Small Wedding and Elopement Packages from Our NC Vendors

North Carolina is an ideal destination to host weddings of any size. Our state really does have it all, from historic mansions in the Piedmont to barn venues nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the past few years, however, small weddings, microweddings and even elopements have boomed in popularity. Many couples are ditching the time and stress that can go into planning a large traditional wedding in favor of a more intimate event. Elopements and small weddings (sometimes called microweddings) are every bit as romantic, and in some cases a more cost-effective way to celebrate your love. Keep reading to learn about a few of the best small wedding and elopement packages in North Carolina from our recommended venues. 

First things first. If you’re starting your search for your dream North Carolina wedding venue, you’ll want to explore our wedding venue booking guide. This tool will help you choose an NC wedding venue best suited to the size, style and specific needs of your desired event. Plus, you’ll find all the budget information you need and answers to FAQs.

What’s the Difference Between a Microwedding and Elopement?

While both microweddings and elopements have a smaller guest count than a traditional wedding, there are key differences in how we use these terms. Many people think of elopements as spur-of-the-moment events. An elopement ceremony may even occur in secret. Often, an elopement will be limited to the couple and officiant, and in general the term refers to a wedding with no more than 10 guests. But, some modern couples put more planning into an elopement than historically would be the norm.

Without hundreds or even dozens of guests to consider, you’ll be free to have that mountaintop or destination ceremony you’ve dreamed of. Many couples enjoy having the freedom to plan their wedding exactly how they want, without feeling pressure from family or friends to do things a certain way. Post-pandemic, it’s also become popular to elope or tie the knot during a mini ceremony, with a larger celebration with guests to follow.

The term microwedding generally refers to a ceremony of 50 or fewer guests. Why choose a microwedding? With a smaller guest count, you can certainly save money compared to a larger affair. Or, a tightened guest list can enable you to spend larger chunks of your budget on high-end design and details that matter to you, creating a truly elevated experience for your loved ones. Plus, you’ll likely spend much more quality time with your loved ones than you would be able to if you invite 250 guests. Microweddings are also suited to intimate venues, like an upscale restaurant or even your family home. These venue options are not suitable for large-scale weddings.

Our Favorite Microwedding Ideas

• Splurge on a custom stationer. With fewer invitations to send out, take the opportunity to spend a little more to make them extra special and memorable.
• Write handwritten vows. Make your ceremony your own and personalize this intimate event surrounded by your closest loved ones.
• Get creative with seating. Say your vows surrounded by a circle of your loved ones. Or, scrap the painful puzzle of a seating chart with a banquet-style reception.
• Fill the wedding weekend or day with engaging activities for your guests. 
• Personalize welcome boxes, gifts and signage. You can even have your baker create personalized treats! We love the idea of mini cakes for each guest.

Elopement Packages at Heights House Hotel

Heights House Hotel offers a one-night elopement rental package for Sunday-Thursday dates for guest counts of 35 and under. Check out Heights House’s pricing page for more details. The elopement package is available for up to 35 guests. This includes a buyout of the nine-room hotel. You’ll also enjoy a 20% discount for dates during non-peak months!

Small Wedding Special Packages at The Distillery

Say “I do” at one of North Carolina’s modern, elegant event spaces. The Distillery offers weekday dates at a discounted rate for small weddings and microweddings of 50 guests or fewer. Tuesday-Thursday dates are $6,000, which includes the use of tables and chairs, plus wedding planning! Couples have the freedom to creatively plan their event, or venue owner and experienced planner Chad Biggs can help streamline the process.

Microweddings and Elopements at The Museum of Life & Science

The Museum of Life & Science is one of our favorite Durham event venues, and we’re so excited they have a special rental package just for microweddings! The Intimate Wonder Wedding package is a three-hour rental option. It allows you to choose from two of the museum’s main event areas: the Butterfly House or indoor exhibits at the Main Building. You’ll enjoy a cake, chairs, tables, florals, heavy hors d’oeuvres and more, plus guidance from the museum’s venue coordinator and support staff.

Small Weddings in Cary, NC

The Matthews House in downtown Cary has a venue rental package for elopements or small weddings with a guest count under 50 people. This beautiful house and grounds make for the perfect backdrop for intimate events. Elopement rentals can also include decor and party rental items, too. Packages start at $600. Contact the venue today for a custom proposal!

Microweddings at a Stunning Rocky Mount, NC, Wedding Venue

The Power House at Rocky Mount Mills has long been one of our recommended NC event venues. Therefore, we’re excited that The Power House has a microwedding package to suit elopements and small weddings.

This microwedding package starts at $7,000. It’s designed to provide a seamless experience for gatherings of up to 50 people. This rental option includes six hours of access to the venue, including the bridal suite, patio and your pick of outdoor or indoor ceremony sites.

Linens, china, glassware and barware is also included with the venue rental. You’ll also get a small cutting cake, a bottle of bubbly, florals, a DJ, and an open bar package with craft beer from The Power House’s on-site breweries!

Small Wedding Package at Landon Estate

Landon Estate is one of several new NC wedding venues that we’re excited to see open for events in 2025!

