Micro weddings are not just smaller versions of big weddings. They're a completely different event.

Twenty guests instead of 200 changes everything — the venue, the food, the vibe, the budget. Done right, they're the best day of your life. Done without a plan, they still tend to go wrong in the same ways big weddings do.

This checklist covers everything from the first decision you'll make to the things people forget on the morning of the wedding. Work through it in order.

12+ Months Out

Nail the guest list first. Not the venue. Not the dress. The guest list. Every other decision flows from this number. Thirty guests opens up farmhouses, private dining rooms, and garden ceremonies. Fifty starts to limit you. Write the list before you do anything else.

Our guide to writing your micro wedding guest list is worth reading before you book a single thing.

Set the budget. Be honest. A micro wedding can cost anywhere from €3,000 to €30,000+ depending on how you spend it. The guest list is your biggest lever — fewer people means less food, fewer seats, smaller rooms, lower minimum spends. Decide on a real number and build backwards from it.

For specific costs, see our micro wedding cost guide for Ireland or our Scotland cost guide.

Choose the region. Getting married close to home? Destination? Both work — you just need to decide before venue-hunting. Micro wedding venues in Ireland, Scotland, and England have different legal requirements, different aesthetics, and different typical price ranges.

Start looking at venues. With 30 or fewer guests, you have more options than you think. Private dining rooms in boutique hotels. Walled gardens. Castle tower rooms. Country cottages. Many intimate spaces take small groups privately without explicitly marketing themselves as wedding venues. Don't ignore these.

Book the venue. Once you find the one, move fast. Good small venues fill up quickly on weekends. Weekday weddings and off-season dates are significantly easier to secure — and often hundreds cheaper.

Give legal notice. Not optional. Not something to rush.

  • Ireland: Give at least 3 months' notice to a Civil Registration Office. You'll also need a registered solemniser for a religious or humanist ceremony. Fáilte Ireland has useful guidance for couples coming from abroad.
  • England & Wales: Give notice at your local register office. Minimum 28 days before the ceremony, but practically 70 days if you want any flexibility.
  • Scotland: Submit marriage notices to the local council minimum 29 days before. Scotland is the most flexible of the four nations — ceremonies can happen almost anywhere with a licensed celebrant. Visit Scotland has a clear overview for destination couples.

9–12 Months Out

Book your photographer. Good wedding photographers book 12–18 months out for peak dates. For a micro wedding, you typically need 6–8 hours of coverage rather than a full 10–12 hour day. That can save you £300–£600.

Choose your celebrant or registrar. Civil ceremonies via the local registrar are the simplest route legally. Humanist and independent celebrants offer far more flexibility around vows, readings, and format — they're particularly popular for outdoor and non-traditional ceremonies.

Think about the food. Many micro venues have in-house catering. Others allow external caterers or private chefs. Options that work well for small groups: long grazing lunches, private chef dinners, elevated afternoon teas, or simply very good canapes with an open bar. The format matters less than the quality. Budget £60–£120 per head at most Irish and UK venues.

Sort accommodation. If guests are travelling, give them options early. A blocked hotel or self-catering cottage nearby turns the wedding into a proper gathering rather than a standalone event.

6–9 Months Out

Book your florist. Micro weddings are a genuinely enjoyable brief for florists — they can do more creative things with a modest budget because there aren't 20 tables to fill. Give them a mood, a colour palette, and a rough budget. They'll do the rest.

Choose your music. A live acoustic duo costs less than a full band and often sounds better in a small room. String quartet. Jazz trio. Solo pianist. A carefully curated playlist. There's no wrong answer — just match the energy of the venue and the couple.

Order the dress and suit. Bespoke suits take 3–4 months. Made-to-order wedding dresses can take 5–6 months or longer. Don't leave this any later.

Plan the ceremony in detail. Write out what actually happens. Who speaks. What music plays. Any readings. The legal requirements (most jurisdictions require two witnesses). Work through this with your celebrant or registrar well in advance.

3–6 Months Out

Send invitations. For a micro wedding, save-the-dates are usually unnecessary if you've already told people personally. Paper invites, a WhatsApp message, or a simple wedding website all work. Give guests at least 8 weeks' notice.

