How to Plan an Intimate Calgary Wedding (or Elopement) in the City
How to Plan an Intimate Calgary Wedding (or Elopement) in the City
A Calgary wedding can be as grand as a Banff celebration surrounded by mountain views and a lively crowd of loved ones. But there’s a quiet charm to an intimate wedding in the heart of the city—where every moment feels personal and the focus is on meaningful connections.
An intimate wedding means slowing down and letting your wedding timeline breathe. It means saying no to wed stress and yes to more connection and community. It means spending the day with your favourite people doing something you love in the city you call home.
If you’re thinking about a smaller-scale wedding or elopement in Calgary, check out my tips below for planning the perfect intimate celebration!
Keep your guest list small
My first recommendation for anyone planning an intimate wedding is to keep your guest list small, under 50 people. Not only does this help with your budget and give you more venue options, but it allows you to have more time to actually connect with all of your guests.
A big part of creating that intimate feeling is limiting your guest list. That way you can spend time chatting with your cousins over canapes, hugging each guest on your way out of the ceremony or raising a glass to your loved ones as you all sit around the same long table.
Consider your favourite restaurant
Restaurants are some of my favourite venues for an intimate city wedding. You can choose a restaurant that has a great vibe and style - saving you money on wedding decor - and of course one that serves food you two love. Perhaps the restaurant where you had your first date?
I’ve photographed incredible restaurant weddings in Calgary at places like The Alloy, The Deane House and Ricardo’s.
Check out some more of my favourite Calgary restaurant wedding venues here! Click on each venue to see photos of the space and the details you need to book - such as maximum capacity and minimum spend.
If not a restaurant, consider another intimate and unique space in the city. A theatre, like the Plaza Theatre where my couple Julie and Sam held their ceremony, is an awesome option for movie-lovers. Or an industrial space, like The Commons, is great for a modern vibe you can totally make your own.
Opt for an off-season or weekday wedding date
A great way to save on venue costs is to choose an off-season, weekday or brunch/lunch wedding date. Most Calgary weddings take place on weekend evenings in the summer, so anything outside of that could save you some money.
Choosing a non-peak wedding date and time could also help you secure your dream city wedding venue. For example, if the restaurant you want to get married at is only open for dinner, they may be able to host your brunch wedding with a much lower minimum spend or buyout cost.
Hire Calgary wedding vendors you love
I always encourage my couples to hire wedding vendors they truly love and resonate with. And because you’re saving money with an intimate wedding, you may be able to invest more in high quality vendors whose work you love.
What do you value most for your wedding day? Are you after really great food? Incredible photography? (I might know someone who can help 😉) Live music? Choose vendors who can help deliver on what you care about - and vendors you can trust to handle all of the little details.
Consider bringing on a wedding planner
Just because you’re planning a smaller wedding day doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from a wedding planner. Good planners take the stress off your plate and allow your other vendors to focus on what they do best (like taking amazing photos of your day), rather than trying to organize your wedding.
There are even some Calgary wedding planners who specialize in intimate, micro weddings. They can be really helpful if you’re hosting your wedding in an unconventional venue, such as a theatre or your own backyard, where you’ll need to bring in everything yourselves.
Do something you love
Speaking of love, I always encourage my couples to incorporate something they really love into their wedding day. Do you start every day with coffee together on your front porch? A walk with your dog? Can’t get enough of waffles? Are you a karaoke fanatic?
Because you’re planning an intimate wedding with a relaxed timeline, it’s easier to incorporate some of your favourite things into your day. You have time to put a morning dog walk meditation into your schedule, the budget to include a waffle bar, and the space to enjoy karaoke with 30 guests, rather than 200.
Plan a relaxed timeline
One of my best tips for couples planning an intimate wedding is to create a relaxed timeline for the day. Remember, less is more.
By creating space in your timeline, you allow for more time to enjoy your day and experience those unplanned, genuine candid moments. This also means your photographer can capture those special in-between moments, rather than just posed shots.
So as you work with your planner to create your timeline, schedule in some down time or moments to just relax and soak it all in. You won’t regret it!
Create a beautiful experience for your guests
Those feelings of connection and authenticity that make intimate weddings so special aren’t just experienced between you and your spouse, but also between your guests. Think of what you can do to enhance their overall experience - from the moment they receive your invite until they’re piling into the Uber to get home after your reception.
You could set up welcome bags in their hotel rooms, surprise them with a late night food truck or provide cozy blankets during the ceremony. There are low-cost ways to create a beautiful guest experience too, such as writing personal notes to each guest.
Don’t tick boxes
The beauty of an intimate wedding is that you don’t have to do what’s been done at every other wedding. Throw out the checklists and step away from Pinterest!
Sure, you can be inspired by other weddings, but you don’t have to copy them. Get rid of all of the shoulds, the trends and the traditions that don’t mean anything to you. Remember that this wedding is a reflection of you two and your love story - get rid of anything that doesn’t truly resonate with what’s important to you.
Think about Calgary’s seasons
You know we can get some wild weather here in Calgary, so it’s important to think intentionally about how the season you’re getting married in will affect your wedding day.
Will you need to adjust your outfit and accessories so you don’t freeze during your Calgary winter wedding? What will the scenery look like for your photos in the park? If you’re getting married during Stampede, don’t forget to consider how traffic and tourists might impact your day.
Factor in travel time
Driving in the city is always a bit of a wildcard, so you’ll want to factor in travel and transportation for your Calgary city wedding.
How long will it take you to get to your ceremony and reception? What happens if there’s traffic? Where can you park? What about unexpected weather delays?
You’ll also want to provide this information to your guests, especially if they’re coming in from out of town. Your wedding website is a great place to provide directions, parking and transportation info.
Get ready at home
Start your day off with the perfect relaxed and warm vibes when you get ready in your own space. This can make the getting ready process feel more personal and even give you and your partner the opportunity to get ready together.
If your home isn’t camera-ready or is a bit too far from your city venue, you could also borrow a friend or family member’s house or book an Airbnb. That way, you can still get some great getting ready photos that capture that cozy, at-home vibe.
Make your Calgary elopement personal
My best advice for any couple planning an intimate Calgary wedding is to make it personal. What small touches can you add to your day to make it feel authentic to you as a couple?
This doesn’t have to be expensive or grand. It’s about making the day memorable for you and your guests by incorporating moments that are uniquely you.
Getting ready in your childhood bedroom, stopping at your favourite ice cream shop for portraits, making an inside joke during your vows or naming your signature drink after your dog are all great ways to personalize your wedding.
Planning your own intimate wedding in Calgary? Get in touch! I’d love to hear more about your plans and see if I’m the right fit to capture your incredible day.
For more inspiration, check out some of my favourite Calgary wedding venues and stories
A Twilight-Inspired Wedding in Bragg Creek (just 30 minutes from Calgary!)