Couples today are rethinking the traditional big wedding and opting for smaller, more meaningful celebrations. Intimate weddings in Madison are growing in popularity, offering couples the chance to focus on personal details, unforgettable moments, and quality time with their closest friends and family. This guide explores what makes an intimate wedding so special, what to look for in an intimate wedding venue, and how Monona Terrace delivers flexible packages and breathtaking views that make every small-guest celebration unforgettable.

What is an “intimate wedding?”

Also referred to as “micro-weddings”, intimate weddings are exactly what you’d expect – a smaller guest list, a more personalized experience, and (usually) scaled back festivities.  While a number of a “small” guest list is debatable, it’s usually between 30 and 75 people, focusing more on family and close friends. While there can be some drawbacks, such as potentially hurt feelings of the uninvited, going with a reduced sized wedding has a multitude of advantages.

The trend toward small weddings is a holdover from the pandemic, when large gatherings of guests were simply not possible. While elaborate weddings came storming back, with scores of guests and exorbitant celebrations, weddings are drifting back toward a more reasonable, actionable size and for good reasons.

Of course, it’s tempting to consider a massive affair with scores of guests, exorbitant festivities, and an ice sculptor, but you might discover a smaller event is the right decision.  

Why Couples Choose Intimate Weddings

The trend toward smaller, more meaningful celebrations is a shift that’s happening nationwide. While it may not include a live orchestra, an 8-tiered wedding cake and fireworks, an intimate wedding in Madison makes a lot of sense. Let’s look at both the practical benefits and the emotional benefits.

Practical Benefits of an Intimate Wedding

The practical benefits affect your bank account and your options. Other than buying a house, you’ll spend more money at one time on a wedding than almost anything else in your lifetime. So unless you are rich and have a phalanx of people to assist you with your wedding, “practical” is not only smart but also necessary.

  • Cost: Next to the venue, the guests are the most expensive part of most weddings thanks to food and beverages. Surely, you can slide the scale in one direction or another, but the quickest way to save money is to invite fewer people.
  • Venue Flexibility: With fewer guests, your venue options open significantly—think the eclectic bookstore where you first met, your favorite rooftop bar, or a friend’s backyard. A smaller guest list can also put more aspirational spaces within reach, since you’ll save per-guest on food and beverage and can explore intimate rooms at popular venues—historic buildings, country clubs, galleries, and even rooftop gardens or private terraces.
  • Budget Flexibility: Saving money in one bucket (guest list) allows you to spend more on other aspects of your wedding, such as a string quartet or live band, more opulent culinary choices, or sure, that ice sculpture you always wanted.
  • Simplified Logistics: From a bouquet toss to table/chair rentals to videographers to parking… everything has to be planned (and paid for). A smaller event means less to plan and less stress (yes, that’s an emotional benefit!). And, perhaps most importantly, with an intimate wedding, there’s less to go wrong and if (when) something does go wrong, it’s typically easier to deal with.

Emotional Benefits of an Intimate Wedding

If you’re not sold on a micro-wedding based upon the practical benefits, the emotional benefits of a smaller wedding will ice the cake.

  • Surround yourself with people you love: Even if all your guests don’t know each other, they quickly will become besties because they share a common love – you and your about-to-be spouse.  And you’ll be able to spend more time with family and friends. And likely, many of your guests are from out-of-town and you both deserve to spend more meaningful time together.
  • You do you: Big weddings tend to be more scripted. With a small wedding, it’s easier to do what you want and make it your own. From the food to the music to the flow of the entire event, go crazy! Or not. It’s up to you and your guests will love it even more because it’s not so “wedding-y.” You can put your personal spin on everything to make your wedding even more memorable and meaningful.
  • Less people mean less drama: They don’t make reality programming about weddings because everyone gets along, right? Smaller weddings allow you to turn down the “drama noise.” Unless you’re a proud bridezilla and then, well, “you do you” and good luck!
  • Enjoy the day completely: It’s your wedding day!  You should savor every moment and not be stressed if 200 people are enjoying themselves.
  • Emotional benefits for guests: Yes, this extends to your guests! When it’s smaller, they feel more connected to you and your day. Trust us, your wedding will become a happy memory of shared stories, laughter, and new friends made.

What to Look for in an Intimate Wedding Venue

As with any wedding, the venue is first and foremost in your plan. Assuming you’re planning ahead and have your choice of intimate wedding venues, here are some things to consider.

Flexibility in guest capacity and room layouts: A small guest list can start at 20 and quickly become 40-50 and still be considered “intimate.” It’s a good idea to ensure your venue can handle an expanded guest list if needed.

Scenic or unique settings to enhance the small-scale experience: As mentioned, a smaller guest list opens the door, so to speak, to more venues. Outdoor settings are popular, but it can be a challenge to feed 150+ people outside, especially in our unpredictable seasons here in Madison. The advantage you have is that even non-wedding venue locales might accommodate you. Remember that eclectic bookstore? Give them a call!

