One of the best things about a micro wedding is that a smaller guest list can make room for a much bigger experience. With fewer people to coordinate and entertain, couples have more time to slow down, focus on each other, and actually be present for the moments they’ll remember forever. Olivia and Alan’s Hood River micro wedding is all the inspiration you need if you’ve been thinking about keeping things small.
The couple wanted their wedding to feel personal, intentional, and centered around their commitment to each other, surrounded only by the people closest to them. So, they planned an intimate ceremony at Rowena Crest with just immediate family and their dog, Mila, followed by a private dinner and weekend stay at Columbia Gorge Hotel & Spa. The result? A wedding that felt relaxed, meaningful, and completely like them.
The “Who Could We Not Get Married Without?” Guest List
Instead of starting with a long list of who they should invite, Olivia and Alan asked themselves a simple question: Who could we not imagine getting married without? That naturally led them to immediate family, plus one important uncle—and Mila, of course. Keeping the group to just nine guests created the kind of warm, supportive atmosphere where every single person there had a meaningful place in their lives.
Simple Doesn’t Mean Boring
Their ceremony at Rowena Crest kept the details minimal and let the Columbia River Gorge do what it does best: provide an unreal backdrop. Olivia’s brother officiated, Mila carried the rings on her collar, and a tripod recorded the ceremony for the friends and family celebrating from afar. No elaborate setup needed—the views, the people, and the moment were more than enough.
They Planned It Themselves—and Made a Whole Weekend of It
Once Olivia and Alan chose Hood River, the rest started falling into place. They booked Columbia Gorge Hotel & Spa as their home base for getting ready, celebrating over a private family dinner, and staying for the weekend, then brought in local vendors for everything from florals and cake to hair and makeup. It’s a perfect reminder that planning a small wedding yourselves doesn’t mean doing everything yourselves—you can still bring in an amazing vendor team to help make the experience happen.
A $10K Wedding Experience That Included More Than Just the Wedding
Their approximately $10,000 budget covered the full micro wedding experience, including photography, attire, flowers, hair and makeup, cake, a private dinner, accommodations, and other wedding details. And that’s part of what makes a smaller celebration so appealing: you can put your budget toward the experience you actually want instead of stretching it across a much larger guest list. For Olivia and Alan, that meant an intimate ceremony, a beautiful weekend away, and plenty of time to actually soak it all in.
Jennie LaVanchy is a former micro wedding bride, and she now supports countless couples in planning their own intimate celebrations through her blog, featuring real micro wedding stories and a curated vendor directory. Her practical advice and firsthand experience make her a go-to resource for those seeking to create memorable and meaningful micro weddings.
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