Elopement vs Micro Wedding

What Is the Difference Between an Elopement and a Micro Wedding ? 

People often think the biggest difference between an elopement and a small wedding is the number of guests. And while that’s certainly part of it, I actually think the biggest difference is who your day is designed around.

With an elopement, most of the decisions can be made entirely around the two of you. You can wake up whenever you like, spend hours exploring, change plans because the weather suddenly clears, or stop somewhere on the way to your ceremony simply because it feels right. You may still have a few people involved in the day, such as a hairstylist or officiant, but you are not building the experience around the needs of a larger group. There is much more space to follow your own rhythm.

With a micro wedding, you still have the opportunity to create an incredibly intentional experience, but you’re also hosting the people you’ve invited. You’ll naturally need to think about accessibility, comfort, and creating a day that everyone can enjoy together. That doesn’t make microweddings less intentional than elopements. It simply means your decisions, planning approach, and day-of experience will look a bit different. 

This is why I don’t think choosing between an elopement and a micro wedding is really about numbers. It’s about deciding what type of day feels right for you and who (if anyone) you want to experience your wedding day with.

 

What Is an Elopement ? 

If you search for the definition of an elopement, you will probably find many different answers.

For some people, an elopement still brings up the old idea of running away in secret. But that is not how I, or many couples today, think about elopements.

For me, an elopement is an intentional, tailor-made wedding experience created entirely around the two of you. It is a way to unite in privacy while sharing a day that reflects your relationship, your values, and the way you want to experience this moment together.

That might mean hiking to a mountain viewpoint, exchanging vows somewhere quiet in nature, exploring a new destination or landscape together, spending the night in a remote cabin, or simply slowing down enough to truly be present with each other.

When you elope, the possibilities are endless because the day does not need to be shaped around anyone else’s expectations.

This is why I personally define an elopement as just the couple. When there are no guests, every decision can be made based on what you want to experience together. You can choose a location because it speaks to you, create a timeline that follows your own rhythm, and allow the day to unfold naturally without needing to consider others’ needs.

Of course, there is no universal rule for what makes an elopement an elopement. Some people use the word for small weddings with a few guests, while others use it more broadly. But when I talk about elopements, I am talking about a wedding day where the focus is entirely on the couple and the experience they want to create together.

If you want to learn more about my personal definition of an elopement and why I believe it can be such a meaningful way to get married, you can read my full guide here: What Is an Elopement?

When an Elopement Might Be the Better Fit 

If the most important part of your wedding day is having the freedom to experience it exactly as you imagine, then an elopement might be the right choice for you.

Maybe you have never connected with the idea of a traditional wedding. Maybe you dream of spending your day outdoors, surrounded by landscapes that feel meaningful to you. Or maybe you simply want more time to slow down, be present with each other, and enjoy the moment without feeling like you are moving from one scheduled event to the next.

One of the things I love most about elopements is the space they create.

When it is just the two of you, you can choose places that might not work for a larger group. You can follow the weather, take a different path because something catches your eye, or spend more time in a place because it feels special, rather than rushing to the next part of the day.

This is especially true when planning an elopement in Norway.

For example, some couples choose to stay in a Norwegian hytte because they want to experience Norway in a slower, more local way. These cabins can be incredibly special, but they also come with a simpler way of living. You may have limited electricity, no running water, or even an outdoor shower.

For some couples, this is exactly what they are looking for, while for others, or couples eloping with guests, it may not feel comfortable, and that is completely okay.

An elopement is not about choosing the most remote location or creating the most adventurous day. It is about choosing an experience that feels natural for you.

 

What Is a Micro Wedding ? 

A micro wedding is a smaller wedding celebration that allows you to share your day with the people who matter most, while keeping the experience more intimate and personal than a traditional wedding.

Again, when it comes to micro weddings, there is no official number that defines them. Some people use the term for weddings with fewer than 50 guests, while others use it for much smaller celebrations. For the type of intimate weddings I photograph, I often think of a micro wedding as around 10–15 guests.

But the number itself is not what makes a micro wedding special. Rather, it’s about the people you want to spend your time with and the feelings that those moments create.

When a Micro Wedding Might Be the Better Fit 

A micro wedding might be the right choice if celebrating this moment with the people closest to you feels just as important as the experience itself.

For some couples, the moment feels more complete when they can look around and see the people who have supported them throughout their relationship. Maybe that means your parents witnessing your vows, your closest friends sharing a meal with you afterward, or creating memories in a place you have always dreamed of visiting together.

A micro wedding allows you to have that connection without creating a large, traditional wedding that does not feel like you.

With micro weddings, you can still move at a slower pace, choose a meaningful location, and create a day that reflects your relationship. The difference is that you are doing all of that while also creating memories with the people you have chosen to bring along.

This can be especially beautiful when planning a destination wedding. Your guests are not just attending a ceremony. They are sharing part of the journey with you, discovering a new place, and becoming part of the memories you create there. And, for some couples, that shared experience is exactly what makes their wedding day feel complete.

Of course, inviting guests naturally changes the way you plan. You’ll need to think about things like accessibility, comfort, accommodation, and making sure everyone can fully experience the day with you. But that does not make the experience less personal. It simply means the story you are creating has a few more people in it.

 

Can You Combine an Elopement and a Micro Wedding ? 

Yes. And for many couples, creating a combination of both experiences is the option that feels most natural.

