A small destination wedding is not simply a big wedding with names crossed off the list. When the guest count drops from a hundred to a dozen or so, almost every decision changes shape: where you can marry, how the money moves, what the weekend feels like, and how much of it you actually get to remember.

This guide walks through what changes when you keep it small, where couples tend to get caught out, and how to plan a small destination wedding that feels generous rather than scaled back. We will use St. Thomas, and our own six-room hotel in Charlotte Amalie, as the working example, because it is the setting we know best.

What Counts as a Small Destination Wedding?

There is no official cutoff. Most planners use “micro wedding” for roughly twenty guests or fewer, and “elopement” for the two of you plus perhaps a witness or two. A small destination wedding usually sits between those: the couple, immediate family, and the handful of friends who would be hurt not to be there.

The useful question is not a number. It is whether everyone you invite could sit at one long table. If they could, you are planning a small destination wedding, and the rest of this guide applies.

If you are still deciding whether to bring anyone at all, our guide to a Caribbean elopement covers the just-the-two-of-you version.

Why a Small Destination Wedding Changes the Whole Weekend

You stop hosting and start celebrating

At a large wedding, the couple spends the day greeting people in rotation. With a dozen guests, you can have a real conversation with every one of them, more than once. The welcome dinner becomes an actual dinner. The morning after becomes breakfast together, not a farewell receiving line.

The venue list opens up

Big guest counts push you toward ballrooms and resort lawns built for volume. A small destination wedding fits places that could never hold a crowd: a rooftop terrace, a garden under string lights, the steps of a historic landmark. Our roundup of Caribbean wedding venues shows how wide that range is.

Everyone can stay under one roof

This is the change couples underestimate most. When your whole group fits in one property, the wedding stops being an event you travel to and becomes a few days you live in together. Nobody is waiting on a shuttle. The pool is yours after the reception. The people you love are a few doors down.

Guests say yes more easily

Asking a hundred people to fly to the Caribbean is a big ask. Asking twelve people who would cross an ocean for you anyway is a different conversation. A smaller list tends to be a list of people who really want to come.

How Guest Count Shapes the Budget

A small destination wedding is often, though not always, cheaper overall. What it reliably does is change where the money goes.

Per-head costs shrink in total. Catering, bar, rentals and favors scale with guests, so cutting the list cuts them hardest.

Per-guest quality can rise. Many couples take the savings and spend more on each person: a private chef dinner, a sunset sail, better photography.

Fixed costs stay fixed. The officiant, the photographer, your own travel and the marriage license cost the same whether you invite ten people or a hundred. In the U.S. Virgin Islands the license is $200, paid to the territory, and the application process is handled through the Virgin Islands Superior Court.

For a fuller look at line items, our destination wedding cost breakdown goes category by category. On exact pricing for our own packages, we share current figures on inquiry rather than publishing numbers that change by date and season.

Planning a Small Destination Wedding, Step by Step

1. Write the list before you pick the place

Your guest count decides which venues are even possible. Settle the list first, then look for a place sized to it, not the other way round.

2. Choose a destination your guests can reach

For U.S. guests, the U.S. Virgin Islands remove one of the biggest hurdles: no passport is required for U.S. citizens, and the currency is the dollar. That matters more when you are asking specific people, including older relatives, to come. Visit USVI is a good place to check flights and seasonal events.

3. Look for a venue you can have to yourselves

With a small group, exclusivity is within reach. Ask whether the property offers a buyout, how many guests it sleeps, and what shared spaces come with it.

4. Plan the whole weekend, not just the ceremony

A small destination wedding is really a three or four day gathering. Sketch a welcome evening, the ceremony and dinner, and a slow day after. Leave space for nothing at all.

5. Handle the legal side early

Apply for your license well ahead of the date. Our guide on how to get married in St. Thomas walks through the court’s e-filing process.

6. Decide what you will not do

Small weddings feel best when they drop the traditions that only exist for big ones. No seating chart, perhaps no formal first dance, maybe no bouquet toss. Keep what means something to you.

A Small Destination Wedding at The Mary Anne

The Mary Anne is a six-room boutique hotel on the historic Charlotte Amalie hillside, next to Blackbeard’s Castle and the 99 Steps, with a rooftop pool looking out over the harbor. It was never built for a crowd, which is exactly why it suits a small destination wedding.

Property buyout. For complete privacy, the whole hotel can be reserved: all six rooms, the rooftop pool, the game lawn, the full kitchen, and a dedicated on-site host, for up to 15 guests.

Packages sized to your group. Our wedding packages scale with the guest list:

• Wedding Story, for the couple staying on property.
• Island Escape, a three-night stay for two rooms, for the couple and a small wedding party.
• Signature Celebration, a three-night stay for three rooms, with a rum tasting at Blackbeard’s Castle for the groom and groomsmen.
• Anchored in Love, for couples arriving by cruise ship who want a ceremony without an overnight stay.

Each package includes a non-denominational officiant, a tropical bouquet and boutonniere, and coordination from our team. Packages carry an 18% service fee, and the $200 marriage license is paid separately to the USVI. Ceremonies can be held at The Mary Anne or next door at Blackbeard’s Castle.

Ways to make it yours. Couples add a private chef dinner, a sunset sail or private boat charter, a flower arch, upgraded photography, or spa services such as hair, makeup and massage.

You can see the full package details on our weddings page, and our St. Thomas wedding packages post compares them side by side.

Small Destination Wedding Mistakes to Avoid

Inviting by obligation. The whole point of keeping it small is that every guest matters to you. If a name is on the list out of duty, it is worth a second look.

Booking rooms all over the island. Splitting a group of twelve across three hotels loses the best part of keeping it small. Look for one property that fits everyone.

Overscheduling. With fewer guests, you do not need a timeline packed with activities to keep people entertained. They came for you.

Forgetting the people who are not there. Tell the wider circle early and kindly, and consider a livestream or a casual party at home afterward.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many guests is a small destination wedding?
There is no fixed rule, but most fall somewhere between about 10 and 30 guests. A micro wedding usually means 20 or fewer.

Is a small destination wedding cheaper than a wedding at home?
Often, because per-guest costs like catering and bar shrink with the list. Travel and fixed vendor costs still apply, so it depends on your destination and choices.

What is the cheapest destination for a small wedding?
It varies with season and travel distance. For U.S. couples, places that need no passport, such as the U.S. Virgin Islands, can keep guest travel simpler.

Can we book a whole hotel for a small wedding?
At a small property, yes. The Mary Anne offers a full buyout of all six rooms for up to 15 guests.

Do we need a passport to marry in St. Thomas?
U.S. citizens do not need a passport to travel to St. Thomas. A valid government ID is enough, though a passport is needed for side trips to the British Virgin Islands.

How far ahead should we plan?
Six to twelve months gives guests time to book travel, especially for the drier winter and spring season.

The Bottom Line

A small destination wedding is not a lesser version of a big one. It is a different event: closer, slower, and built around the people who matter most. Fewer guests means more choice of setting, more time with each person, and a weekend that feels like your own.

If you can picture your people around one table on a rooftop above Charlotte Amalie harbor, we would love to help you plan it. Tell us about your date and we will share current package details.