Confirm all vendors. Call every supplier. Confirm dates, times, arrival plans. Get everything in writing. Read contracts carefully — pay particular attention to cancellation clauses.

Sort transport. How are you getting from wherever you're getting ready to the venue? How are guests getting home? For a small group, a hired minibus or two is often worth the cost and means no one's worrying about driving.

Plan the menu in detail. Taste sessions, dietary requirements, allergens. Sort this now so it doesn't become a headache in the final weeks.

Hair and makeup trial. Book it. Attend it. Don't skip it.

1–2 Months Out

Create a day-of timeline. Not a rough plan — a proper schedule with times. When does the photographer arrive. When does the ceremony start. When is food served. Who's giving speeches. Share this with every supplier.

Brief your guests. A quick email or message with: the full address (with a Google Maps pin or what3words), dress code, parking situation, and any ceremony logistics. People appreciate this more than couples expect.

Follow up with all suppliers. Final confirmation of everything. Get mobile numbers for every vendor you'll need to reach on the day.

Sort the paperwork. Make sure your notice period has completed and all documentation is in order. Don't leave this to the week before.

1 Week Out

Break in your shoes. Not a joke. Wear them around the house for a few days.

Prep an emergency kit. Safety pins, blotting paper, stain remover wipes, pain relief, plasters, a sewing kit, phone charger, cash. Assign this bag to one organised guest or family member.

Pack what you need. Rings. Documents. The name card for signing the register. Vow cards if you're writing your own. Check this list twice.

Eat properly. The week before a wedding is usually chaotic. You will feel better on the day if you've eaten regular meals and slept.

Delegate. Make a list of everything that needs to happen on the day and assign each item to a specific person. Not your partner. Not yourself. Guests and family members are usually delighted to have a job.

Day Of

  • Give yourself more time than you think you need to get ready. Things always take longer.
  • Eat breakfast. An actual one.
  • Put your phone on Do Not Disturb before you leave.
  • Trust your photographer to capture it — you don't need to manage them.
  • Say hello to every single guest at some point. It's achievable when you only have 20 or 30 people there.
  • Take ten minutes alone together before or after the ceremony. Worth it every time.

After the Wedding

Write thank-you notes. Physical cards. Within a month. Don't let this slip — people notice.

Change your name (if applicable). Your registrar should have given you certified copies of the marriage certificate. Most name changes require these certified copies. Start with the passport office.

Leave reviews for your vendors. Photographer, venue, caterers, florist. Small suppliers live and die by word of mouth. A genuine review takes five minutes and matters a lot.

Relive it. Your photographer will deliver images in 6–8 weeks typically. Set a date to look through them together for the first time — bottle of wine, no phones.

For more on the big planning decisions, our complete guide to planning a micro wedding covers the key choices in depth. Still deciding between a small wedding and eloping? See micro wedding vs elopement.

Ready to find your venue? Browse micro wedding venues in Ireland, Scotland, or England — and check Visit England for regional inspiration across the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I book a micro wedding venue?

Most micro wedding venues book out 12–18 months in advance, especially for popular summer and autumn dates. If you want a specific date at a sought-after venue, start looking 18 months out. For weekday or winter weddings, 6–9 months is often achievable.

How much does a micro wedding cost in 2026?

In Ireland and the UK, most couples spend between £3,000 and £15,000 on a micro wedding with 20–30 guests. Venue hire typically runs £1,500–£5,000, catering £50–£120 per head, and photography £1,500–£3,000. Keeping the guest list tight is the single biggest cost lever.

Do I need a wedding coordinator for a micro wedding?

Not always, but it helps. Many micro venues include a dedicated coordinator in their package. If yours doesn't, a day-of coordinator (typically £400–£800) is worth considering — they handle logistics so you're actually present on the day rather than managing it.

What legal steps do I need to take to get married in Ireland or the UK?

In Ireland, you must give at least 3 months' notice to a Civil Registration Office and have a registered solemniser. In England and Wales, give notice at your local register office at least 28 days before. In Scotland, submit a marriage notice to the local council at least 29 days before — Scotland also allows outdoor ceremonies almost anywhere with a licensed celebrant.