedding attire
05.
For practical reasons, most of our couples pack their formal attire (don’t worry; we’ll show you how) and then change into it once we reach the spot where we’ll be taking photos.
P.S. Everyone wants to know whether they’ll be wearing their wedding attire as they hike
That said, here are a few other things to keep in mind:
This couple held a lakeside ceremony that was followed by a brunch picnic and an evening reception at a lodge. The next day was just for them (and their photographer) as they explored the North Cascades on foot.
You’re not limited to hiking, either—past Between the Pine couples have gone rock climbing, done helicopter tours of a glacier, and so much more. We’re game for almost anything you can dream up.
for example:
but most of our couples take one day for a ceremony and reception with their guests, and set aside a second day to adventure with one another.
No two micro weddings are exactly alike...
Plan your adventure micro wedding timeline
06.
The second legal document applies if you’re getting married on public lands, such as a National Park.
It’s a Special Use Permit, which allows you to hold an event within the park. You’ll be asked to fill out some details about your event (location, number of guests, etc.), pay a modest fee, and then the Parks Service will issue your permit. Likewise, if you’re getting married in a state park, chances are high we’ll need a permit.(Most state and national parks also require a photography permit, but don’t worry—we take care of that!)
First of all, you’ll need to arrange to get your marriage license.
The requirements vary by state, so once you’ve chosen your location, you can read up on exactly what’s involved. (To help you out, we’ve put together guides for Washington, Hawaii, and Oregon.) It’s often a multi-day process, but the good news is that most states allow you to do it fully online. It all goes smoothly as long as you start early—and we’re here to help, as we have for hundreds of couples before.
Don’t worry: this is far easier than choosing a cake flavor or narrowing down the guest list.
Take care of the legal details
07.
You’ve already checked off items 1-7 on this list, so we’re confident that your wedding is going to be a cinch.
Just show up with your person, gather your loved ones around you, and get ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. While you’re savoring each moment, our team will work our magic to ensure stunning photographs that allow you to relive your wedding whenever you want.
The day you’ve been waiting for is finally here!
Set off on your micro wedding adventure!
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