Why Nature-Loving Couples Are Choosing Intimate Weddings Over Traditional Weddings
Introduction
Many professionals in the wedding industry are noticing a shift in weddings. Couples are choosing to have smaller, more intimate weddings than was previously seen a few years ago. The pandemic may have been an initial trigger to this shift, but in 2026 we’re still seeing this happen more and more. I think couples have different priorities for the wedding days now; celebrations centred around connection, intention, and freedom to craft a day that is unique to them. Plus, having a smaller wedding gives more flexibility in your budget to spend more on the things that really matter to you, and less on the things that don’t.
As an intimate wedding photographer, I’ve share some of my thoughts below on why I think more and more couples are choose intimate weddings over traditional ones.
What Is an Intimate Wedding?
So, you might be wondering what exactly I mean when I say “intimate wedding”. Here are a few examples of the kinds of intimate weddings I’ve seen or photographed, but this list is not exhaustive.
- micro weddings
- small weddings
- elopements
- backyard weddings
- cottage weddings
- historic house weddings & elopements
Basically, I’d personally consider an intimate wedding to have less than 50 people or so (this is flexible), and be quite unique to the couple. They typically don’t follow more traditional wedding conventions (first dances, cake cutting, speeches, etc.), but they may also have some included. No two intimate weddings are going to look the same, and that’s kind of the point.
More Time Together, Less Time Performing
Something I love about intimate weddings is that the focus is shifted more to what the couple wants to experience on the day, as opposed to more traditional weddings. This can look like more relaxed timelines since there are less wedding “events” to fit into the day (first dances, bridal party photos, etc.), which allows the day to have much more breathing room and a slower pace. Slowing things down means couples get to actually have meaningful conversations with their guests, enjoy little moments together throughout the day, and actually participate in their celebrations instead of following a rigid, jam-packed timeline.
Sounds like a good time, right?
Nature Creates the Perfect Backdrop
Outdoor weddings make for a very natural and ideal setting for more intimate weddings. Instead of a big venue, outdoor weddings can help you scale things back to something smaller and more intimate. Having a smaller wedding means you could choose locations in nature like forests, lakes, coastlines, or private properties (ex. backyard or cottage wedding).
Having less people attend your wedding gives much more flexibility on location, plus nature makes a stunning backdrop for your celebrations. I’m finding that many of the couples I’m working with are nature lovers at heart; they recognize how special connection with nature is, and want that incorporated into their wedding day.
Freedom to Celebrate Your Own Way
Doing something more intimate and less traditional gives more flexibility and freedom in how you choose to spend your wedding day. You could have a ceremony by a lake, a backyard dinner at your parents house, a cottage weekend at the family cottage, a campfire reception with s’mores, and offers opportunities to do private vows away from everyone else.
The Moments That Matter Most
Having a slower, more intimate wedding can open up your day to enjoy all of the many emotions and feelings of your day. It gives breathing room for all the laughs, tears, and connections that are so important on your day. Instead of just saying a quick “hi” to all of your guests, you’ll actually have time to connect with your closest family members and friends and spend quiet moments with your partner. This breathing room in your day also allows your photographer to capture so many beautiful candid photos of connection with your guests throughout the day, and truly document not just how the day looked, but how it felt.
Why I Love Photographing Intimate Celebrations
I pretty much exclusively shoot intimate weddings and elopements these days, because my style lends itself really well to these types of celebrations. Intimate weddings allow me to use a storytelling approach to document my couples’ day, since there is typically lots of breathing room in their timeline. As an intimate wedding photographer, my approach focuses a lot on capturing connection and feeling throughout the wedding day, something that is really valued by the couples I work with.
Having a more intimate day with breathing room also always more authentic and organic moments to happen, leading to lots of candid photographs that couldn’t have been planned (compared to a gallery of primarily posed photos). I often hear couples talk about wanting lots of candid photographs from their wedding day, but here’s the thing; this becomes a bit of an impossible task when the timeline is so jam-packed that organic moments can’t even happen.
Intimate weddings allow for lots of candid moments, connection, and authenticity, which is why I love photographing them so much.
If you’re looking for some additional inspiration, check out my other blog posts below:
Planning an Intimate Wedding in Ontario, Quebec, or Beyond?
An intimate wedding photographer myself, small weddings and elopements are my specialty; I just love helping couples have the perfect, intimate wedding day of their dreams. If you’re interested in having a no-pressure chat, I offer complimentary consult calls to any couple looking to have their day photographed through an emotion-driven, storytelling lens.
Reach out to me today to chat!
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