Your Ultimate DC and Baltimore Micro Wedding Planning Guide for 2025
We believe that your micro wedding is a BIG deal
Whether you’re recently engaged (congratulations!) or you’ve finally found the time to sit down and start planning your wedding day, the first step in the process is to determine the kind of wedding you want to have. Do you and your partner want something traditional with lots of guests? Or something smaller and more intimate, like a micro wedding?
If you decide on something small and more intimate then you’re in the right place. Traditional weddings are notoriously a colossal, expensive production — and almost always a headache to plan. If you’re not ready to spend your life savings on a single day then sit back and relax because we’re here to help.
To get you started, we’ve created this ultimate guide to planning your micro wedding for our Washington DC, and Baltimore couples.
“Tiny Wedding Co. made all my wedding dreams come true! I am so grateful to the team for putting together such a beautiful wedding. The flowers, cake, and photos were incredible and it was so nice to know that everything was planned out and I didn’t have to worry about anything on our big day.”
You’ve Decided to have a Micro Wedding But You’re Wondering what People will Think…
The biggest concern our couples have about planning a micro wedding is how their friends and family may feel. For those who are very traditional, a micro wedding may seem like just a jaunt to the courthouse but we’re here to prove to you (and your loved ones!) just how special and a micro wedding can be. Just because you’re having a small wedding doesn’t mean it’s not a monumental event. We strive to make all of our couples feel like their day is special and unique whether they’re eloping or they’re inviting 50 of their closest family and friends.
Need a little more guidance on making this decision? Check out this blog post!
Micro Wedding Benefits
Here are the three most popular reasons our couples choose to have a micro wedding:
1. Micro weddings allow you to focus on what matters most - your unique relationship and the coming together of two people. When you pair things down, you get to spend more time with the people who mean the most to you.
2. Intimate weddings are often a more affordable option. While the weddings we produce aren’t cheap, they allow you to spend money on the things that matter most. When you’re not footing the bill to feed 100+ people, you have extra funds to spend on special decor or maybe a high-end dining option you wouldn't have been able to afford with a large guest list.
3. Micro weddings are more environmentally friendly! Fewer people means less travel, less man power and fewer resources.
Take a look at Sustainability in DC and Baltimore Micro Weddings: How Intimate Weddings Can Conserve Resources
What If I Want to Elope Instead?
We do elopements, too! If you’re looking for something even more intimate, we recommend planning an elopement rather than a micro wedding.
Elopements are typically more casual than our planned micro weddings but equally as fun and special.
Thinking of eloping? Take a look at The Top Three Reasons To Elope in Baltimore or Washington DC.
Planning For Your Micro Wedding Day
You’ve decided to plan a micro wedding or an elopement- yay! The very first step is to book a professional who specializes in micro weddings so that you can enjoy this season of your life together. Booking a professional also ensures that you have access to the more non-traditional venues that fit your desired guest count so you don’t end up paying for space you don’t need.
Remember, your wedding planning experience is meant to be FUN and STRESS-FREE (it’s why you chose to have a micro wedding in the first place!) Working with a micro wedding coordinator (like us!) will help your wedding go off without a hitch!
Okay. So where should you start?
The first major step in micro wedding planning is to choose your wedding venue and in order to do that, you’ll need to consider the following:
Your total wedding day budget
How many guests you plan to invite
Your wedding day style - buttoned up and traditional, relaxed and casual, or somewhere in between?
One of the perks of booking a Tiny Wedding Co micro wedding package is the extensive list of DC and Baltimore venues we share with our clients that specialize in and offer our couples EXCLUSIVE micro wedding packages!
This list makes it easy for our couples to book tours and choose a venue that fits their style and budget.
You then want to continue to work through each subsequent step in planning your tiny wedding. We put together some micro wedding planning steps you don’t want to miss.
If you need a wedding planning checklist, we have our own Micro Wedding Planning Checklist that we work through throughout the planning process.
Hiring An All-Inclusive Micro Wedding Package: The Perks
Our all-inclusive micro wedding and elopement base package includes a day of coordinator, a photographer, a florist, an officiant, a small celebration cake, a champagne toast, access to our preferred vendor and venue list as well as assistance creating your wedding day timeline. (Phew - I’m tired just typing that.)
Our couples are busy professionals who either don’t have the time to plan their micro wedding or would rather spend their time doing something else- and we totally get that!
