Everything you need to know about how to have a micro wedding in Durham and planning an intimate small wedding. I shot my first micro wedding years ago and since then I’ve helped dozens of couples plan their micro wedding in Durham and captured tens of thousands of photos of intimate moments as a Durham wedding photographer. If you’re not sure how to even start planning your Durham micro wedding then you’re in the right place. I’ll show you the best venues for micro weddings, how to get your marriage license, a planning checklist, recommend vendors, and teach you some stuff that you didn’t even know.
What Is A Micro Wedding?
A micro wedding is an intimate event usually with no more than 50 guests. They still have some of the traditions that make a wedding but on a much smaller scale. Imagine your closest family and friends celebrating with you after a short ceremony.
Ideas from my clients:
Allison and Justin rented a trolley for their close friends to ride around in on their wedding day. They brought drinks and had music blasting kind of like a bar. This allowed them to have a micro wedding experience exclusively with their friends and afterwards meet up with Grandma.
Why Have A Micro Wedding?
A smaller guest list, condensed ceremony, and only your closest family and friends are enough to convince most couples that a micro wedding is right for them. Did you know that couples who have micro weddings report being less stressed, having more fun, and remembering their day better?
Ideas from my clients:
If you’re going to have fewer guests but still have the budget for a larger wedding then consider doing a destination wedding to Turks and Caicos like Adison and Brett (a couple who hired me). Instead of doing a large wedding in their hometown of Durham, they brought their closest family and friends (plus me) for a three-day beach wedding celebration taking their planned wedding day budget and creating an experience that they’ll remember forever.
Best Places To Have A Micro Wedding In Durham
Durham has so many venues for small weddings that offer significantly lower prices than the larger wedding venues. Honestly, I think Durham’s venues are some of the most creative and beautiful in North Carolina from barn venues like The Barn at Valhalla to modern downtown architectures like the 21C Museum Hotel. Keep your traditional church wedding at Duke Chapel too. They all have something to offer your micro wedding in Durham!
My client’s favorite Micro Wedding Venues in Durham:
Downtown Durham’s newest wedding venue converted from a restaurant.
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Up To 25 Guests $1800
Dressing Suite or Private Room • Complimentary Sparkling Wine • Toast Dining Tables, Cocktail Tables and Chairs • A/V System
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The Intimate Gathering $6800 M - F
Up to 50 guests • Includes six hours of private access to our barn, flower fields, and gardens, as well as day-of wedding coordination • Table and chairs • Chalkboard art • Access to two dressing suites
or
The Garden Elopement $2800
Two hours of private access to our barn and gardens • Professional live-streaming of the ceremony • Choice of three beautifully-designed ceremony locations • Post-ceremony champagne toast • Bridal bouquet • Groom’s boutonnière • Additional options can be added, including bridesmaids bouquets, an officiant, and photography services
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Short & Sweet $1200
20 Guests max* 3 Hour rental • Outdoor restrooms accessible - 5 Outdoor ceremony options - Covered patio rain plan - 2 Altar options - 20 white ceremony chairs included
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Up To 50 Guests for 4 Hours $850 Sunday - Thursday (Weekends available with four months advance)
• Choice of two shaded ceremony areas • Chairs will be set up for you if using the Meadow • Bridal Suite • Bridal Shuttle to Venue • Sound System • Sundays – Thursdays only or any available weekend day if scheduled within four months • Inclement weather locations • Additional Props and Furniture • Additional time at $250/hour • Full use of the venue area including Reception Barn, Tavern, Chapel, Bull Pen, Courtyard, Meadow, Fire Pit area (no fire) and Tinkle Tavern.
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Second Floor Galleries $1,500
Wireless handheld microphone for toasts • Custom printed menus • Choice of white or black floor-length linen and napkins • White votive candles • Display, gift, and cake tables • Complimentary mimosas for wedding party • Complimentary luxury room for wedding couple • Complimentary continental breakfast in bed for wedding couple
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Intimate Wonder
Accommodations for up to 20 people • Three hours of event time (set-up and break down is included) • Tables and chairs from Museum inventory that are set up and broken down by Museum staff (20 Chairs, 3 Cocktail Rounds, 2-8ft Tables for catering, 1-36” for Cake, and one rectangular ceremony table) • Heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by Southern Harvest Hospitality Group • Wedding Flowers for the couple provided by Tre Bella • 11” Wedding Cake (flavors TBD) provided by Guglhupf • One set of Fender speakers with a mic and access to Sirius XM Museum • Venue Coordinator and Rental Support Staff • Weather plan included for all outdoor event spaces • Complimentary internet access •Complimentary on-site parking for you and your guests • Resource documents to guide you in the wedding planning process
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Top $1200
Tables and chairs included • Accommodates 45 guests • Hardwood Floors • Private Balcony • Natural light throughout • Wheelchair access available • In House Catering
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The Roof
360-degree Downtown Views • Raw bar • Hand-Crafted Cocktails • Daytime Wedding Ceremonies • Group Reservations During Evening Service Hours.
