Definition
A micro wedding is a small wedding, typically 50 guests or fewer, keeping the ceremony and the reception but scaling both down. Unlike an elopement, your closest people stay for the whole day.
50 or fewer
Typical guest count
2 hours
Covers most micro weddings
$900
Elopement Package A, 2 hours
25 people
Nelson-Atkins sculpture park permit limit
How a Micro Wedding Differs From an Elopement
The difference comes down to guests and a reception. An elopement centers on the two of you, sometimes with a few witnesses, and usually skips the reception. A micro wedding brings your closest family and friends and keeps the dinner, the toasts, and the first dance, all at a smaller scale.
A smaller guest list also changes where you marry. In Kansas City, the Nelson-Atkins sculpture park permits up to 25 people for a $500 minimony, Little Shawnee Chapel seats 40, and both the Brim Chapel and Simpson House hold up to 150. I compared real prices and guest limits in my Kansas City micro wedding venue guide.
Short answer: A micro wedding is a full wedding for 50 or fewer guests. If you're keeping the reception, you're planning a micro wedding. If you're skipping the reception, you're eloping.
What a Micro Wedding Costs to Photograph
Shorter guest lists shorten the day, so coverage shrinks with them. Two hours covers most micro weddings, with the ceremony and a portrait session after. Add hours when the dinner and toasts matter to you, or when the ceremony and reception sit at different addresses.
My elopement collections fit most micro weddings. Package A is $900 for 2 hours at one location, and Package B is $1,500 for 4 hours across up to 2 locations. Past 4 hours, a wedding package starts at $2,000 for 6 hours.
How I Handle Micro Weddings
A small guest list changes how I shoot. With fewer people to cover, I spend more of the day on the moments between your guests and less time chasing a crowd across a ballroom.
Family photos move fast too. At about three minutes per grouping, a five-grouping shot list wraps in about 15 minutes, which leaves more of your light for portraits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Micro Weddings
There's no legal cutoff, but 50 or fewer guests is the common line. Keep the reception, and anything under 50 counts as a micro wedding.
No. An elopement centers on the two of you and usually skips the reception. A micro wedding keeps the reception for a small group of family and friends.
Two hours covers most micro weddings, with the ceremony and portraits after. Book 4 hours when dinner, toasts, or a second location are part of the day.
Popular options include the Nelson-Atkins sculpture park, which allows 25 people with a $500 permit, Little Shawnee Chapel for up to 40, and the Brim Chapel for up to 150.
Already Picked a Venue? Send me the address and your ceremony time, and I'll map out coverage and light for your day. Start the conversation →