For couples planning microweddings, Landon Estate offers half-day venue rentals. Pricing is by the hour. You’ll be required to have at least one hour for set-up, a two-hour event and one hour to clean up. Half-day rentals are available any weekday, or by request on weekends. Be aware that there are food and beverage minimums to meet if you choose a weekend date.

Half-day venue rentals allow use of one of Landon Estate’s spaces: either the Main Hall or the Estate House.

Elopement Venue Rental at Rose Hill

Rose Hill is a beautiful, expansive venue not far from the Triangle. This microwedding package is suited to gatherings of as many as 50 people, and is available Sundays-Thursdays.
The elopement package includes:
– six hours of venue access
– Rentals including linens, china, glassware and barware, and ceremony and reception chairs
– Florals, DJ, dessert and bar services
– Overnight stay for the couple

Raleigh Microweddings at Whitaker & Atlantic

At Whitaker & Atlantic – Raleigh’s modern warehouse venue with a three-season porch – you’ll pay $250 per person for events under 25 guests, and $200 per person for 26-60 guests (sales gratuity is not included). This fee includes a three-hour rental with an additional hour of rehearsal time during the week of your event. You’ll also have access to tables, basic linens, china, stemware and flatware plus chairs.

At Whitaker & Atlantic, your custom menu by in-house caterer PoshNosh Catering can include two passed hors d’oeuvres for cocktail hour and a seasonal dinner menu. A three-hour open bar with beer and wine is included, plus staffing for your event to include servers, bartenders, and a facility manager for the event.

If you want to upgrade your Whitaker & Atlantic microwedding, choose a specialty cocktail, basic full or premium full bar (pricing upon request), additional hors d’oeuvres or other special menu options. You can also add rental time for a rate of $1000 per hour.

Small Wedding and Microwedding Packages at Oakland Farm

Oakland Farm has special all-inclusive packages just for microweddings! Have your intimate celebration at this sprawling farm. These packages are designed for up to 50 guests. But don’t worry – if you have a few more than 50 people on your list, you’ll just pay a per-guest fee.

Two different all-inclusive small wedding packages are available. Choose from a six-hour microwedding rental for up to 25 guests, or 10-hour small wedding rental for up to 50. The small wedding package includes rentals, florals, your officiant, dessert, entertainment and beer and wine vendor in the rental fee, which starts at $17,000.

Your total cost will vary based on your selections and guest count, but these all-inclusive microwedding packages are a fantastic way to streamline planning and enjoy celebrating with your closest loved ones at a beautiful venue! Oakland’s team will handle all the details of your big day while you soak up every beautiful moment.

Elopements and Microweddings at Baucom House

At Raleigh’s Baucom House, you can choose from two packages designed for small weddings. The elopement package starts at $1,750 for up to five hours on-site and includes use of the house, table and chairs plus an overnight stay for the newlyweds. This elopement package is tailored to events with no more than 30 guests.

The microwedding package is available for weddings of 50 or fewer. Pricing starts at $4,000 for eight hours, and includes use of the house plus table and chairs, while the reception tent can be added for an additional fee.

The NC Wedding Venue Built for Small Weddings

While the wedding venues on this list offer special venue rental packages for microweddings, The Parlour at Manns Chapel is actually designed to host small weddings!

There are a few specific options for booking The Parlour. The Modern Elopement Package is designed for only 10 guests. This includes The Parlour’s favorite officiant, a photographer, floral bouquet and boutonniere. You can add on options like additional time and more guests, a ceremony styling package, The Parlour’s vintage Airstream that functions as a dressing suite, plus a dinner option. This is available for Sundays-Thursdays.

Celebrate Small: The Parlour’s most highly crafted all-inclusive package takes all the work out of your wedding planning experience. It’s perfect if you want style and service with The Parlour’s selected vendor team. This option includes planning, your officiant and a floral package. This package is for up to 30 guests and 6 hours of rental time with add-on options.

Triangle Photographers for Your Microwedding or Elopement

Finding the right photo and video team for your small wedding is an important step. Check out this breakdown of elopement and microwedding packages from several of our recommended Triangle NC wedding photographers!

More Elopement and Microwedding Packages at NC Wedding Venues

Raleigh Barn Elopement Venue

If you’re searching for an NC barn microwedding venue, you’ll be pleased to learn that The Historic Wakefield Barn has a special elopement package! You’ll have access to the entire venue – including both levels of the main barn, two dressing suites, plus the entire paved patio and outdoor space.

The elopement package also includes rentals, set-up and in-house coordination. Your elopement venue rental can range from 2-6 hours on a weekday or weekend, with the exception of Saturdays during peak months. Apart from time, your venue rental fee is determined by your total guest count and the time of year. At Wakefield, it’s easy to add on in-house food and bar services. You can even add on the farm’s horses to your rental!

Mountain Elopements at Overlook Barn

Overlook Barn offers both elopement and microwedding packages. These packages are for the couple who wants to get married with a backdrop of stunning mountain views, but with all the modern amenities that Overlook offers. Getting-ready suites as well as the Cliffside Barn are available for an indoor microwedding or intimate gathering.

Overlook’s microwedding package is a streamlined and simplified celebration for up to 40 people. Overlook Barn’s elopement package is designed for two to 15 people. The covered deck on Cliffside Barn has space for 40 people, and is all-inclusive for simplified planning.