Small weddings are amazing because they give you so much freedom to craft a celebration that’s true to you. You also get a chance to work with some really cool local vendors, and Philadelphia has plenty of those. These are seven of my favorite ideas for a small wedding. I used all of these in planning my own intimate wedding in East Falls! 

My Favorite Ideas for a Small Wedding in Philadelphia

1. Choose the right photographer to be at your side.

I’ve been a wedding photographer for over six years, so I knew pictures would be important to me on my wedding day. Instead of a bunch of pristine posed portraits, I wanted a mix of candid moments. Our wedding day was so intimate. It wasn’t just small. We held all the events in our neighborhood. I wanted someone who could portray how deeply personal it all was. Devon Dadoly did a phenomenal job. They really did a beautiful job of telling our story and infusing our authentic personalities into the photos. 

2. Get ready together.

One of my favorite ideas for a small wedding is a simple one. Get ready together. If you can, get ready at home. My husband, Brian, and I did that, and it made the whole day go more smoothly. We were way less stressed leading up to the ceremony because we’d been together all day. 

At home, we also got to be completely ourselves. We loved seeing each other’s outfits come together. Brian had joined me for the early stages of dress shopping. Once we found a dress that I wanted to base my design off of, he bowed out. When he helped me put on my custom dress on my wedding day, he really got to see it all come full circle. 

3. Wear something that feels like you.

Without a doubt, finding a dress was my least favorite part of the wedding planning process. That is, it was until I met Mayana from Kinfolk Bride and Meg from The Law. Like I mentioned before, I’ve been photographing weddings for over six years. I knew I wanted something unique and true to myself. This custom piece did not disappoint! It had the exact blend of feathery and sheer elements that I wanted to feel playful and modern. 

Those red shoes are iconic, too. Can you believe I was able to wear them all day? I only took them off to clean up at the end of the night. Someone packed them up, and I walked home barefoot. 

Brian also got a custom suit made by a local tailor. He looked amazing, and the fabric was beautiful. It caught the light in the coolest ways throughout the day. There’s something so reassuring about having an outfit that fits you like a glove on your wedding day.

4. Pick a ceremony venue in your neighborhood.

When you’re thinking about ideas for a small wedding, use it as a chance to get creative with your ceremony venue. We got married in front of our neighborhood library. I happened to be walking by and saw how beautiful it was. The little garden out front felt so charming that I knew it would be a great spot for a wedding ceremony.

Luckily, the head librarian was so excited when I asked if we could use the garden for our wedding. It turned out that they have a whole volunteer gardening crew. They were so stoked that the space was being used. The library didn’t even charge us a rental fee. We asked if we could contribute in any way, and they asked that we encourage our guests to sign up for library cards. We were more than happy to! 

5. Make it walkable.

We walked everywhere on our wedding day, and we couldn’t be happier. Parking is not always easy around Philadelphia, so walkability is ideal. If you or some of your guests have mobility restrictions, short distances between the ceremony and reception will likely be helpful too. 

When Brian and I were weighing all the different ideas for a small wedding, we decided to walk into our ceremony together. It was symbolic for us. We were going into the marriage together and wanted to acknowledge that from the offset. The response was amazing! Everyone cheered, and cars honked as we walked. 

After the ceremony, we brought out our boombox. A friend carried it behind us, and we led our guests in a parade to our reception venue. It was so cool to get married and walk from one familiar place to another. It all felt like home.

6. Eat your favorite foods.

Could any list of ideas for a small wedding be complete without good food? Brian and I treated our guests to a decadent meal and drinks at The Black Squirrel. It’s one of our favorite neighborhood haunts. The meal and ambiance were absolutely perfect. It’s all anyone could talk about! Our desserts were also a hit. Bonus: We got to eat leftover cake every night of our mini-moon.

7. Work with local vendors who will give you the most unique day.

Here’s my biggest takeaway from my intimate East Falls wedding: The best ideas for a small wedding start with local vendors. Everything we loved about our wedding day, everything that made it authentic to us, was the product of Philadelphia artists and craftspeople. 

Do you want more ideas for a small wedding in your neighborhood? I’ve got the perfect resource for you! Grab a copy of Your Neighborhood Guide to Getting Married in Philadelphia. I’ve drawn on my experience as a Philadelphia wedding photographer to identify venues, restaurants, and more in each neighborhood. Download it now and start planning your celebration.

I’m so grateful to all the Philadelphia wedding vendors who made our day unforgettable:
Photography: Devon Dadoly
Tintype Photography: Vanity Tintype
Wedding dress: The Law and Kinfolk Bride
Shoes: Charlotte Stone
Custom suit: Omid Custom Tailor
Hair and Makeup: Made Up on the Go
Jewelry: Bario Neal and Renée Frances Jewelry
Ceremony venue: Falls of Schuylkill Library
Reception venue: Black Squirrel
Bouquet and Boutonniere: Vault and Vine
Desserts: Isgro Pastries, Crust Vegan Bakery, New June Bakery