Think that by having an intimate microwedding, you’ll be settling for less?

Think again!

Of course, there will be less guests if you and yours choose to have a microwedding, but Kalli and Ryan’s spunky Canada microwedding is proof that you won’t lose any of the ‘wow factor’ by keeping it small. 

(In fact, you can even go above and beyond and plan the entire wedding yourself, like Kalli did! No wedding planner, no day of coordinator… nothing! We can just pause here and unanimously agree that Kalli is Wonder Woman herself. I mean, just look at her– pictured below– right before the wedding with walkie talkie in one hand and laptop in the other, still masterminding all of the final details. Like, WOW.)

Even if you maybe don’t want to take it quite to Kalli’s level, as their microwedding photographer, I cross my heart and hope to die: You can elevate your microwedding to the highest heights, with the right amount of creativity and intention. 

Here are a few ways to go about it, as seen in Kalli and Ryan’s jaw-dropping microwedding gallery.

“We can’t put into words how grateful we are for Ali’s incredible artistry and talent. From the moment we received our photos, we knew she had captured our day more perfectly than we ever could have imagined. Every moment of love, laughter, and joy was preserved with such emotion and beauty that looking through them feels like reliving our entire celebration. Ali made the experience effortless from start to finish. She was communicative and kept us updated with photos, videos, and texts—whether it was sharing her travel updates for our wedding weekend or letting us know the progress of photo editing and delivery. Planning a micro wedding for 25 people came with unique needs, and Ali helped us map out our timeline, offering thoughtful advice and creative ideas (because, of course, the answer is always bubbles!). She even coordinated her outfit to fit perfectly into our color scheme, making sure every detail of the day aligned beautifully. Ali, you are a true artist of extraordinary magnitude. You captured our family’s tears, laughter, and love in a way that made us cry all over again—multiple times! Each photo radiates warmth, life, and the unforgettable memories of our weekend, beautifully wrapped up in each shot. We’ll forever cherish these images and the emotions they bring. Our families and friends have looked at these photos countless times, and they have become a regular part of our lives, bringing so much happiness. Her presence made everything run smoothly—from handling logistics to creating the perfect atmosphere and capturing everlasting memories. We miss you already and can’t wait for our paths to cross again. Thank you for making our dreams come true and for capturing every precious moment. Experiencing the absolute ray of sunshine that Ali is and the magic she brings to your day is a true gift, and I can’t help but feel a little jealous of the future couples who have that to look forward to.”

Be a bit atypical with your microwedding attire.

An instant indication of a thoughtful microwedding is how the bride and groom are dressed. Between Ryan’s floral tie and emerald green suit, Kalli’s V. Chapman midi dress with corset bodice and ruffled sleeve details, and her shoes rotating between bedazzled Converse and elegant kitten heels, it was clear that the microwedding would be as full of character as the newlyweds-to-be.

(Knowing Kalli’s and Ryan’s wedding was going to be colorful even gave me the chance to coordinate my outfit with the color scheme, doing my part to keep the microwedding style consistent!)

I personally think that curating your wardrobe is a form of expression all its own. Give yourself permission to play and to personalize, thinking less about the status quo and more about what YOU will feel most comfortable and confident in as your fairytale day unfolds.

Vendors | Venue: Modern Muskoka Getaway on Fairy Lake | Florals: The Watering Can | Catering: The Bohemian Caterer | Her Ring: Monsoor Fine Jewelers | His Ring: Manly Bands | Her Dress: V. Chapman from Anthropologie Weddings | His Suit: Bonobos | Rental of Plates, Glasses, Cutlery: Plate Occasions | Rental of Linens: Simply Beautiful Decor | Rental of Chairs and Tables: Muskoka Event Services

It’s all in the details. (No, really, it is!)

If your jaw doesn’t drop as soon as you lay eyes on this microwedding details masterpiece, then I hate to break it to you, but you are missing the mark because: JUST LOOK AT IT.

