LGBTQ-friendly | BIPOC Inclusive | All skin colors & body sizes are welcomed
I want your wedding to feel like your favorite party.
One of the biggest misconceptions about intimate weddings is that they’re simply “smaller weddings.” In reality, the best intimate weddings feel completely different. Instead of stretching your time, energy, and budget across hundreds of guests, you have the freedom to focus on the people and experiences that matter most.
Whether you’re planning a Utah intimate wedding, a destination micro wedding, or what I like to call a pocket wedding, here are a few things that make the biggest difference.
Start With Your Guest List
A thoughtfully designed intimate wedding begins with intention rather than a specific number.
Invite the people who are actively part of your life. The people you can’t imagine celebrating without.
When your guest list reflects your real relationships, your wedding instantly feels more personal, relaxed, and meaningful.
Choose a Venue That Already Has Character
One of the easiest ways to elevate an intimate wedding is by choosing a venue that already feels beautiful.
Instead of trying to transform a blank space, look for locations with great architecture, incredible views, or a warm atmosphere. Mountain lodges, boutique hotels, private estates, restaurants, and thoughtfully designed homes often create the perfect backdrop for an intimate celebration. You can set up a table in a forest clearing, or create a dance floor in the desert complete with disco balls and a DJ.
A great venue does half the design work before you bring in a single flower.
Invest in the Experience
One of my favorite things about intimate weddings is that a smaller guest list creates room for bigger experiences.
It could be an incredible private chef, an unforgettable dinner, lush floral design, live music, or a beautifully styled tablescape where everyone gathers together.
The goal isn’t to impress people or to check off a list of obligatory wedding requirements.
It’s to create a celebration your favorite people (including you and your partner) will still be talking about years from now.
Leave Room to Actually Enjoy Your Wedding
One of the biggest advantages of an intimate wedding is time.
Time to have conversations.
Time to enjoy dinner.
Time to soak in the ceremony instead of rushing to the next event on the timeline.
The most memorable weddings I’ve photographed aren’t packed with activities. They have enough breathing room for genuine moments to happen naturally.
Hire Vendors Who Understand Your Vision
Not every wedding professional approaches intimate weddings the same way.
Find vendors who understand that your guest count isn’t a limitation at all. It’s an opportunity to dream bigger.
Your photographer, planner, florist, and venue should all be excited about creating a celebration that feels personal, elevated, and thoughtfully designed.
Remember: Smaller Doesn’t Mean Less
An intimate wedding can still include beautiful florals, incredible food, meaningful traditions, emotional speeches, and an unforgettable dance floor.
It can feel every bit as intentional and joyful as a large wedding, just with the people who matter most.
That’s exactly why I love photographing pocket weddings. They combine the intimacy of an elopement with the experience of a full wedding, creating celebrations that are beautiful, relaxed, and genuinely fun to be part of.
Planning an Intimate Wedding in Utah?
If you’re dreaming of a thoughtfully designed intimate wedding or micro wedding in Utah (or anywhere your favorite people are willing to gather), I’d love to help.
From venue recommendations and timeline guidance to documenting every meaningful moment, my goal is to help you create a wedding that feels personal, beautiful, and completely your own.
Because even if your guest list is small, your experience never has to be.