How to Plan a Minimony and Later Reception

Short answer: A minimony is a small legal ceremony (often just you, an officiant, and a few witnesses), followed by a larger reception weeks or months later. Plan the reception 9-12 months out like a traditional wedding, and schedule your minimony 1-12 months before it. The minimony can happen at a courthouse, backyard, park, or any location where your officiant can legally marry you.

• The minimony handles the legal paperwork with minimal stress
• The reception is the “real” celebration with all your guests
• Most couples wait 3-6 months between events
• You can save significantly by keeping guest counts intentional

Who This Is For (and Not For)

This approach works well for:

• Couples who want to reduce wedding-day pressure by separating the legal and social elements
• Those with tight budgets who want to spread costs over time
• Couples navigating family logistics (divorced parents, international guests, scheduling conflicts)
• Anyone who simply prefers intimate vows and a big party as separate events

This may not be ideal for:

• Couples who want one traditional wedding day with ceremony and reception together
• Those with cultural or religious requirements that mandate a specific ceremony format
• Anyone who would feel stressed managing two events instead of one

Timeline for Planning a 2026 Minimony and Reception

One advantage of this approach: you can move fast. A simple minimony can be planned in 2-3 months. The reception takes longer if you want a specific venue or peak-season Saturday, but flexible couples can pull together a smaller reception in 4-6 months.

Here’s a comfortable timeline, but compress it if you’re working with less lead time:

6-12 Months Before the Reception

• Book your reception venue (popular Saturday dates fill fastest)
• Set a rough guest count to guide venue size
• Book key vendors: caterer, photographer, DJ or band

2-4 Months Before the Minimony

• Choose your minimony date and format
• Book an officiant if you’re not using a courthouse
• Apply for your marriage license (check local rules; most are valid 30-90 days)
• Confirm your location and any required permits
• Finalize your witness list and send simple invites (email or text works)

After the Minimony

• Send reception invitations 6-10 weeks before the date
• Finalize your reception timeline, seating, and any symbolic elements
• Consider displaying minimony photos at the reception

Where to Host Your Minimony

Your minimony does not have to happen at a courthouse. You need a valid marriage license, an authorized officiant, and any required witnesses. Beyond that, you have options:

Courthouse or City Hall: Low cost, simple, no weather concerns. Limited personalization and guest capacity.

Backyard or Family Home: Personal and flexible. You handle logistics like seating and a weather backup plan.

Park, Garden, or Beach: Beautiful photos and atmosphere. Check permit requirements for ceremonies and group sizes.

Restaurant Private Room: Combine the ceremony with an intimate dinner. Not all restaurants allow ceremonies, so confirm in advance.

Place of Worship: Meaningful if you’re religious. May have counseling or membership requirements.

The key question: where would you feel comfortable saying your vows with a small group and a camera?

Who to Invite to Each Event

Minimony Guest List (2-20 people)

Start with this question: who would you be heartbroken not to have present when you legally marry?

Common approaches:

• Just you two plus two witnesses (often parents or best friends)
• Immediate family only: parents, siblings, grandparents (typically 6-15 people)
• Tiny inner circle: immediate family plus a few closest friends (10-20 people)

Reception Guest List

Treat this like a traditional wedding guest list: extended family, friends, colleagues, and community. Everyone invited to the minimony should also receive a reception invitation.

Handling Guest Feelings

Be upfront with key people before they hear about the minimony on social media. Use language like: “We’re having a very small legal ceremony with immediate family, and we can’t wait to celebrate with everyone at our reception on [date].”

Frame the size as logistics, not preference. “Our minimony venue only fits 10 people” is easier to hear than implying a ranking of relationships.

How Long to Wait Between Events

1 month apart: Feels like one extended celebration. Costs are clustered but planning momentum stays high.

3 months apart: A mental and financial break. Enough time to get minimony photos for reception decor or slideshows.

6 months apart: Clear separation between “getting married” and “hosting a party.” Helpful if you want different seasons for each event.

12+ months apart: Maximum financial breathing room. Requires clear communication so guests aren’t confused.

Most couples land in the 3-6 month range. Choose based on cash flow, season preferences, and how long you’re comfortable waiting for the big celebration.

What to Include at the Later Reception

Food and Drinks

If your reception is in the evening and called a “reception,” guests expect a substantial meal. Options include:

• Plated dinner or buffet
• Heavy appetizers (if you clearly communicate “cocktail-style reception”)
• Brunch reception (schedule it late morning)

Include a bar or specialty mocktails unless you clearly state it’s a dry event.

Cake and Dessert

You don’t need two elaborate cakes. Common approaches:

• Small cutting cake or cupcakes at the minimony, main dessert at the reception
• Skip minimony dessert entirely and focus your budget on the reception
• Skip traditional cake altogether and serve your favorite dessert

Activities and Entertainment

Plan your reception like any wedding celebration:

• Entrance as a couple
• First dance (even if you did it privately at the minimony)
• Parent dances, toasts, and speeches
• Open dancing with DJ or band
• Photo booth or guest photo station

Minimony-specific touches:

• Display minimony photos around the venue
• Show a short slideshow or video from your ceremony
• Give a brief speech sharing your minimony story

Symbolic Ceremony Elements

You can absolutely redo elements at the reception:

• Re-read your vows (or write a shorter version for guests)
• Have a friend act as a ceremonial officiant to share your story
• Do your first dance again for everyone to witness

There’s no rule against repeating meaningful moments. Just be honest that the legal marriage already happened.

How Gather Shot Fits Into This

With two separate events, photo collection gets more complicated. Gather Shot is a photo sharing platform for events that lets guests upload photos via QR code. No app download required.

For your minimony: Set up a private gallery for your small group. Collect every candid shot from your witnesses and immediate family.

For your reception: Display a QR code at each table. Guests scan and upload throughout the night. You get hundreds of photos from every angle without chasing people through text threads.

You can use the same gallery for both events or create separate ones. Either way, you’ll have a complete collection of memories from both days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the minimony have to be at a courthouse? No. You can hold a legal ceremony anywhere your officiant is authorized to marry you. Backyards, parks, restaurants, and private homes all work.

How many people typically attend a minimony? Most range from 2 people (just witnesses) to 20 people (immediate family plus closest friends). Keep it small enough that the legal ceremony feels intimate.

Should we do a first dance at both events? That’s entirely your choice. Many couples do their first dance at the reception so guests can witness it, even if they also danced privately at the minimony.

How do we tell guests they’re only invited to the reception? Be direct and kind. Frame it as logistics: “Our ceremony is tiny due to space, but we’re so excited to celebrate with you at our reception.” Tell close friends and family personally before they see social posts.

Do we need two photographers? Not necessarily. You could book a photographer for just 1-2 hours at the minimony and full coverage at the reception, or choose one event for professional photos and rely on guests for the other.

Can we save money with this approach? Yes, primarily by keeping guest counts intentional. The biggest wedding costs are per-person (catering, bar, rentals). A smaller reception means real savings. Just avoid accidentally paying for two full weddings by keeping the minimony simple.

Next Steps

If you’re planning a minimony and later reception for 2026, start with your reception venue. That’s the harder booking. Fit your minimony into the timeline once you have your big celebration date locked in.

For more wedding planning guidance, check out our micro wedding planning guide and wedding day timeline guide . And when you’re ready to collect photos from both events, create a free Gather Shot gallery to get started.