Dalila and Jimmy’s backyard intimate wedding in October. The air was perfect, the family and friends were close, and honestly this was one of the sweetest ceremonies that I have had the honor to photograph. Dalila had been collecting vintage items from thrift stores to use as decorations and drying flowers from Trader Joe’s, while Jimmy made the farm tables by hand, just to name a few of their unique details. Read more about intimate weddings below and see some of my favorite photos from their intimate wedding day.
Planning an intimate wedding of your own? Contact me here!
Venue: Family home | Photography: Jamie Pratt Photos | Dress: USA Bridal | Rings: Staghead Designs | Hair & Makeup: Veritas Salon | Cake: Nashville Sweets |
Intimate weddings are always some of the most personal and unique weddings I have the honor to photograph. With a smaller guest list and often a more personal location, like a backyard or even a family home, you have more freedom to invest in small special touches like an intimate dinner with your guests or intricate boho and vintage details. A few things to think about when planning your intimate wedding are priorities, size, and your team. Let’s break these down.
Like with any wedding, grand celebration or elopement, it’s best to start by setting your priorities. What are 3-5 elements that you don’t want to budge on? I always recommend starting the list with photography, since photographs are what will capture and preserve the memory of every other detail. After that, do you have a boho dream dress in mind? Or perhaps you’re set on elaborate floral arrangements (which can be done incredibly well and more affordably in an intimate wedding!), a steak dinner, live music, and a vintage wedding video. Whatever your main things are, build the rest of your budget around them. Book your photographer and your venue, then go down the list to find the perfect matches for the rest. I have a list of favorite vendors that I offer all of my couples as well, which can help narrow down the process!
Size. What is your definition of an “intimate wedding?” Just the two of you, elopement style, your immediate family, or a few close friends and grandparents? Take this into account as you plan, because in a setting this small, each new addition of guests will change the feel and every combination is uniquely special and intimate. You could have your guests standing in a small cluster in front of you at the altar. Guests could bring their own chairs for a more relaxed boho elopement feel, or even sit on picnic blankets. And you can always rent chairs to set out a formal ceremony site similar to any larger wedding.
And lastly, your team. Who is helping you plan your wedding, set up, tear down, and make decisions? It is pretty common for couples choosing an intimate wedding to be their own wedding coordinator. This is when it may be helpful to book a photographer who will help plan your timeline and offer recommendations as well. But consider who can help you with the tasks, so you can divide and conquer the preparation. And when it comes to thinking about the wedding day itself, whether intimate wedding or elopement, who can make sure that all of the loose ends are tied and every vintage detail is where it needs to be? At Dalila and JImmy’s wedding, their friends and family rallied to help them both set up and host an intimate ceremony and reception. And at the end of the night, the couple cut and served the cake to each of their guests. It was the sweetest intimate wedding evening.
Planning your own backyard wedding? Let’s chat.
