Hosting a Micro-Wedding in Your 30A Vacation Rental

The micro-wedding trend has redefined what a wedding can look like — intimate, intentional, and focused on what truly matters. And on 30A, your vacation rental becomes more than just a backdrop. It becomes the entire venue.

From beachfront ceremonies to private dinners under string lights, hosting a micro-wedding in your rental offers flexibility, privacy, and a level of personalization that traditional venues can't match. Here's how to plan one, and how Marrow can handle the most important part: the food.

What Defines a Micro-Wedding

A micro-wedding typically includes 20-50 guests, though some couples go smaller or slightly larger. The focus is on quality over quantity — fewer guests means more opportunity to make every detail meaningful.

Unlike elopements (which are often just the couple and an officiant), micro-weddings include close family and friends. The celebration is real, just scaled to what feels right.

Why couples choose micro-weddings:

• Budget flexibility: Smaller guest counts free up resources to invest in experiences rather than logistics.

• Intimacy: You actually get to spend time with every guest.

• Location freedom: Vacation rentals, beaches, private homes — spaces that couldn't accommodate 150 people suddenly become viable.

• Less stress: Fewer moving parts, fewer decisions, more presence.

On 30A, micro-weddings feel natural. The setting already provides beauty and atmosphere. You're not trying to create a moment — you're enhancing one that's already there.

Choosing the Right 30A Vacation Rental

Not every vacation rental works equally well for a micro-wedding. Consider these factors when booking.

Space for ceremony and dinner: You'll need room for both. Many rentals have outdoor areas — decks, courtyards, or direct beach access — that work beautifully for ceremonies. Indoor or covered spaces are essential for dining, especially if weather becomes a factor.

Guest capacity: Confirm the rental's occupancy limits and whether it allows events. Some properties have restrictions on gatherings, even small ones. Be upfront with the property manager about your plans.

Kitchen access: If you're hiring a private chef (which we strongly recommend), the kitchen needs to be functional. Most 30A rentals are well-equipped, but confirm basics: working stove, oven, refrigerator, counter space.

Aesthetic alignment: The rental's style should match your vision. Modern coastal, rustic beach cottage, or luxury estate — each creates a different tone. Choose one that reflects how you want the day to feel.

Proximity to beach access: Many couples want ceremony photos on the beach. Check how close the rental is to a beach access point and whether it's public or private.

Popular micro-wedding neighborhoods on 30A include Rosemary Beach, WaterColor, Seaside, and Alys Beach — all offer a mix of beautiful rentals and walkable beach access.

Planning the Ceremony

Micro-wedding ceremonies are refreshingly flexible. You're not constrained by venue timelines or traditional formats.

Ceremony location options:

• Beach: The classic 30A wedding. Sunset ceremonies are popular, but midday or morning works too. Check local regulations and whether you need a permit for beach ceremonies.

• Rental deck or courtyard: Private, sheltered, and requires less coordination than a public beach.

• Indoor: If weather is a concern or you prefer air conditioning, many rentals have beautiful living spaces that work for small ceremonies.

Logistics to consider:

• Seating: Rental companies on 30A provide chairs, arbors, and small ceremony setups. Or keep it simple — standing ceremonies work beautifully for micro-weddings.

• Sound: For beach ceremonies, consider a small sound system so everyone can hear vows.

• Timing: Plan around tides if you're on the beach, and around meal service if your ceremony and dinner are back-to-back.

The beauty of a micro-wedding is spontaneity. If the weather shifts or you change your mind about timing, adjustments are simple.

The Reception: Making Dinner the Main Event

In a micro-wedding, the reception isn't just an afterthought — it's often the centerpiece. And this is where private chef service transforms the experience.

Why private chef service works perfectly for micro-weddings:

You're hosting in a rental, which means restaurant-quality food without renting a separate venue. Your guests stay in one place, the atmosphere remains intimate, and you avoid the logistical nightmare of transporting everyone to a different location.

