Intimate Wedding Invitations: Wording for Micro Weddings, Home Ceremonies and Small Getaways

An intimate wedding invitation should feel personal and make the size clear: "We're keeping it small, and you're one of the few we can't marry without." Include the date, time, venue, what the day looks like and an RSVP date. Say exactly who is invited, such as "for you both".

Below is wording for a micro wedding at a restaurant, a ceremony at home, a small destination weekend and an elopement with a few guests. You'll also find a message for the people you can't invite. For a quick legal ceremony, see courthouse wedding invitations.

Featured TwistInvite DesignsIntimate Wedding InvitationsPrivate dining rooms, glass conservatories and countryside cottages. Choose a design in the TwistInvite app and share it by text or link.

What to Include

• A line that sets the size: "a small ceremony", "just our closest family", "a table of twenty".
• Names, date and time.
• Venue: the restaurant, house or cottage, with the address.
• The shape of the day: ceremony, then dinner; or a weekend with a ceremony on Saturday.
• Who's invited: name everyone on the invitation, and add "and guest" only if you mean it.
• Dress code and RSVP date.

How to use the examples: use the longer versions on a card or a simple wedding page. When you send a video invitation, add a personal line in the message with the link and say why they matter to you in your 15-second video message. That's what makes a small invitation feel personal.

Micro Wedding at a Restaurant

Formal

• [Name] and [Name]
  invite you to an intimate ceremony and dinner
  celebrating their marriage
  Saturday, October 9, 2027 · 5 p.m.
  The private dining room at [Restaurant], [City]

Warm

• One long table, the people we love most, and a very good dinner.
  We're getting married, and we'd love you there.
  [Date] · [Time] · [Restaurant]

Pair it with: Candlelit Supper. A wood-paneled dining room with white tablecloths, brass lamps and soft light. Best for a ceremony and dinner at a restaurant.

Ceremony at Home or in the Backyard

• We're saying our vows in the garden where we first said "I love you."
  Join us, just family and a few friends
  [Date] · [Time] · [Address]
• Small wedding, big hugs.
  [Name] & [Name] are getting married at home
  [Date] · [Time] · Dinner on the patio after

Pair it with: Sunlit Conservatory. A glass greenhouse with white drapes, white flowers and a single long table. Best for a garden or greenhouse ceremony with dinner.

Say it in your 15-second video message: "We're keeping our wedding tiny, about twenty people, and we couldn't do it without you. October 9, dinner after. Please tell us you'll be there."

Small Destination Weekend

• We've rented a cottage in [Place] for the weekend, and we're getting married there.
  Friday to Sunday · [Dates]
  Ceremony Saturday at 4 p.m. · Rooms for everyone
• A weekend away with our favorite people, and a wedding in the middle.
  [Place] · [Dates] · RSVP by [Date] so we can assign rooms

Pair it with: Watermill Reverie. A stone watermill by a river, with wildflowers and an old bridge. Best for a countryside cottage or inn wedding. Our destination wedding invitations guide covers travel details.

Elopement With a Few Guests

• We're eloping, almost.
  Just the two of us and the six of you.
  [Date] · [Time] · [Place]
• No big wedding, just our vows and our people.
  [Place] · [Date] · Lunch after

What to Tell People You Can't Invite

With a small guest list, some people will ask. A short message before the invitations go out avoids hurt feelings:

• "We're keeping our wedding to immediate family, about 20 people. We'll miss you there, and we're planning a party later in the year."
• "We've decided on a very small wedding. We'll share photos and celebrate with you soon."
• "It's going to be just family at the ceremony, but we'd love to take you to dinner after we're back."

If you're planning a bigger party later, see reception invitation wording after the wedding.

Tricky Lines

• No plus-ones: "We've reserved one seat in your name."
• No children: "Our celebration will be adults only."
• Gifts: "Having you there is the gift." Small weddings often skip the registry.
• Livestream for others: "We'll share a video with family who can't be with us."

Short Versions to Send by Text

• "We're getting married, small and simple, and we really want you there. Details here:"
• "It's a table of 20 and one seat is yours. Can you RSVP by Sept 1?"
• "Not sure yet? Pick Maybe and let us know when you can."

When to Send

Sending It as a Video Invitation

1. Pick a template in the TwistInvite app.
2. Add your event details, plus your own photos, a video of the venue or your song if you like.
3. Hold to record a 15-second message. A personal note from both of you suits a small guest list.
4. Share the link by text. Guests open it in their browser and answer Going, Can't make it or Maybe with no app or account.

Get the TwistInvite app to make your intimate wedding invitation.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Being vague about who's invited, so people bring partners or kids you didn't plan for.
• Posting details publicly before telling people who aren't invited.
• Apologizing for the size in the invitation. Say it warmly instead.
• Forgetting the RSVP date. With 20 seats, every answer matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you word an invitation for a small wedding?

Say it's small in a warm way, such as "just our closest family," then the date, time, venue, what the day includes and the RSVP date. Name everyone who's invited.

How many guests is an intimate wedding?

There's no rule, but most intimate or micro weddings have under 50 guests, and many have 10 to 30.

How do you tell people they aren't invited to a small wedding?

Send a short, kind message before invitations go out: you're keeping it to immediate family, you'll miss them, and you'll celebrate together later.

Do you need save-the-dates for an intimate wedding?

Usually not for a local wedding. For a small destination weekend, a personal message a few months ahead works.

Should you have a registry for a small wedding?

It's optional. Many couples skip it and write that having guests there is the gift.