JLP's Guide to Planning a Meaningful, Elevated Intimate Wedding
Hey hi hello! It's Jess here with the Jessica Luann Photography ~JLP for short~ gals, ready to chat all about creating the most magical intimate wedding ever! If you're thinking of gathering just your favorite humans for a celebration that feels 100% you (without the stress but with all the stunning details), you've landed in exactly the right spot!
Let's dive into how to create a day that feels effortless but has every tiny detail planned to perfection. No family drama, no checking boxes on someone else's wedding checklist—just you, your lover, and a day that feels like the best ever.
What Even Is an "Intimate Wedding" Anyway?
First things first, let's get clear on what we're talking about here! In our world:
Elopements = Just you two plus maaaaybe up to 10 of your absolute favorite humans. Think epic views, heartfelt vows, champagne toasts, and soaking in every moment together. The focus is primarily on the ceremony and experience rather than traditional wedding elements.
Micro Weddings = Around 10-30 guests. You might include some traditional elements like a reception dinner, heartfelt toasts, maybe a first dance, but it still feels super personal and cozy.
(In our book, "intimate wedding" covers both of these celebration styles!)
The beauty of an intimate wedding is that with fewer guests, everything gets to be intentional and meaningful. This isn't about cutting corners or skimping on details—it's about making room for the stuff that actually matters to you two! You get to focus on quality over quantity in every single aspect. From the people you invite to the details you include, everything gets to be intentional, meaningful, and elevated to the absolute max.
Why Choose an Intimate Wedding?
Our JLP couples choose intimate weddings because they want that elevated, all-about-them experience where every single detail feels intentional. They're looking for quality time with their person and closest loved ones in a breathtaking setting, without having to manage the moving parts themselves.
It's for couples who want the most special day of their lives to be a done-for-you experience with all the bells and whistles—think luxury accommodations, private chef experiences, custom florals, and epic locations—just without the 200-person guest list.
If you'd rather spend your wedding day having deep conversations with everyone there instead of making small talk with distant relatives you barely know, this celebration style might be calling your name!
Starting Point: Your Perfect Place
Where you celebrate totally sets the vibe for your entire day. And (bonus), intimate weddings open up sooo many amazing options that just wouldn't work for bigger gatherings!
For elopements (up to 10 guests), the world is your oyster! You can literally choose anywhere that makes your heart skip a beat—alpine lakes that mirror the mountains, desert landscapes where you can see forever, hidden mountain meadows bursting with wildflowers, or cliffsides with views that'll make your jaw drop.
For micro weddings (15-30 guests), you'll want a dedicated space that can accommodate your group. The best part? With a smaller guest count, you can book stunning properties that wouldn't work for larger weddings, think:
Dreamy mountain homes with panoramic views from every window
Chic boutique hotels that feel like they were made just for you
Cozy restaurants that you can totally take over for the night
Small, specialized venues that focus on intimate gatherings
Our biggest location tip ever?
Find a place where you can do it ALL—get ready, say your vows, and celebrate afterward (or choose a mountain town that has everything centrally located, such as Breckenridge, Crested Butte, and Telluride). This gives you ultimate quality time (no traveling between locations), simplified vendor logistics, and a cohesive feel throughout your day. Imagine waking up at your amazing mountain rental, sipping coffee with a view, getting ready with your favorite people, walking outside for your ceremony with those epic mountains behind you, then heading back in for an incredible chef-prepared dinner as the sun sets. Zero stress about transportation, weather plans, or moving from spot to spot. Just soaking in every perfect moment in one beautiful place. Sounds way better than spending most of your day traveling from place to place, right?
Don’t worry though, we’d never make you find the best spots all by yourself! We've got all the deets on our favorite spots in our blogs about the Best Airbnbs to Elope at in Colorado, Wyoming, & Utah and Best Small Wedding Venues for an Intimate Celebration. We're always updating them with places we love and spots we're dying to capture!
