More and more couples are appreciating the benefits of having an intimate wedding. This is a smaller, more intentional celebration, with fewer guests, and they are becoming more popular than grand, traditional weddings. 

Why have an intimate wedding? Many couples are drawn to this idea because you can focus on celebrating with those who matter most to you, allowing you to feel more relaxed and comfortable on your gorgeous wedding day. For destination weddings, you can also intertwine your wedding with your honeymoon easier, and by inviting fewer guests, you can spend your wedding budget more on meaningful experiences. 

Working with so many couples as a photographer, I see the joy and happiness an intimate wedding brings them, so I encourage you to consider these intimate wedding ideas — plus, a few ideas on destinations that work beautifully for smaller parties for 2024 and beyond. 

Intimate Wedding Ideas For Destinations 

You can host an intimate wedding anywhere in the world, but here are some places where they always work out well. When thinking about how to plan an intimate wedding, first consider your location — where would suit your style, interests, and budget? For destination weddings, keep in mind where your guests are coming from and their travel times as well. 

Canada

As such a vast and spacious country, Canada lends itself so well to intimate weddings! Gorgeous destinations for an intimate wedding in Canada include British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Alberta, Prince Edward County, Mont Tremblant, and Northwest Territories have plenty of quiet beaches, small B&B, and few crowds, making it easy to celebrate with loved ones. 

Ireland

Ireland is such a romantic choice for an intimate wedding! I may be your destination wedding photographer based in Ottawa, Canada, but I’m also a dual citizen and will be spending more time there each year, so I’d love to work with you. With many small villages, county towns, and dramatic cliffs, you’ll love a small wedding in Ireland!

However, other top destinations in Europe for intimate weddings include Italy, Greece, Iceland, and Spain. 

Fun Intimate Wedding Ideas That You’ll Adore

Here are a few unique ways to create an intimate wedding that will be unforgettable — both for you and your guests! Think about what matters most to you in your wedding, then I encourage you to incorporate that into your festivities! A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so there’s no right or wrong way to approach it. 

1. Incorporate a well wishes ceremony 

While traditional weddings tend to include formal speeches, why not replace this with something more intimate — a well wishes ceremony! This is a less formal alternative to speeches, where each guest gets a chance to wish the couple well and share a message of love.

It can be so warm and touching, with each attendee able to say something. 

2. Plan a wedding weekend

If you’re wondering what to focus on when planning your intimate wedding, the priority is always quality time with loved ones. That’s why you may wish to plan a wedding weekend — because a day just isn’t enough! 

That way, you’ll get to spend more time with out of town guests and everyone can get to know one another through multiple events and celebrations. 

3. Add a fun and unique activity for your guests 

As part of your wedding weekend, it’s so special to plan an exclusive event or activity for your attendees! It’s a sweet way to thank them for travelling to your wedding, plus it’s an awesome way to make fun memories together.

Depending on your location and style, this could include an al fresco rehearsal dinner, a morning after brunch, a group catamaran or cliff jumping excursion, a wine tasting tour, or anything that’s unique to your chosen destination. 

4. Be married by a close friend 

Instead of being married by an officiant, someone that you may not know well, an awesome alternative is to get married by a friend! Depending on your wedding location and local laws, your officiant may be able to prepare the preliminary paperwork and take care of the signing immediately after the “I dos”, so that a friend or family member can perform the ceremony itself, which is so meaningful. Or, if your wedding is symbolic only, then anyone can officiate your ceremony. 

This is a beautiful way to have a more intimate ceremony too!

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I hope you love the idea of an intimate wedding! If you’re ready to start planning your destination wedding photography, let’s connect — I’m always passport-ready and would love to join you anywhere in the world!