Bold florals of every variation from The Watering Can. White satin bows gently draped on every guest’s seat. Dandelion yellow menus with scalloped edges, laid on mismatched tableware and linens. Glassware beaded with emerald gems to match the emerald wine glasses. Dainty white parasols for the guests, to shade themselves from the Canada sun during the ceremony. 

To die for!

And while we’re here, swooning over the details, let’s have a moment of silence for the Make A Wish cards, inviting the guests to light a candle (adorable little match included) and make a wish for the newlywed couple’s future. 

I mean, the details alone are truly a work of art in and of themselves. This is such a great example of how creativity can touch every corner of your microwedding day, from the bubble guns on the guests’ seats (my little brainchild!) to the quirky tablescape that greets them when they make their way to the reception.

Set the scene of your microwedding ceremony

Even the ceremony has the ability to be a picturesque part of your wedding day, when curated carefully enough.

Kalli and Ryan opted to rent a modern waterfront property off of VRBO, and it just so happened to have a sprawling lawn (very well-maintained, might I add) with a beautiful view of Fairy Lake to serve as the ceremony backdrop.

Kalli and Ryan’s declaration of their undying love for each other is enunciated not only by the view but by the colorful rose petals coating the aisle, the stunning floral arrangements resting on pillars surrounding the happy couple, and the bubbles that erupted from the guests’ seats as the newlyweds made their way back down the aisle, with their poodle trailing behind. 

They made sure to set the scene of where they would say their ‘I do’s,’ resulting in bright and colorful photos to remember it by.

Host a legendary cocktail hour

More often than not, we see cocktail hours in today’s wedding industry being used as a chance for the newlyweds to sneak away, while the guests wait for them to return.

While that’s all well and good if that feels right to you, Kalli and Ryan instead chose to spend their cocktail hour with their guests, basking in the sunshine and continuing the celebrations while vibes were high. 

The colorful cocktails in their classy coup glasses were giving main character energy, while the guests enjoyed a spread of the most gorgeous charcuterie I have ever seen in my life. (And I’ve seen a lot of charcuterie in my day, both as a wedding photographer and an avid dinner party attendee, okay?!) 

It was truly a feast for the eyes (and my lens).

Make it a brunch event

Oh, did I mention that this was a morning wedding?

As if that isn’t innovative enough, Kalli and Ryan opted to serve their guests brunch courtesy of The Bohemian Caterer, and I don’t know about you, but I feel like brunch automatically uplevels any gathering, much less the microwedding of the century.

Speeches were said. Delicacies were devoured. Tears were shed.

And again, we see another instance where making every aspect of the day so completely on purpose pays off. One look at the photos, and you can feel just how elevated the meal was, and how special everyone felt to be in attendance.

Turn your microwedding reception into a backyard bash.

I’m just going to come right out and say it: I have never been to a cooler microwedding reception.

Kalli switched to her Converse so she could truly light up the dance… yard. Everyone danced wherever they were on the lawn of the Fairy Lake rental. Guests participated in games of beer pong and cornhole or wandered down to the waterfront to enjoy the early afternoon sun. Pizza was served as a mid-afternoon snack. 

In a word?

ICONIC.

I could go on and on (and on!) about how enchanting Kalli’s and Ryan’s “I do” day was, but I think the photographs speak volumes. 

The lesson? Not only is there no rulebook when it comes to planning your microwedding exactly how you envision it, but there’s also no limit to how much creativity and intention you can incorporate.

Sure, if it had been just Kalli and Ryan in their pajamas, surrounded by the people they love who love them back, the microwedding would have been just as iconic. 

But by thinking of ev-er-y-thing (!!!), Kalli and Ryan made their microwedding guests feel that much more special and made their own day that much more memorable while they were at it.

Honestly, I’ll never emotionally recover from this day, thoughtful and heartfelt from start to finish. 

Love what you’re seeing? There’s more where that came from! I tend to work with super creative couples who get really imaginative about their wedding days, and you can see more of them in the rest of the blog. 

If you are one of those soon-to-be creative newlywed couples, I’d love to hear from you and discuss teaming up to create your cinematic legacy through photographs that tell your compelling story.