Your Dream Team: The People Who Make It Happen
Here's something we're super passionate about: while you might be cutting your guest list, your vendor team should be absolutely top-notch. When you're not feeding 200 people, you can put that budget toward creating the most incredible experience with the best in the biz.
When our couples book with us, they get our curated master list of all vendors we absolutely adore working with. But we don't stop at just handing over our master list—we take your vision, your location, and your vibe into account to curate the perfect team for YOU. Most of our couples end up booking straight from our suggestions because they're just that perfect!
Here's some key vendors we always recommend to make the magic happen:
Photography + Planning Team (that's us, your gals!): We handle both the capturing AND the creating so everything flows perfectly. Your photos are your forever keepsakes, and our planning means you never have to stress about a single detail.
Florist: Even for intimate celebrations, professional florals make SUCH a difference. Think lush bouquets that compliment the landscape, ceremony installations that frame you perfectly, and tablescapes that make dinner feel like a dream.
Hair & Makeup: Nothing beats feeling absolutely amazing in your skin while knowing your look will stand up to mountain winds or desert heat.
Private Chef or Caterer: With a smaller guest count, you can go all out on an incredible meal experience. Think multi-course tasting menus and wine pairings for each course—it's like having your own restaurant for the night!
Rentals: Picture a gorgeous tablescape with beautiful chairs, specialty linens, hand-selected place settings, and candles creating the perfect glow—all set up and broken down without you lifting a finger.
Videographer: For capturing the sounds, movement, and feeling of your day. Many of our couples mix digital and Super8 film for that dreamy, timeless feel.
Content Creator: The newest must-have! A content creator captures those behind-the-scenes moments that land right on your phone the next day, ready to share.
Officiant: Whether you self-solemnize (legal in Colorado!), ask a loved one, or hire a pro who just gets you.
Transportation: If you're having guests and separate locations, having dedicated transport means everyone arrives together, on time, with zero stress about directions or parking.
What to Expect: The Investment
Let's talk numbers! While intimate weddings typically cost less than big traditional weddings, they're not necessarily "budget" weddings when done with intention and elevated details.
Our JLP couples typically invest around $30k+ on their entire intimate wedding experience—and for good reason! This isn't about cutting corners. It's about creating an elevated celebration where every single detail feels thoughtful and special.
When you're not spending on a massive guest list, you can invest in the elements that make your day feel extraordinary—that stunning mountain home with panoramic views, the incredible floral installation that frames your ceremony, the private chef experience, the curated details that make your celebration uniquely yours.
Making Your Day Meaningful (The Details That Matter)
The absolute best part of intimate weddings is that every single element can be intentional and meaningful. With fewer guests, you can create moments that would be impossible with a bigger celebration:
Vows That Come From the Heart
With just your closest people around, you can share vows that are truly personal—inside jokes, specific promises, and dreams for your future without feeling like you're performing for a crowd. So many of our couples tell us this becomes the most cherished part of their day—being able to speak freely from the heart in a setting that feels safe and intimate.
Quality Time That's Actually Quality
With a smaller celebration, you can build your timeline around meaningful experiences instead of rushing through a wedding formula. Imagine a first look where you can actually talk and soak in the moment, a pre-ceremony walk to center yourselves, cocktail hour where you can have real conversations with every single guest, or a sunset portrait session that doubles as quiet time just for you two.
Elevated Dining Experiences
The dining experience at an intimate wedding can be elevated to something truly special. With a smaller guest count, you can create a meal that would be logistically impossible with hundreds of guests. Think long-table family-style dining that encourages real conversation, wine pairings with each course selected by a sommelier, a custom menu featuring your favorite foods prepared with intention, or even interactive culinary elements like a chef's table experience where guests can watch their meal being prepared. Food becomes more than just sustenance—it becomes part of the story of your day.
Personal Touches That Don't Get Lost
When you're planning for 20 people instead of 200, those thoughtful details actually get noticed and appreciated—welcome bags with carefully chosen local treats, handwritten notes at each place setting, custom cocktails named after meaningful moments in your relationship, vintage family photos incorporated into your décor, or meaningful music played on vinyl during dinner.