On-site catering, planning support, and convenience: Reducing stress can be SO comforting. If your chosen venue has on-site catering, a planner, and all the amenities you need, just start checking off boxes and focus on the intangibles that will make your wedding day a memory of a lifetime for everyone.

Proximity: If you’ve been thinking “an intimate wedding venue near me will make the wedding day easier”, it behooves you to have a smaller guest list. If there’s one person your wedding should be easy on, it’s you!

Why Madison is Perfect for Intimate Weddings

Madison often appears among the “Best Places to Live” on a variety of publications. It’s just a great city, known for its thriving culture scene, museums, architecture, and a foodie destination. Of course, we enjoy both Lake Monona and Lake Mendota. Progressive and innovative, Madison is the crown jewel of cities in the Midwest and one of the best places to get married! Why?

Lakefront beauty + charming city backdrop: It’s so beautiful here, day and night. The view of the downtown skyline against our natural reflecting “pools” is unrivaled. Of course, we do enjoy the best view of Madison and Lake Monona here at Monona Terrace. And despite our size, we are an ideal small wedding venue in Madison!

Accessibility for local and out-of-town guests: Madison has a wide range of hotels, short-term rentals and amenities galore within walking distance of most site-seeing destinations. Monona Terrace resides in a prime location that is easy to access from just about anywhere in the downtown area.

Vibrant downtown atmosphere for pre- and post-wedding activities: Out of town guests will never be bored or hungry, that’s for sure. Downtown Madison offers something for everyone and then some. Live theater, comedy, and music combined with the best restaurants, museums and other attractions make downtown Madison a one-stop-shop for visitors of all ages, interests, and budgets.

Monona Terrace: Madison’s Premier Intimate Wedding Venue

While we may be a little biased in our opinion, Monona Terrace continues to be one of the top wedding venues in Madison, and it’s not just because of our fantastic location. But you might be wondering if Monona Terrace is right for a smaller, more intimate wedding. We say a resounding “yes!” Here’s why:

Rooftop Garden
As with most Frank Lloyd Wright designs, the harmonious blend of a building with its natural surroundings is paramount. Our rooftop garden is the perfect representation of this philosophy and is a destination on its own merits. Enjoy the panoramic view of Lake Monona and the beautiful downtown skyline. The rooftop garden is a one-of-a-kind, magical space for your special day and as private and intimate as you require.  

Elegant Indoor Spaces
We have a number of indoor spaces suitable for 40-100 guests that are ideal for a smaller wedding. You can have all the benefits and offerings of Monona Terrace in a more secluded, personalized setting. You can always say your vows outside and then come indoors for the post-ceremony festivities.

Customizable Packages
Because of our experience, size, and facilities, we can customize just about anything to suit your needs. This includes our vast culinary capabilities, technology services, on-site support staff, and infrastructure. We do weddings right, and it shows.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Architectural Legacy
Wright envisioned a civic center where people could come together in a space that embodied an organic blend of function, beauty, and endurance. Monona Terrace rises out of the lake itself and bridges the water to the State Capitol. There is nothing else like it, and it has been the home of countless community gatherings – especially weddings.

Small-Guest Wedding Packages at Monona Terrace

Remember that  one of the great things about a smaller wedding is reducing your stress. With Monona Terrace, we take stress-reduction a step further! Once you start working with our wedding team, you’ll see just how much we have to offer and how easy it can be to put all the wedding pieces in place.

Ceremony + Reception
Being able to have a personalized, close-knit ceremony and then easily move to  reception festivities is a huge advantage. We have several packages to choose from along with the flexibility to make your wedding unmistakably “you.”

Tailored menus and décor flexibility
Food and beverages can elevate your wedding from memorable to remarkable. Our culinary options are wide ranging and can be customized for specific requirements. We also pride ourselves in sourcing locally. As for your décor, we can safely say we’ve probably seen it all. Whether you know exactly what you want or haven’t any idea, our team can help guide you towards an unforgettable visual backdrop.

Convenience & Customization at an Affordable Cost
Our location is easy to get to and there’s plenty of parking. The entirety of Monona Terrace is ADA accessible with clear signage, lighting, and open pathways to all of our outdoor and indoor spaces. And thanks to a smaller guest list, customizations can often be done for less. We’ll do all we can to maximize your budget in ways that are most important to you. 

Getting started is so easy! Take a look at our Weddings section, then request more details about our intimate wedding packages.

Create Your Perfect Intimate Wedding in Madison

There’s something special about a smaller celebration that you can’t get from a massive gathering. It’s more close-knit, less intimidating, and an innate camaraderie develops among the guests that lives long past the wedding day. We look forward to being part of creating a wedding tableau that will endure in memories made and stories told. You will see that Monona Terrace is the best intimate wedding venue in Madison

 Schedule a private tour and start planning your dream wedding today.