Sometimes couples feel torn between an elopement vs a micro wedding because they are drawn to two different things. They love the idea of having a private experience where the day can unfold slowly, but they also want to share a part of this moment with the people they love.

The good news is that you do not always have to choose one or the other. 

One option is to separate the experiences within your day. You might spend a private morning together where the focus is entirely on the two of you, then celebrate with your family and friends afterward with a dinner or gathering.

Another option is creating a multi-day wedding experience. One day can be dedicated to exploring a place together, exchanging vows, and having the freedom to follow your own rhythm. Another day can be spent celebrating with your guests. 

This approach can be especially meaningful when planning a destination wedding. For example, you might dream of staying in a Norwegian hytte in the mountains. You may want to wake up surrounded by nature, take an outdoor shower, cook together, and experience a slower way of living for a few days. 

For the two of you, that might feel like the perfect reflection of the experience you want. But your guests may have a completely different relationship with that kind of environment, and that is okay. Creating separate experiences allows you to honour both things: the experience you have always imagined and the people you want to share this moment with.

Whether you choose an elopement, a micro wedding, or some combination of the two, there is no single formula for what this has to look like. The important thing is to understand what moments you want to share with others and what moments you want to keep just for yourselves.

 

How to Decide Between an Elopement and a Micro Wedding ? 

If you are still unsure whether an elopement or a micro wedding feels right for you, I would start by thinking less about what a wedding is “supposed” to look like and more about what type of day feels most natural for you. 

Here are a few questions I encourage couples to think about that can help them decide:

Do you want your guests to be part of the experience ? 

This is often one of the biggest questions couples have.

Imagine looking back on your wedding day. Does the thought of having your closest people there make the experience feel more complete? Or do you feel most excited about having a day that belongs entirely to the two of you?

How much flexibility do you want ?

This is especially important if you are planning a destination wedding.

Do you want the freedom to change your plans because the weather looks better somewhere else? Would you love to spend hours exploring without worrying about a schedule? Would you choose a location that requires a hike, a boat ride, or a little extra adventure to reach?

An elopement can give you more space for those spontaneous moments, whereas a micro wedding can still be flexible, but your decisions will naturally include your guests, too.

What kind of place do you want to experience ?

Sometimes the location itself can help you answer the question.

If you dream of a remote mountain cabin, a quiet trail, or a place that requires a little effort to reach, an elopement may give you more possibilities.

If you imagine sharing a meal together, celebrating around a table, and watching the people you love experience a place with you, a micro wedding may be the better fit.

 

At the end of the day, choosing between an elopement and a micro wedding comes down to the feeling you want to have and how you want to remember your day. 

Why a Smaller Wedding Can Be Just as Meaningful

One thing I care deeply about is helping couples understand that choosing an elopement or a micro wedding does not make your marriage any less important than a traditional celebration.

For some couples, it can actually feel more meaningful because it allows them to get married in a way that feels true to who they are. Maybe you do not enjoy being the center of attention. Maybe speaking in front of a crowd makes you uncomfortable. Or perhaps you simply do not recognize yourselves in the expectations that often come with a traditional wedding.

Choosing a smaller celebration is not about doing less. It is about making space for what matters to you.

Whether you exchange vows alone on a mountaintop or surrounded by fifteen of your closest family members, the commitment you are making is exactly the same. The meaning of your marriage is not defined by the number of guests, the size of the celebration, or how closely your wedding follows tradition. It comes from the promises you make to each other and the life you are choosing to build together.

I believe every couple deserves a wedding day that feels authentic to them. Not one they feel pressured to create because it is what they have always seen or what they think they are supposed to do.

Your wedding can be quiet, or it can be shared with a few people. It can look completely different from what you imagined when you were younger. And it can simply feel like you.

 

How I Help Couples Plan Their Elopement or Micro Wedding

Whether you choose an elopement or a micro wedding, planning a wedding, especially in another country, comes with many questions.

Where should you go? Which locations fit the experience you are imagining? How do you create a timeline that allows you to fully enjoy the day? What happens if the weather changes?

These are all parts of the planning process where understanding the place makes a difference. This is also why I believe choosing a photographer who truly understands elopements and intimate weddings is so important.

An elopement is not simply a traditional wedding with fewer guests. The experience is different, which means the planning behind it is different too.

For me, photographing an elopement starts long before the wedding day. I help couples think through the location, the season, the light, the logistics, and all the small details that can shape how the day feels. Sometimes that means choosing a quieter location rather than the most famous one. Sometimes it means adjusting the timeline around the weather or finding an accommodation that feels more connected to the experience they want.

It can also mean sharing local recommendations, helping you find the right people to bring into your day, and knowing the practical details that are easy to overlook when you are planning from another country.

The Planning is There to Give You More Space 

The purpose of all that planning is actually quite simple: to give you more space when the day arrives.

You should not have to spend your wedding day wondering whether the ferry is running, where you are supposed to go next, or whether the weather has changed your plans. Those are the things we can think through together beforehand, so that when you are there, you can simply be present.

That is the kind of experience I want to create for my couples, whether you choose an elopement, a micro wedding, or a combination of the two.

My role is not to tell you what your wedding should look like. It is, rather, to understand what matters to you, share what I know about the places I photograph, and help you create a day that genuinely reflects who you are.

If you are imagining a wedding in Norway or France and would like to talk through what that could look like, I would love to hear about your vision.

 

Reach out to start planning your elopement or micro wedding