A micro wedding isn’t about doing less. It’s about choosing differently.
For Bryna and Brandon, that choice meant skipping the anxiety, expectations, and price tag of a traditional wedding and building something that felt aligned from the start. After getting engaged in 2022, they waffled between eloping, hosting a micro wedding, or planning a full-scale celebration. But the more they considered a traditional route, the clearer it became: it didn’t feel like them.
A micro wedding did.
It gave them room to prioritize what mattered most—being with the people they love, in a place that already felt special, and creating memories that extended beyond a single ceremony.
A Guest List With Intention
Keeping the guest list small wasn’t easy. They have a wide circle of friends and extended family they genuinely enjoy. But hosting at the groom’s family cabin naturally capped their guest list at 40.
Instead of seeing that as a limitation, they used it as clarity.
They asked themselves: Who would we want to spend a vacation with? Who can we fully be ourselves around? Who will make this feel like a shared experience rather than a production?
They turned their wedding into a full week at the lake—less of a single event, more of a gathering centered around time together.
They describe it as a hybrid destination. The cabin is seven hours from where they live, so it has always felt like a vacation spot. Brandon’s parents live nearby, giving it local roots, but for guests traveling from Hawaii, New York, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, it was very much a destination celebration.
They wanted it to feel special—without carrying an overly ceremonial weight.
Party at the Lake
The vibe was simple and intentional: party at the lake.
They brought together people from all the spread-out corners of their lives to enjoy each other, let loose, and appreciate good food, good music, good people, and a beautiful view. There’s a certain magic to the cabin that’s hard to describe, but it holds deep meaning for them. Celebrating their commitment there, surrounded by their favorite people, felt like the most natural way to begin their marriage.
Design reflected that ease. Bryna loves a colorful floral look that doesn’t feel overly polished or sophisticated. They kept everything simple, honoring the cabin exactly as it is, just adding pops of color. Flowers were from Grumpy Chicken Farms, picked by the girls on the trip and arranged by Bryna’s sister, who is a florist, Mountain Blooms by Laney.
A Wedding Made by the People Who Matter
This was a fully DIY wedding—but it was also deeply collaborative.
They baked desserts the day before with both of their moms. The mother of the bride officiated. They wrote their own vows. The bride’s sister handled the floral arranging. Their nieces served as flower girls and ring bearers. Bryna wore jewelry from her mother, earrings from her best friend, and a hair piece designed by her sister.
Every detail carried the imprint of someone they love.
The ceremony and reception flowed naturally across the property. They exchanged vows on the dock, gathered for dinner on the lawn, and moved to the deck for dancing. The lawn stayed open for guests who preferred cornhole or simply lingering. Food was provided by Nora Jo’s BBQ Co. Event rentals were through All About Weddings in Sandpoint, ID, and bathroom rentals were by Royal Restrooms.
Their budget goal for the entire week—including rentals, food, and vendors—was $15,000.
Flowers from Grumpy Chicken Farms, picked by the girls on the trip but arranged by my sister (who is a florist) Mountain Blooms by Laney
Food by Nora Jo’s BBQ Co
Event rentals- All About Weddings, Sandpoint ID
Bathroom Rentals- Royal Restrooms
The Unscripted Moments
The morning didn’t unfold exactly as planned. Brandon and his friend made a last-minute trip to the emergency vet when their dog swallowed a fish hook. While Brandon rushed back and got ready quickly, Bryna’s getting-ready time became unexpectedly grounding. She spent it with her childhood best friend—her steady rock—who helped her get out of her head and back into her body so she could fully enjoy the day.
They were surprised in the best way by how well their friends connected. Bringing together people from different chapters of their lives led to new friendships and unexpected bonds.
And then there was the plunge.
They kept the exchange of vows but left most other traditions behind. Instead, they reimagined their big ceremonial gesture of lifelong commitment by jumping into the lake in their wedding fits—surprising their guests and marking the moment in a way that felt unmistakably them.
Favorite memories include the dock jump, tears during the ceremony, a full dance party on the deck, and impromptu speeches from friends that were heartfelt and meaningful.
Their Advice
The best advice they received—and embraced—was simple: it’s your day. Make it something that makes you happy.
They let go of traditions that didn’t fit. They centered the day around joy and the people who allow them to be fully themselves. They leaned into what felt right.
A wedding can be whatever you want it to be.
For Bryna and Brandon, that meant a lake cabin, 40 favorite people, and a commitment sealed with a jump into the water.
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