Our all-inclusive micro-wedding and elopement packages were created to help our couples with different options for support - totally hands-on, totally hands-off, or somewhere in between.
Some key benefits of choosing our base package:
Our expertly curated packages simplify the process and minimize options so you avoid decision fatigue and overwhelm. This means you truly get to enjoy your micro wedding or elopement without fretting over the nitty gritty.
We’ve developed a clear-cut formula with top-notch vendors. But don’t worry - we won’t box you in with bland, boring bouquets. Your wedding should be a direct reflection of your personality and we delight in the details that make you, you.
We have a list of preferred vendors for any vendor that isn’t already included in our base package. Here is a list of our preferred wedding vendors in DC and Baltimore.
We can help you find your dream location based on your style. We have a micro wedding venue-style quiz for you to take that will help you get started!
You’ll have someone on the day of your wedding to act as the liaison between you and your vendors so that you can truly enjoy the day without worrying about little hiccups.
Cost-savings! Most vendors have steep minimums in order to contract with them. We’re lucky enough to partner with day of coordinators, photographers, florists, and officiants that specialize in micro weddings.
Check here out to see if we answered your top micro wedding questions: Getting Engaged In DC & Baltimore: The Answers To Your Top Micro Wedding Planning Questions!
Let’s Start Planning Your Tiny Wedding Day!
Hopefully the information above gave you a good place to start but we know that even with all of these resources, planning a micro wedding can feel overwhelming. We hope you’ll consider working with us so that we can make your micro wedding dreams become a reality!
With us, you’ll save thousands while commemorating your love surrounded by your closest friends and family — a sense of the traditional wedding experience without all the fuss.
You deserve to be showered with love on your big day so let us take care of some (or all!) of the work so you enjoy it! Take a look at our offerings including our all-inclusive tiny wedding packages and get in touch to work with us!
We gave you the micro wedding planning guide but the content below is our most asked questions by our couples. We think you’ll find this bonus content helpful for planning for guests, your wedding style, and getting that marriage license signed and ready!
Getting a Marriage License In DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Does bureaucratic paperwork make you stressed? Not to worry - We’ve already researched the steps for you so that you can get that marriage license signed, sealed, and delivered without breaking a sweat!
Here are some quick links below to getting your marriage license in the DMV:
DC Marriage License Process For Our DC Tiny Wedding Couples
Maryland Marriage License Process For Your MD Micro Wedding
Virginia Marriage License Process For Your Small, Intimate NoVA Wedding
*Remember, for most states, you need to get the marriage license from the state you’re saying “I DO” in, not the state in which you reside!
Where Should Guests Stay During Our Wedding Weekend?
If a majority of your guests are traveling from out of town, you’ll want to book a room block for them at a hotel or at the very least have a list of hotels for them to choose from! Both cities and the greater DMV area offer so many beautiful accommodations for everyone's personal style and budget.
From boutique hotels to bed and breakfasts to luxury accommodations, there are endless options for your guests to sleep, explore, and enjoy during your tiny wedding weekend in DC and Baltimore.
Take a peek at our top hotels and accommodations for your wedding weekend! Our two most important takeaways:
Plan in advance so that your micro wedding guests have time to book their accommodations! Room blocks fill up fast, especially during high season in Washington DC and Baltimore so don’t wait to put this guide together for your guests!
Consider the location for access to and from the wedding, any special needs for your guests for accommodations, and the weather – you don’t want to be too far from your location on a cold, winter day (although it is always a beautiful backdrop for a micro wedding. Here’s an example of a gorgeous winter tiny wedding we coordinated a couple of years ago!)
Our Favorite Micro Wedding Day Looks
We love the vibe our couples in DC and Baltimore bring to each tiny wedding celebration.
Remember, you deserve:
A wedding that feels monumental without feeling over-the-top
To celebrate in a way that fits your personality, traditions, and budget
The freedom to be yourself (Really, get a little weird. We love it.)
If you still need a little inspo for your wedding looks, here are some of our favorite DC and Baltimore looks for your wedding day.
The Tiny Wedding Collective is a Washington DC-based all-inclusive elopement and intimate wedding planning service for DC and Baltimore, Maryland. A Tiny Wedding is for couples who want to celebrate their commitment in a thoughtful, stylish way but don’t want the stress and fanfare of a big, expensive wedding. Not all couples fit inside the same traditional box and it’s time that we make space for inclusivity, diversity, and creativity. To find out more about what it’s like to work with us, please fill out our contact form here.