Including Loved Ones Who Can't Be There
While crafting your small guest list, you might feel a little guilt over not inviting certain people or even have people who feel a little hurt by your decision. But remember that "present" doesn't always mean physically there—your nearest and dearest can still be part of your day in ways that feel meaningful and special to you both.
One of our absolute favorite ideas: ask family and friends to write you heartfelt letters to read on your wedding day. There's something so special about finding a quiet moment with your new spouse and reading words of love and encouragement from the people who mean the most to you. Some couples also love collecting video messages they can watch later—such a beautiful way to feel connected to your people even during this intimate moment.
After your celebration, keep the love flowing! Send out beautiful announcement cards with your favorite photo, host a super casual get-together when you return home, share a curated gallery of images with your closest people, or create a stunning album to pass around at your post-wedding party. We've seen couples host everything from backyard BBQs to fancy restaurant dinners after their intimate weddings, and they're always filled with so much love.
The JLP Planning Experience: How We Make Your Day Completely Effortless
When you book with us, you're not just getting photographers or planners—you're getting your wedding BFFs who handle literally everything. We're not just helping you plan—we're literally crafting every single aspect of your day from scratch while you sit back and enjoy being engaged. Our planning process is honestly the most fun ever, and couples tell us all the time they had no idea wedding planning could actually be enjoyable! Here's what sets our approach apart:
1. Your Planning Workbook
The moment you're officially booked (contract signed, deposit paid—woo!), we slide into your inbox with something that'll make you do a happy dance: your very own Planning Workbook! This isn't just any PDF—it's basically your wedding bible and the golden ticket to our signature planning experience.
Inside this treasure trove, you'll find:
Planning Timeline
Planning Checklist
Planning Calls (6+ over 12 months)
Preferred Vendor List
Lodging Guide + How to Book
Ceremony Location Guide
Marriage License Guide
Wedding Day Essentials
What to Pack List
Wedding Guest Attire Guide
Our couples tell us this workbook is literally a game-changer—suddenly all those wedding planning worries melt away because everything is organized, clear, and actually makes sense! It's the perfect mix of checklists, inspiration, and insider knowledge that makes planning feel like an adventure instead of a chore.
2. We Take ALL the Work Off Your Plate
Once you book your vendors (from our recommended list, of course!), we take over completely. And we mean COMPLETELY. Our team:
Creates the timeline and keeps everyone on track
Handles all vendor communications (no more flooded inbox!)
Does all site visits and location scouting
Creates detailed diagrams so everyone knows the plan
Coordinates all deliveries, setup times, and pickups
Makes backup weather plans just in case
Builds minute-by-minute schedules for the day
We literally become your wedding communication headquarters, so your inbox isn't flooded with wedding vendor questions. You get to do the fun part—picking beautiful things and dreaming up special moments—while we handle all the nitty-gritty logistics that make those beautiful things happen without a hitch.
3. Design That Brings Your Vision to Life
Our design process goes way beyond Pinterest boards. We start by curating inspiration that speaks to you, but then we transform those images into actual, concrete plans:
Ceremony backdrop designs showing exactly how your florals will frame you
Tablescape mockups with the exact linens, plates, and glassware you'll have
Custom signage layouts with fonts and materials
Lighting plans for creating the perfect mood at different times
Floral design boards showing exactly which blooms will create your look
We're not just picking pretty things—we're creating a cohesive design story that feels 100% like you, working closely with your florist and rental company to make sure every element works perfectly together.
4. Your Dream Location
Once we narrow down where your dream location is, we send over a curated list of our favorite venues or locations in that area. These aren't just random spots pulled from Google—they're places we've personally scouted to make sure they're absolutely perfect for intimate weddings. We handle all the permit requirements and paperwork (because nobody wants to deal with that stress), create detailed maps for you and your vendors, and visit your chosen location before your wedding day to make sure everything is just right.
