Planning Your Dream Wedding: Simple Wedding Planning Checklist

Every bride dreams of a wedding that is not just beautiful but meaningful—a celebration filled with joy, love, and unforgettable memories. While some imagine grand ballrooms and hundreds of guests, others envision a more personal affair surrounded by only their closest loved ones.

In the Philippines, more and more couples are choosing to scale back on size and focus on what truly matters: quality time, meaningful connections, and stress-free planning. But make no mistake—just because it’s a smaller event doesn’t mean there’s less to plan!

This guide is your simple wedding planning checklist in the Philippines. From deciding if an intimate wedding is right for you to choosing the perfect venue and crafting your program, we’ve got you covered.

Intimate Wedding vs. Traditional Wedding Size

Before diving into the planning, let’s clarify what we mean by “intimate wedding.”

Traditional weddings in the Philippines typically host around 150 to 300 guests, often including distant relatives, family friends, co-workers, and acquaintances.

Intimate weddings usually involve around 20 to 50 people—just your immediate family and closest friends. Imagine how much an intimate wedding costs in the Philippines compared to a big one. 

Beyond costs, however, a smaller wedding allows you to:

• Spend quality time with each person
• Reduce planning stress
• Make the entire experience more meaningful and relaxed

Is an Intimate Wedding Right for You?

Here are a few signs that an intimate wedding might be perfect for you:

• You value personal connections. You want to spend quality time with everyone at your wedding.
• You prefer experiences over extravagance. You’d rather invest in good food, music, and ambiance than a large venue.
• You’re working with a budget. A smaller guest list means more room to splurge on elements that matter.
• You want less stress. Fewer guests = fewer logistics = happier couple.

But keep in mind: some family or friends may feel left out. Be prepared to handle this gracefully and focus on the vision you and your partner truly want.

How to Plan an Intimate Wedding with a Big Family

Want an intimate wedding but have a big family? You’re not alone! Here are a few ways to manage expectations and keep things loving and drama-free:

• Be honest and upfront. Have a heart-to-heart with your family. Let them know you’re planning something small and personal.
• Set clear priorities. Define who absolutely needs to be there: parents, siblings, lolo and lola, titos/titas who helped raise you.
• Compromise creatively. Host a larger post-wedding celebration or a family lunch/dinner to include others who weren’t invited to the ceremony.
• Consider live-streaming. A great way for extended family to witness the ceremony even if they can’t attend in person.
• Create intimate roles. Even if some can’t attend, they can contribute by helping with DIY favors, writing messages, or making a speech for the reception video.

This way, you can stay true to your intimate wedding dream without sacrificing your connection to your big Filipino family.

Intimate Wedding Planning Checklist

Let’s get into the fun (and practical) part—planning your small, dreamy wedding in the Philippines. Here’s your ultimate guide on how to plan a small, budget wedding:

1. Set Your Guest List

Possibly the most important part of any intimate wedding checklist in the Philippines is planning who to invite. With a small intimate wedding, this automatically means your closest and dearest, which in some ways may be harder to decide.

As a couple, it’s best to agree on a number you’re both comfortable with and then work towards this. 

• Decide on your magic number (typically under 50).
• Create three guest tiers:
  • Tier 1: Immediate family
  • Tier 2: Close relatives
  • Tier 3: Closest friends

If you’re having difficulty filtering your guests, take the time to dive into your relationships with them, and ask yourself:

• Have they met your partner?
• Do they support your relationship?
• Are they part of your life journey? 
• How monumental were they in your personal growth and development?
• Will they vibe well with the rest of your guests?

2. Choose Your Intimate Entourage

Keep your wedding party small:

• 2 primary sponsors (1 pair)
• 1 ring bearer and 1 arrhae bearer
• 1 pair for veil, candle, and cord
• Optional: maid of honor, best man, 1-2 bridesmaids

3. Plan Your Budget

Budgeting is key, even for a small celebration. Track your expenses carefully so you can prioritize what matters most. Your main costs will likely include:

• Venue
• Food and drinks
• Outfits
• Photo and video
• Decor and styling
• Coordination/planning team

Don’t forget to add a buffer for last-minute surprises. Setting a fixed budget for your wedding makes it easier to stay in control of your expenses and avoid going over budget. 

4. Select Your Venue

When thinking about intimate wedding venues, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Look at farms, restaurants that accept wedding reservations, local art museums, a mountaintop, an outdoor garden, or a private estate. These are all romantic and beautiful for an intimate wedding in the Philippines. Ultimately, it’s best if space can host both your ceremony and reception so that you don’t lose time spent with loved ones. We’ve added a detailed description of the unique charm of the best venues in the Philippines to our simple wedding planning checklist: 

Farms

Many couples who are planning a small intimate wedding choose farm venues as these offer a relaxed vibe — perfect for a cozy affair. Farms look amazing when decorated for weddings as they have plenty of natural character and also provide a great blank canvas to work with. 

