Why More Michigan Couples Are Choosing Small WeddingsLast fall, a couple got married in a friend's backyard in Traverse City. Twenty-two guests, a potluck dinner, string lights strung between two maple trees. No head table, no seating chart, no timeline printed on cardstock. Just the people who mattered most, standing close enough to hear every word of the vows.

That kind of wedding used to be the exception. Now it's becoming the plan.

It takes the pressure off. When you're not managing a 200-person guest list, a dozen vendor contracts, and a seating chart that somehow still upsets someone, you actually get to enjoy being engaged. Couples tell us the biggest surprise of going small is how much time they get back — time that goes toward each other instead of a binder full of logistics.

The math works differently. A smaller guest list doesn't just save money — it changes where the money goes. Instead of stretching a budget thin across 150 place settings, couples put it into the things they'll actually remember: a photographer who gets the whole day, a dinner they actually chose, a venue that feels like them rather than the only ballroom still available.

Every face in the room means something. At a big wedding, there's almost always a table of people the couple barely knows — a coworker's plus-one, a second cousin twice removed. At a small wedding, everyone there was invited on purpose. You can actually talk to them. Some couples say it's the first time in the whole process they felt like the day was about their relationship, not about hosting an event.

You're not stuck waiting on a venue. Popular reception halls book out twelve to eighteen months in advance, sometimes longer. Smaller, more personal spaces have far more flexibility — which means shorter engagements, better availability, and a lot less waiting around for a date to open up
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The location options open up. A guest list of 20 can get married almost anywhere: a state park overlook, a friend's garden, a cabin up north, a downtown loft. Michigan has no shortage of beautiful, unconventional spaces that simply can't hold a 250-person crowd — and that's exactly what makes them feel special.

The day stays about the marriage. Strip away the production — the elaborate entrances, the extended vendor list, the hour-long photo session with extended family — and what's left is the actual point: two people making a commitment, surrounded by the handful of people who've earned a front-row seat.

It can look like whatever you want. Some couples elope with just each other and a photographer. Others gather twelve close friends for a weekend up north. There's no rulebook for what a wedding has to look like anymore — just what feels true to your story.

At A Simple I Do, we've helped hundreds of Michigan couples plan weddings that feel like them — simple, unhurried, and genuinely joyful. If a smaller wedding sounds like your kind of day, we'd love to help you and officiate  it. Learn More 
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Looking for a Courthouse Wedding?
Here's a Warmer Alternative

You searched "courthouse wedding" for a reason. Maybe you want to get married fast. Maybe a big production has never sounded like you. Maybe it's a Tuesday and you just want it done, without a year of planning standing between you and being married.

Here's what a lot of couples don't realize: you don't actually have to stand in a government building to get that same simplicity.

At A Simple I Do, we offer everything a courthouse ceremony gives you — the speed, the low cost, the lack of fuss — but the ceremony itself happens somewhere that actually feels like it belongs to you. A park bench under the trees. A quiet garden. A cozy indoor space with good light and nobody rushing you out the door for the next couple in line. All of it fully legal, all of it official, none of it feeling like paperwork.

It tends to be the right fit for couples who want to get married quickly, who are planning a small wedding or a true elopement, who need something that works around a weekday, or who just want the day to mean something without turning it into a production. If any of that sounds like you, you're exactly who this is for.

You still get the marriage license signed, the vows said, the "I do" that makes it real. You also get a moment that actually feels like your own — one with a photo you'll want to keep, not just a form with a stamp on it.

We serve couples throughout Holly, Fenton, Clarkston, Waterford, and the surrounding Michigan communities.

If a courthouse wedding sounds practical but a little cold, let's talk about a ceremony built just for the two of you — same simplicity, a lot more heart.

Couples ask me some version of the same question almost every week: "Wait, what actually makes a marriage legal in Michigan?" The good news is that it's a shorter list than most people expect. Here's exactly how it works
Step 1: Get your marriage license. You'll apply through the county clerk's office in the county where either of you lives. If you're both from out of state, you'll apply in the county where the ceremony will take place. Most Michigan residents run into a three-day waiting period before the license becomes valid, so this is worth handling early — don't leave it until the week of your wedding.

Step 2: Choose your officiant. Michigan law requires that your marriage be performed by someone legally authorized to solemnize it — this is where I come in. Whether you want a quick, simple signing or a fully personalized ceremony with vows written just for you, that part is entirely up to you.

Step 3: Bring two witnesses. Michigan requires two witnesses, each at least 18 years old, to sign your marriage license. If you're eloping and don't have anyone to bring along, just ask — there are usually options available to help fill that role.

Step 4: Say "I do." This is the part that actually matters. Whether it's a small gathering of close family or just the two of you, the ceremony should feel like your relationship, not a script borrowed from somewhere else.

Step 5: We take care of the paperwork. After the ceremony, your completed marriage license gets returned to the county clerk, and your marriage becomes officially recorded. You don't have to think about this part at all — it's handled for you.
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That's really all there is to it. Getting legally married in Michigan is far simpler than most couples assume, and I'm happy to walk you through every step of it personally.
If you're ready to start planning, reach out — [email protected]

One of the most common questions couples ask is whether they can get married today.

The answer depends on your marriage license.

Michigan residents are generally required to wait three days after applying for their marriage license before it becomes valid. Some counties may waive the waiting period under certain circumstances, but you'll need to check with your county clerk.

Once your license is valid, getting married can be surprisingly simple.

Many couples choose a small ceremony instead of waiting months for a traditional wedding venue.
Whether you're planning a last-minute wedding, military marriage, intimate ceremony, or simply don't want the stress of a large event, a professional officiant can often help you schedule your ceremony much sooner than you expect.

If you already have your marriage license and are ready to get married, contact us to check current availability.

Sometimes forever starts with a simple "I do."
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