We've catered dozens of micro-weddings, from 15-person dinners to 50-guest receptions. The format is flexible based on your vision.

Service style options:

• Plated multi-course dinner: Elegant, refined, and paced to encourage conversation. Each guest receives individually plated courses served at the table.

• Family-style service: Abundant platters brought to the table for guests to share. Creates a warm, communal feel.

• Stations or buffet: For slightly larger micro-weddings (40-50 guests), food stations offer variety and keep guests moving.

• Heavy hors d'oeuvres: Passed appetizers and small plates for a cocktail-style reception. Works well for late afternoon or early evening celebrations.

Menu recommendations:

Our Signature Private Chef Experience and Chophouse Dinner are popular choices for micro-weddings, but most couples opt for fully custom menus. We'll design something that reflects your tastes and the tone of your celebration.

Gulf seafood, locally sourced produce, scratch-made everything. The same care that goes into our private dinners applies to your wedding — just scaled for the occasion.

What to Expect: Timeline and Logistics

Planning timeline:

For micro-weddings, we recommend reaching out 8-12 weeks in advance, especially for peak season dates (spring through fall). This gives us time to design a custom menu, schedule a tasting if you're local or visiting beforehand, and finalize every detail.

Day-of timeline:

• Ceremony: Typically 20-30 minutes.

• Cocktail hour: 45-60 minutes, often with passed hors d'oeuvres and drinks.

• Dinner service: 1.5-2.5 hours depending on the number of courses.

• Dessert and celebration: As long as you'd like.

Our team arrives hours before service to prep, plate, and coordinate timing with your ceremony schedule. You won't see the behind-the-scenes work — you'll just see each course arrive perfectly timed.

What we handle:

• All food preparation and plating

• Service staff (appropriate to your guest count)

• Setup and complete cleanup

• Beverages and bar service available

• Coordination with your wedding planner or coordinator (if you have one)

What you handle:

• Tables, chairs, linens, and tableware (rental companies on 30A provide these)

• Flowers, decor, and music

We focus entirely on the food so you can focus on everything else.

Pricing for Micro-Wedding Catering

Pricing depends on guest count, menu complexity, and service style. Custom menus are designed specifically for your celebration and align perfectly with most micro-wedding guest counts.

We'll provide a detailed proposal once we understand your vision, guest count, and menu preferences. Everything is outlined upfront — no surprises.

Visit our weddings page for current wedding catering pricing and packages, or browse our FAQ for answers to common questions.

Real Micro-Wedding Example

One couple hosted 30 guests in a WaterColor beach house. Ceremony on the beach at sunset, followed by dinner on the rental's expansive deck.

We designed a custom four-course menu: Gulf oysters with lemon crystal foam, baby greens with citrus vinaigrette, pan-seared snapper with brown butter, and chocolate bourbon pecan tart for dessert. Family-style sides included roasted asparagus and creamy parmesan risotto.

Service lasted two hours. Guests stayed at the table long after dessert, talking and laughing under string lights. The couple told us later it was exactly what they wanted — a celebration that felt like a dinner party, not a production.

That's what micro-weddings do best. They remove the performance and leave the joy.

Why 30A is Perfect for Micro-Weddings

The natural beauty does half the work. White sand beaches, turquoise water, coastal sunlight — you don't need elaborate decor when the setting is already this stunning.

The vacation rental inventory on 30A is deep and varied, meaning you can find a property that fits your aesthetic and budget. And because it's a vacation destination, many of your guests will turn the wedding into a long weekend or full week, giving you more time together.

Micro-weddings thrive in places like this — where the environment invites you to slow down, simplify, and focus on what matters.

Let's Plan Your Micro-Wedding

Whether you're hosting 15 people or 50, we'll create a menu and experience that matches your vision. Reserve your wedding date or reach out to start planning.

Your micro-wedding doesn't need to be small in impact. It just needs to be yours.