Best Time To Have A Micro Wedding In Durham
Many venues in Durham have to keep their Saturdays open for larger weddings but any other day would work. Monday through Thursday are great days to have a micro wedding in Durham. Remember you won’t need to reserve the venue for the normal 8-10 hour wedding day because when there are fewer guests there is less of a need for long cocktail hours, drawn out meals, and huge productions like audio and visual equipment to set up, etc. Sounds nice right?
There’s so much wiggle room to create an unconventional wedding like choosing the time of day that fits your schedule. Traditionally wedding ceremonies start around 5PM and is on a tight schedule but because there aren’t so many guests to herd around all night you would be able to have a ceremony anytime of the day!
Ideas from my clients:
Billy and Sarah chose to get married mid-morning on a Sunday then had a small brunch for their close family and friends. Remember it’s your day and you’re in charge so get creative with your Durham micro wedding!
Durham Micro Wedding Planning Checklist
Wedding Planner Many wedding planners in Durham have “day of” rates where they’ll plan and run your micro wedding for you. It’s like a lite version of their typical services and way easier on the bank. If you’re wedding isn’t being catered or being held at a venue then I recommend planning your own wedding. Remember micro weddings are designed to be unconventional and creative so don’t hold back.
Budget Before you can budget you have to decide your guest list. Each guest racks up costs to you so choose wisely. After you’ve made a list of your closest family and friends then make another list of important vendors (photography, food, etc.) plus how much you’d like to spend on each. Consider travel costs for you and your guests plus any miscellaneous expenses that you foresee. Try to be extravagant when brainstorming what you want and conservative when budgeting it.
Where Since you won’t have more than a few dozen guests (probably your closest family and friends) it’s more likely that you’ll be able to travel or elope with them. They may even prefer it because who doesn’t want to attend a wedding and go on vacation! It’ definitely easier to stay local but consider a destination micro wedding if you can! Asheville is close but you could go anywhere because the sky is the limit.
When Venues usually charge more for nights, weekends, and busy season (usually May - October). If you’re willing to book in the off season or during a weekday then you might save some money.
Want an outdoor ceremony? Remember to consider:
Temperature (consider clothing, hair, make-up, comfort, and physical activity)
Time of day (best light is sunrise or sunset for photos)
After you’ve decided when your ceremony is then you can start planning the rest of your day!
Venue
Wedding venues near Durham are the coolest. Each has its own special quirkiness. Spend some time thinking about breweries, restaurants, coffee shops, and maybe even a traditional venue that you like being at. Reach out to your favorites and ask if you could get married there. Sometimes the most surprising place can make the best venue.
Looking for free outdoor locations for your wedding? Check out my guide!
Ceremony This is where I love seeing couples get creative. I’ve seen couples hike out into the woods for 30 minutes with their family and friends. I’ve rode a chair lift for a mountain top ceremony. I’ve seen couples build a fire in the woods together and burn sage. The main thing to do you. Don’t try to do something cool for other people because you won’t enjoy it. Come up with a meaningful and intimate approach to your ceremony. Don’t hold back because even though it’s a micro wedding it is just as important.
Officiant
Really the only vendor you need for your small wedding is the officiant. Look through some Durham wedding officiants on Wedding Wire and give them a call!
Vendors
For intimate weddings, the main vendors are the florist, photographer, videographer, officiant, hair, make-up and food. Micro weddings rarely have a DJ but a private band or live musician would definitely create a vibe if you can afford it!
Wedding License
Don’t wait until the last minute to start the process of getting your marriage license because it may delay when you can have your wedding.
Here are the requirements for applying for a marriage license in Durham county:
• Applicants can’t already be married.
• Applicants must be getting married within 60 days of getting their license.
• Applicants must be getting married in the State of North Carolina.
• Pay $60.00 (Cash, Money Order, or Bank Check) fee to obtain a marriage license.
Keep in mind that certified copies of your marriage license are $10.00 each and they take cash, money order, or bank check.
Save a trip to the courthouse! Remember that marriage licenses are issued at the Office of the Register of Deed 8:30 a.m. and before 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except major holidays.
The address is:
201 East Main Street - 2nd Floor
Administration Bldg. 2
Durham, North Carolina 27701
Chill Remember why you chose to have a micro wedding. It was because you wanted something simple, fun and not too much stress. If you’re overthinking it then you’re doing it wrong. If you need some help I have lot’s of it. Reach out.
Durham Micro Wedding Photography
How To Get The Best Photos:
Schedule your ceremony when it’s nice light for photos. 2 hours before sunset will do it.
Hire a photographer (me!) for 2-3 hours. They will cover a little some getting ready, the ceremony, family photos and, the couple (you). Additional packages are available to come to the reception.
My photography and video are mostly candid so the environment will be more relaxing than you might think.
Right now safety a priority for me and I will respect all current local rules and laws.
If you’re interested in working together, please reach out in the contact form below, and I’ll message you within a day.
Thanks for reading and if you have any other questions, feel free to reach out!