For elopements, we've got secret spots that even most locals don't know about—think hidden alpine lakes, private overlooks with jaw-dropping views, and secluded meadows that feel like they were made just for you two. For micro weddings, we help you find properties that perfectly blend stunning backdrops with practical needs, so you can focus on soaking in every moment while we take care of the details. With our team, you're not just getting a location guide—you're getting a completely personalized experience in a place that feels magical.
5. Your Custom Planning Portal
As we’re designing and dreaming, we create a completely personalized digital hub that becomes your everything-in-one-place spot for wedding planning. This isn't just cookie-cutter template—it's built just for YOU with:
Your actual wedding date
Your custom color palette and design vibe
Personalized planning timeline tailored to your specific location and season
All your vendor details organized in one spot
As planning progresses, this evolves into a super detailed design deck with:
Real photos from our location scouting trips
Maps and layouts showing exactly where everything will happen
Design mockups of your ceremony space and tablescape
Rental selections showing exactly what your setup will include
Timeline broken down to 15-minute increments
It’s like seeing your wedding day vision transform from a Pinterest board to detailed reality!
6. Timeline Crafting
Our timelines aren't just lists of what happens when. They're carefully curated experiences that account for:
The perfect light at different times of day for your photos
Buffer time so you never feel rushed
How your guests will experience the day
Setup needs for each element
Travel time between locations (if you're moving around)
Weather considerations and backup plans
Making sure meaningful moments get the time they deserve
7. Day-Of Execution That Feels Like Magic
On your actual day, our team arrives hours before anyone else and stays until the very end. We:
Direct all setup according to our detailed plans
Handle vendor arrivals and any last-minute questions
Help with all those little details like steaming dresses and pinning boutonnieres
Keep everything running smoothly and on schedule
Handle any surprise issues without you ever knowing
Coordinate cleanup and vendor departures
And of course, capture every single moment of your amazing day!
You and your loved ones get to be 100% present while we handle every detail behind the scenes. It's like having a wedding fairy godmother taking care of absolutely everything while she captures every single special moment!
8. Beyond the Day: Albums & Keepsakes
Our service doesn't end when your wedding day does. After your celebration, we keep the magic going with our comprehensive album creation process. You'll receive sneak peek images within 48 business hours to relive those first magical moments, followed by your full gallery within 6 weeks. We then guide you through selecting the perfect images for your album, and create a custom layout that tells your complete story from start to finish. Most of our packages include an album credit because we believe so strongly in having tangible memories to revisit for years to come. The result is a luxury lay-flat album that becomes an instant family heirloom—something that brings back all the feelings every time you open it.
Why It Works: Trust & Expertise
Our approach works best when couples trust us from day one. When you share your vision and then let us run with it, that's when the real magic happens!
We become completely invested in your day—obsessing over every tiny detail and going above and beyond to create something that feels 100% like you, but even better than you imagined.
The result? A day that looks totally effortless but has hundreds of hours of detailed planning behind it. A celebration where you get to be fully present instead of worrying about logistics. A seamlessly curated intimate wedding experience that feels like the best day ever—for you AND everyone lucky enough to be there with you.
Ready to Create Your Perfect Intimate Wedding?
Planning should feel just as good as the day itself! If you're dreaming of a celebration that feels intentional, elevated, and completely true to you, let's chat! Our team specializes in crafting seamless, stress-free intimate wedding experiences in the most beautiful places.
We're here to bounce ideas around, answer all your questions, and handle every single detail so you can focus on creating memories that'll last a lifetime. Trust us with your vision, and watch us make it happen! If you’re still looking for more resources around crafting the perfect intimate wedding, join our email newsletter. Or if you’re just ready to chat about your dream day, hit us up on our contact page or just scroll down below!
Remember, there's no right or wrong way to celebrate your love—there's only what feels true to you. And we can't wait to help bring that vision to life!
P.S. if you’re dreaming of an intimate wedding and were looking for more of a step-by-step guide, we’ve got you! Our How To Elope blog goes deep into every single thing you’ll need to know to plan your intimate wedding day!
