When this couple decided to get married, they knew they wanted to do things differently. No compromises, no pressure to perform—just a wedding day (and weekend) that reflected who they truly are. With only six guests in attendance, a black wedding dress, and a custom coffin-shaped ring box, their elopement on Minnesota’s Black Beach was intimate, personal, and wildly unique.
They brought their moody vision to life with the help of Dawn from Aurora Florealis, whose dark, dramatic florals perfectly complemented the lakeside setting and overall vibe. A longtime fan of micro weddings and elopements, Dawn has a knack for crafting floral designs that feel both bold and deeply personal—just like this day.
The couple planned every detail of their four-day celebration together, embracing heartfelt moments like private vow readings and creative personal touches—from watering a lemon tree during the ceremony to handing out temporary tattoos of their dog at the reception.
In this Q&A, the couple shares what inspired their micro wedding, how they pulled it off for $4,000, and why they wouldn’t change a thing.
How many guests were there?
There were six guests, including our officiant, who was also our friend.
How did you keep their guest count down?
It was intentional. The bride wanted her closest friends in attendance, and the groom wanted his brothers.
Both my husband and I never planned on being married prior to meeting one another. So when we decided that marriage was something we wanted, keeping the event as authentic as possible was the end goal. We did not want to negotiate any detail and the primary focus was on us as a couple. We planned the entire 4-day trip together in painstaking detail.
How much did you spend?
We spent about $4,000 in total.
Where was the reception and ceremony held?
On our one-year anniversary we had a small reception of approximately 80 people. We held it in an event space in Hastings, Minnesota and served Costco sandwiches, drinks, and pies for dessert.
Was this a destination wedding?
Yes, we eloped on the Black Beach in Silver Bay, Minnesota.
Overall theme or vibe of the wedding?
Dark and moody
Photography by Matthew Berglund
Did anything surprise you about planning a micro wedding?
It was challenging to ensure everything would go according to plan! We hit a small snag when our original photographer fell through a week before our wedding, but luckily we were able to find a different photographer just in time!
There was also highway traffic leading up to the Black Beach that derailed a timely arrival, however, another wedding was just wrapping up by the time we arrived.
Any surprises on the wedding day itself?
My hair! I didn’t do a trial run on my hair with the stylist, and it wouldn't curl exactly how I imagined. If you can, I suggest having a trial run prior to the big day.
What traditions did you keep?
We did a first look and wrote our own vows, read privately. I also wore my mother's garter, which was borrowed and blue.
The first look, because both my husband and I cried together. It was a personal highlight for me because I adored my unique dress and really wanted him to love it too!
Reading our vows, as they were eerily similar to each other's. The vows were written independently and kept secret until we read them aloud to one another.
As part of the ceremony, we watered a lemon tree and then collected sand from the beach to take home with us, as a remembrance of where we said, "I do."
We all came back to the lodge where we stayed and ate pies together instead of cake!
Photography by Matthew Berglund
Details about getting ready
We all stayed in a lodge on Lake Superior, and I got ready with my best friend downstairs, while my husband got ready upstairs! We did our first look on the shoreline of Lake Superior.
Details about the ceremony
My husband and I collaborated to write and create the ceremony, where we had his brother and my best friend read entries from a comic book and one of my favorite songs.
We watered a lemon tree for our unity ceremony, to represent abundance, longevity, and good luck.
Photography by Matthew Berglund
Details about the reception
We really included special touches here! The decorations were spooky themed in nature with skulls, pumpkins, and Polaroid pictures from our wedding.
We also had temporary tattoos made of our faces, featuring our dog!
For our guestbook, we asked people to take a Polaroid of themselves, tape it to a sheet of paper, and leave a message for us—well wishes, advice, or whatever thought they wanted to leave for us!
Weddings should be 100% personalized and carried out solely for the bride and groom! I often hear how many people make concessions in order to please certain people. Eloping was the best decision we made because we are not in debt for our wedding and the day was entirely built for us, by us.
Collaborate with your soon-to-be spouse and make sure each voice is heard so the wedding feels like an equal representation of both bride and groom!
Make sure to slow down. It is one of the FASTEST days of your life, but you will want to remember every detail, bottle it up, and revisit it!
Whether you’re dreaming of moody, romantic blooms or something totally unexpected, Aurora Florealis is all about creating floral designs that feel like you. Dawn’s work is thoughtful, bold, and made for couples who value intention over tradition—just like this one.
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Jennie Swenson 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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