Microweddings
You wanted everyone there. You just redefined what “everyone” means.
The Wedding That’s Actually About You
A microwedding is a full wedding — ceremony, portraits, the people who matter most — scaled down to the size where it still feels personal. Not a compromise. A curation.
Most microwedding couples land here after realizing that a traditional wedding of 150 guests requires a traditional wedding budget, a traditional wedding timeline, and a traditional wedding’s worth of decisions about people they haven’t spoken to in years. The microwedding is the answer to all of that — up to thirty guests, one meaningful location, and a day that moves at a pace you can actually be present for.
Matthew D. Kauffmann has photographed weddings of every size, from two people on a riverbank to full ballroom receptions. The Timeless Framework applies equally to all of them. Your guest count doesn’t change the standard — it just changes the scope.
Thirty guests or fewer. One location. All the craft.
What a microwedding commission includes:
Milestone-first coverage built around your | Signature image enhancement for |
Fast gallery delivery within days |
“We didn’t have a huge wedding, but Matthew treated us like royalty anyway.”
— Brittany
Microwedding vs. Elopement — Which One Is Yours?
The internet has blurred these terms considerably, and couples use them interchangeably more often than not. Here’s the practical difference.
An elopement is typically just the two of you — ceremony, portraits, maybe an officiant and a witness. The emphasis is on intimacy and simplicity. The day is usually shorter, more mobile, and entirely focused on the couple.
A microwedding brings your people into the frame. You still have the intimacy and the intentionality — you’re not managing a 200-person production — but there are guests present, a structured ceremony, and usually a single location that hosts the whole event. Someone is watching you say your vows. That matters to you. It should.
If you’re not sure which category you’re in, you’re probably in microwedding territory. Most couples who land here know they want guests — they just want fewer of them, and they want the day to feel like theirs.
One Location, Done Right
Microweddings work best with a single, well-chosen location — somewhere that can hold your ceremony, accommodate your guests comfortably, and give you a backdrop worth photographing. Splitting a microwedding across multiple venues introduces the same logistical friction you were trying to avoid.
Popular St. Louis and Southern Illinois options for microweddings include Forest Park pavilions and shelters, private event spaces in the Botanical Garden, historic properties in Belleville and Edwardsville, and outdoor venues along the Mississippi riverfront. Many couples also host microweddings at family properties — a backyard, a family farm, a meaningful private space — which often produces the most personal work.
Permit requirements, guest capacity, and seasonal availability vary by location. We’ll work through the specifics together during your planning conversation.
How the Day Typically Flows
A microwedding with up to thirty guests generally works well in a two to three hour window — enough time for pre-ceremony portraits if you’d like them, the ceremony itself, family formals, and a dedicated couples portrait session after. That’s a full, complete day without the marathon timeline of a traditional wedding.
If you’re planning any kind of reception element — a dinner, a toast, a cake — we can talk through whether extended coverage makes sense for your day. The consultation is the right place to figure that out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests is a microwedding? There’s no industry-standard definition, but in practice a microwedding is typically thirty guests or fewer — small enough that you know everyone there, large enough to feel like a real celebration. If your list is close to that number, reach out anyway. Guest count is a starting point for the conversation, not a hard gate.
What’s the difference between a microwedding and a small wedding? Mostly intent. A small wedding is often a traditional wedding that got trimmed. A microwedding is designed from the start to be intimate — the guest list, the location, and the timeline are all chosen with that purpose in mind rather than scaled down from something larger.
What’s the difference between a microwedding and an elopement? An elopement is just the two of you — no guests, or nearly none. A microwedding brings the people who matter most into the day. Both are photographed with the same care and the same standard. If you’re still deciding between them, the elopement page has a fuller breakdown.
Do I need a venue permit for a microwedding? It depends on the location. Public parks and botanical gardens typically require permits for events with guests. Private properties generally don’t. We’ll help you think through the logistics during the planning process.
How long does a microwedding commission take? Most microwedding commissions run two to three hours. That covers pre-ceremony portraits, the ceremony, family formals, and a couples portrait session. If you’re planning a reception element, extended coverage is available — we’ll talk through what makes sense for your day.
What does a microwedding commission cost? Microwedding commissions start at $1,500. Investment scales based on coverage length and whether heirloom products are included. No hidden tiers, no surprise line items.
Can we still get an album or wall art? Yes — heirloom artwork options are available for every commission regardless of size. Albums, wall art, and keepsake books can all be added. Some of the most compelling work comes from the smallest weddings.
What does it cost?
Microwedding commissions start at $1,500. Because the Timeless standard doesn’t change based on guest count — only the scope of coverage does.
Today an Event. Tomorrow a Memory. Forever an Heirloom.
Still thinking? That's what the consultation is for.
Every MDKauffmann commission starts with a conversation — not a sales pitch. We talk about your day, your priorities, and what "forever" looks like for your family. If we're the right fit, you'll know. If we're not, I'll tell you honestly.
Start the Conversation →Dates book fast — especially May through October.