Great farm venues for intimate weddings include The Mango Farm in Antipolo and The Fun Farm in Sta. Elena.

Restaurant

Restaurants are great venues for intimate weddings in the Philippines, especially if you and your partner share a love for delicious food! A restaurant reception venue offers an intimate atmosphere, plenty of available seating, exceptional service, and built-in decor.

Popular restaurant choices for intimate weddings include Blackbird in Makati and Antonio’s in Tagaytay.

Local Art Museums 

If you’re looking for romantic wedding venues on a budget, look no further than an art museum. An art museum provides an elegant and picture-worthy backdrop for the most momentous occasion of your life.

Many couples have celebrated their intimate wedding in the Philippines by renting out museums such as Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo and the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.

Outdoor Garden

Garden weddings are perfect for couples who have a great love for nature and the outdoors. They’re also ideal for small and intimate weddings as they have a more relaxed and refreshing ambiance compared to indoor venues. Plus, nothing beats the feeling of celebrating in a pristine lawn and under a starry sky.

Gorgeous garden wedding venues for intimate weddings in the Philippines include Narra Hill in Tagaytay and Sampaguita Gardens in Quezon City.

Private Estate

Private estates are the perfect setting if you’re planning a small intimate wedding. They’re beautiful, exclusive, and offer a breath of fresh air for any wedding. 

Private estates that cater to weddings include Estuar Farm in Binangonan, Rizal and Villa Milagros in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Mountaintop or Hilltop

It’s true that love can make you feel like you’re on top of the world. With a hilltop or mountaintop venue, you’ll get otherworldly views and a tranquil backdrop — perfect for romantic and cozy weddings. 

Popular high-altitude venues include Basco Lighthouse in Batanes and Sileo Bed and Breakfast in Cebu.

For more options, check out our list of intimate wedding venues in the Philippines that will make your heart flutter.

 

5. Design Your Wedding Program

Another important element of every checklist for planning intimate weddings is the wedding program. Even small weddings need a program flow, so everyone knows what will happen next. Keep wedding program engaging but simple:

• Registration
• Welcome remarks
• Couple’s entrance
• Dances
• Traditions (e.g., cake cutting and champagne toasting)
• Lunch or Dinner
• Speeches
• Games
• Videos (if you have SDE) 
• Couples’ Thank You

6. Decor & Ambiance

Your wedding’s look and feel should reflect your love story. Keep things minimal yet meaningful with soft fairy lights strung across your venue, fresh wildflowers in mason jars, and glowing candles to add a romantic ambiance. 

Like in traditional weddings, a color palette or theme can create harmony to your ambiance. 

Add a personal touch by showcasing framed photos of your journey together, handwritten notes for each guest, or storyboards detailing milestones in your relationship. These little touches make a big impact in creating an intimate and memorable setting.

7. Wedding Attire

Choosing a wedding attire for an intimate wedding can be just as tricky. You’d probably want your attire to be simple enough to match the intimate vibe, but also elegant enough that you feel fabulous. And don’t forget that it should be comfortable enough to let you move, laugh, and dance freely! 

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box—you can rent gowns, re-style a hand-me-down dress, or go minimalist chic. Here’s where you can buy wedding dresses in the Philippines to suit your affair.  

8. Wedding Giveaways

Since you’ll be celebrating with those closest to your heart, make them feel appreciated with personalized and heartfelt wedding favors. 

The great thing about planning an intimate wedding is that your guest list is small enough that you can DIY or buy products from local artisans. You could also hire an artist to paint your guests. 

Make your giveaways more memorable by adding handwritten thank-you notes as well. 

9. Hire Your Dream Team

Don’t forget to hire some pros to pull your intimate wedding together. Who do you need for an intimate wedding? 

• Photographer/videographer to capture your moments
• Day-of coordinator or planner to make sure the day runs smoothly
• Caterer (if not at a restaurant) to serve hearty food
• Hair & makeup artist to get you ready
• Acoustic band or someone to curate a personal playlist
• Priest or marriage officiant

10. Secure Necessary Legalities

Before you say “I do,” take care of the paperwork to make it official. Make sure to process the following paperwork:

• Marriage license
• Church or civil ceremony requirements
• Permits for outdoor venues (if needed)

Celebrate Your Love, Your Way

At the heart of every wedding is love. And in an intimate wedding, that love is magnified. It’s about choosing connection over convention and creating a day that’s truly yours. Whether you’re saying your vows on a quiet mountaintop, sharing a meal in your favorite restaurant, or dancing under fairy lights in a garden, one thing’s for sure—this is the beginning of your forever.

Follow this simple wedding planning checklist and you’re sure to have a wedding that’s filled with warmth, authenticity, and joy. One that reflects your love story and leaves everyone—including you—with hearts full and happy memories to last a lifetime.