The very first wedding I ever photographed back in 2007 was a micro-wedding. They had a small, intimate ceremony with their children and immediate families. It was casual, stress-free, and full of quality time with each other and their families. I absolutely loved it.
Kate & Ben enjoyed an afternoon of hiking and exploring Red River Gorge for their elopement after their backyard mini-wedding earlier in the year.
Elopements vs. Micro-Weddings: Understanding the Trends
Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to be part of a few elopements every year. Recently, "elopement" has been used as a catch-all to describe all different types of smaller weddings—from couples going to the courthouse together to renting a 20-person cabin for a weekend celebration. You’ll also see terms like intimate wedding, tiny wedding, and even minimony. They all have slightly different, very nuanced meanings, but if you’re going this route I recommend choosing the term that best fits your day.
The Benefits of an Intimate Wedding Celebration
There have always been many advantages to elopements. After COVID-19 threw a wrench in so many couples’ plans in 2020 and 2021, elopements and micro-weddings have become even more popular. They offer a more affordable celebration, an opportunity for deeper connections with each guest, and the flexibility to use unique locations that might be too small for traditional larger weddings.
Lizzie & Kevin had an adventurous sunrise hiking elopement in Red River Gorge.
So if you’re choosing to have a more intimate celebration, where do you start? How do you plan an elopement or mini-wedding in Louisville, Kentucky?
First, narrow down a guest list— this will inform a lot of your other decisions. For Kentucky, you need two witnesses and an officiant to be present for the ceremony, so you’ll need at least three other folks as part of your day.
Then you’ll want to choose a date. I recommend talking to important guests as well as your photographer about availability in order to find a day that works for everyone involved. Often elopements take place on non-Saturdays — which can really help with availability.
Hallie & Shawn had a smaller 40 person ceremony on a Friday and then a larger reception on the Saturday
How to Get Legally Married in Louisville
Both of you will need to apply in person for your marriage license at the county clerk. There is no waiting period, so once you have your license, you can have your ceremony any time within the next 30 days. Kentucky marriage licenses are valid in any county, making it easier to tie the knot at unique sites like Red River Gorge.
When choosing an officiant, if you’d like to have a friend perform the ceremony, they can get ordained online for free through The Universal Life Church. The website has information on rules & regulations by area as well as some example scripts you can modify to suit your needs. This is where I got ordained! If you’d rather hire a professional instead of having a family member perform the ceremony, Inclusive Kentucky Weddings has a directory of inclusive vendors and there are several very talented officiants listed there.
I got to photograph and officiate Alex & Kriston’s Elopement!
Choosing the Perfect Venue: Outdoor and Intimate Locations
From there, it’s time to choose a venue! The Parklands have several beautiful spots for a ceremony as well as really nice pavilions that can be rented for a reception starting around $175. The Parklands’ five parks are some of my favorite places— there is a lot of variety in landscape and flora. Louisville Metro Parks are also a great outdoor option— they have wedding permits for $150 and a variety of different shelters in all of their parks. If you’re interested in traveling outside of the city, Bernheim Arboretum is absolutely stunning and has a variety of options for elopements as well. And of course, Red River Gorge is one of the most popular spots to elope in Kentucky for very good reason! I love it so much that I made a whole guide specific to eloping in Red River Gorge.
A summer micro-wedding in the Parklands
You can also look to Airbnb or even Hipcamp for unique venue options! I had a couple get married at a treehouse in Nashville once and it was such a unique space. Lots of more traditional wedding venues or restaurants also have smaller spaces that can be really great for micro-weddings. And last but not least, there is always the option of your own backyard! Eloping at home can be so romantic and intimate.
Venue Styling and DIY Decor Ideas
Once you have your venue, start thinking about your attire and decor. Some venues might not require extensive decoration—sometimes a few houseplants or DIY elements are enough to define your ceremony space. Whether you go minimal or extravagant, the choice should reflect your unique vision. For help with the details, directories like Inclusive Kentucky Weddings feature planners, florists, hair & make-up artists, caterers, and more.
Sunrise elopement in Cherokee Park
Wedding Planning Tips and Additional Resources
The best part about elopements is that you can really choose how simple or extravagant you want to be. I know couples who skipped decorations and ordered pizza after their ceremony and others who went big on decor for the one table in their backyard. Both options were perfect for each respective couple. It is 100% up to you and you should do whatever feels like the right fit for who you are! Not all of my wedding planning tips translate to elopements, but I’d say 80% of them do— it can be a great resource when planning as well.
Jennifer & Tyler chose the Virgin Islands for their intimate wedding
Let’s Chat: Personalized Elopement and Micro-Wedding Planning Help in Louisville
Do you still have questions about planning an elopement or micro-wedding? Want to talk through your ideas to see if a smaller celebration is the right fit for you? Contact me, and let’s brainstorm together!