Quick outline:
- My backyard micro-wedding (28 guests)
- Restaurant party for my sister (22 guests)
- Courthouse + brunch (our legal day)
- Cabin weekend for my cousin (16 guests)
- Decor, music, photos that actually worked
- What I’d do again, and what I wouldn’t
I’m Kayla. I planned a small wedding for myself and helped with two more in my family. I tried things. I broke things. I fixed things. And yes, I found the sweet stuff that still makes me smile. You know what? Small can feel huge.
If you’d like another real-life example, Meghan Livingstone shares how her own backyard wedding shaved more than $20K off the bill.
I even put together a full post on what worked and what totally flopped if you want the long version.
If you’re still gathering ideas, the galleries and real-wedding breakdowns over at VT Vows are a gold mine for small celebrations.
Let me explain. Before you start pinning centerpieces, grab a solid plan—these road-tested wedding checklists saved me from many a meltdown.
Our Backyard Wedding (28 people) — Cozy, cheap, a little chaotic
We did it at my mom’s house. It was simple. It was loud. It was us.
- Food: A taco truck parked in the driveway. The minimum was about $700 and fed everyone, with leftovers. Worth it.
- Music: I used my JBL Charge 5 speaker with a Spotify playlist. Crossfade set to 6 seconds. I downloaded the list offline so Wi-Fi couldn’t mess it up.
- Pictures: We hired a photographer for two hours. It cost about $600. We also set two iPhones on tripods to catch video. One was my iPhone 14 Pro.
- Flowers: We bought blooms from Trader Joe’s and Costco. I made my bouquet with my aunt. Not fancy. So pretty.
- Guest book: Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 and a stack of film. Guests stuck the photos in a scrapbook.
- Lights and seating: Warm string lights, rented 30 white folding chairs, and two tables for food.
- Cake: A 6-inch “cutting cake” for photos, plus a sheet cake in the kitchen for serving. Also donuts. Because donuts—and, if you're thinking about ditching the tier for cupcakes, read this real-life cupcake swap for pros and cons.
What I loved:
- It felt like home. People kicked off shoes and helped. My niece held the rings like it was a game show.
- The taco truck was fast. No plate pileups.
- The Instax guest book makes me tear up still. Even the blurry ones.
What bugged me:
- Setup and cleanup were real work. We finished tying table runners as guests parked.
- Sound. The JBL was great for background and first dance. But not big enough for dancing outside. If you want a real dance floor, bring a second speaker or rent one.
- Weather stress. We had a pop-up shower at noon. We used a tarp like it was our best friend.
Surprise: The lawn sprinklers turned on during speeches. We forgot the timer. Funny now. Not then.
Restaurant Micro-Wedding (My sister’s, 22 people) — Easy and warm
We booked a private room at a local Italian spot. Pre-set menu: salad, two pastas, chicken, and dessert. It was about $55 per person with wine.
What we used and liked:
- Invitations were digital with Paperless Post. Clear and fast. Less paper, less mail stress.
- We made tiny bud vases with Whole Foods flowers. Eight vases total. Cute and quick.
- We brought a small JBL Clip 4 for background music. It clipped right to a chair. Easy.
- For toasts, I used a Shure MV88 mic on my iPhone. Clear sound in a loud room.
What to ask a restaurant:
- Time limit (the room had a 3-hour cap)
- Cake cutting fee (we paid $2 per slice)
- Corkage
- Lighting (ours was yellow; we asked to dim lights for photos)
- High chairs, if needed
What we learned:
- No setup stress. Staff handled every plate. Bless them.
- Less space to dance. More talk, less twirl. It fit the vibe.
- Manager needed a final count 72 hours before. We missed one RSVP and had to pay anyway.
Courthouse + Brunch (Our legal day) — Quick and cute
We did a tiny courthouse ceremony the week before our backyard party. Just four of us.
- Outfit: I wore a white slip dress from Aritzia and white sneakers. My husband wore a navy suit he already had.
- Flowers: I carried a small bouquet I made with Trader Joe’s stems.
- Photos: A friend took pictures on my iPhone 14 Pro. We used Portrait mode outside the building. Bright light. Clean lines. Done.
- Food: We booked a corner at a café after. Pancakes, coffee, and one happy grandma.
Pros:
- Zero stress. We were in and out.
- Cute city shots outside the courthouse doors.
- Easy parking on a weekday.
Cons:
- The room was tiny. Only two guests allowed inside.
- Appointments fill fast. Grab your slot early.
Cabin Weekend (My cousin’s, 16 people) — Chill and real
We stayed at an Airbnb cabin for three nights. The ceremony was on the deck at sunset. I was a bridesmaid.
- Sound: Bose SoundLink Revolve. Strong and even. Better than my JBL for outdoors.
- Lights: Battery string lights over the railing. No outlet hunt.
- Arch: Found a wood arch rental through a local Facebook group. Pick up and return was smooth.
- Food: Grazing boards, chili in slow cookers, s’mores at night.
It felt like summer camp for grown-ups.
Heads-up:
- Some cabins have strict parking and quiet hours. Read the house rules. We staggered cars at a trailhead and carpooled in.
- Cell service may be weak. Print your timeline and vows.
- Bring heavy tape and extra extension cords anyway. You’ll need them.
Decor That Didn’t Look Cheap
I tried a lot. Some things work hard for what they cost.
- Warm string lights make everything feel soft. Not blue. Warm.
- Thrifted frames for signs. I printed simple signs at home. “Bar,” “Cards,” “Guest Book.” Done.
- Linen table runners (mine were from H&M Home). They hid ugly tables. Washed up fine.
- Taper candles in mixed holders. Pretty glow. Use drip catchers outside.
What flopped:
- Bubbles got sticky on dresses.
- “Eco” confetti was still hard to pick from grass.
- A photo display fell in the wind. Clothespins beat tape. Every time.
Music: DJ vs Playlist
We used a playlist. Here’s the thing: it worked, with limits.
- Ceremony: I set one friend as “music captain.” They pressed play. We practiced timing. It kept nerves down.
- Speeches: The Shure MV88 plugged into my iPhone was crisp. People could hear, even out back.
- Dance set: The single JBL Charge 5 was just okay. For real dance energy, add a second speaker or rent one with a sub.
Tips for Spotify:
- Turn off volume normalizer.
- Download songs offline.
- Crossfade at 6 seconds.
- Put three “buffer songs” before each key moment.
Photos Without a Full-Day Package
I only booked a photographer for two hours. Ceremony, family shots, couple portraits. That’s it. It saved money and stress.
What helped:
- A short family list (ten must-have shots)
- A clean spot for portraits at golden hour
- Three phones on tripods for video, set to 4K 30 fps
Instax guest book notes:
- One pack of film per 10 guests felt right.
- Bright rooms work better. Flash can blow out faces.
- Keep a Sharpie on a string. People forget pens.
Rough Budget From Our Backyard Wedding
- Food truck: about $700
- Photographer (2 hours): $600
- Rentals (chairs, two tables): $180
- Flowers (DIY): $180
- Speaker (already owned): $0
- Lights and candles: $120
- Cake + donuts: $140
- Paper goods, ice, small stuff: $160
Total: about $2,080 before clothes and rings. Your prices may vary, of course.
If you’re wondering how those numbers stack up against national averages, you can peek at this straightforward breakdown of typical backyard-wedding expenses over on This Old House.
The Quick Wins That Saved Us
- One helper with a headset or just a phone chat open. My cousin ran the show from 3 pm to 7 pm. She was calm. We paid her with a gift card.
- A bathroom basket with wipes, safety pins, band-aids, and mints.
- A cooler only for drinks and a separate