Checklist: Planning Your Micro-Wedding in Wollongong

Planning a micro-wedding is all about intimacy, intention, and celebrating with the people who mean the most. With the rise of small, meaningful weddings across Australia, Wollongong has become a beautiful location for couples seeking elegance, warmth, and a relaxed coastal-city atmosphere.

Whether you're inviting 10 guests or 40, here’s your complete checklist to help you plan a micro-wedding that feels effortless, personal, and unforgettable.

1. Choose an intimate venue that fits your vision

A micro-wedding deserves a venue that feels cosy, elegant, and intentionally designed for smaller celebrations. Look for spaces with character, natural charm, and flexibility — somewhere that doesn’t swallow your guest list or feel like a scaled-down version of a big venue.

Consider:

✔ Warm lighting and ambience

✔ Indoor/outdoor flow

✔ Beautiful styling potential

✔ Privacy for your ceremony and reception

Hidden in Church Street, Wollongong CBD, Hideaway Lane offers a laneway garden, soft lighting, and an Art Deco lounge that creates the perfect backdrop for intimate weddings.

2. Finalise your guest list

Micro-weddings at Hideaway Lane typically range from 10–40 guests for an intimate celebration, but we can accommodate up to 60 guests for your special day. Keeping it personal allows you to create meaningful connections with each guest while still maintaining an intimate vibe.

Checklist:

✔ Decide your maximum number

✔ Prioritise your inner circle

✔ Confirm who will attend both the ceremony & reception

✔ Communicate early (micro-weddings fill up fast at Hideaway Lane!)

3. Select your dream vendors

One of the best parts of micro-weddings is the freedom to work with vendors who align perfectly with your style. At Hideaway Lane, we take care of everything from food to styling, ensuring your day is seamless and unforgettable.

Key vendors to book early:

✔ Photographer

✔ Celebrant

✔ Florist

✔ Cake or dessert maker

✔ Hair & makeup artist

✔ Stylist or planner

We also work with our trusted Friends of Hideaway for all your other event needs. We can book these vendors on your behalf, from florists to photographers, so your day is curated just for you. Let us do the hard work while you focus on celebrating!

4. Create your ceremony plan

Even for an intimate wedding, the ceremony is the heart of your celebration. At Hideaway Lane, we make it easy to curate a ceremony that is perfectly tailored to your love story.

Checklist:

✔ Ceremony location (French doors, garden room or lounge)

✔ Celebrant and vow style

✔ Seating arrangement

✔ Music playlist or live musician

✔ Styling accents (arbour, florals, candles)

For those seeking a simple yet elegant ceremony, our Simply 'I Do' package is the perfect option. It offers a relaxed, meaningful ceremony with all the essential touches to make your day unforgettable.

Let us take care of the details while you focus on the moment, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

5. Plan an intimate reception experience

A micro-wedding allows you to design a reception that’s personal and memorable. Whether you want a relaxed cocktail-style event, a shared grazing experience, or a champagne tower toast, our Hideaway Lane Wedding Packages are designed to suit your style.

Options include:

✔ Cocktail-style event

✔ Shared grazing experience

✔ Dessert-and-champagne celebration

Whether you choose our all-inclusive packages or the Simply “I Do” ceremony-only option, we’ve crafted each experience with your love story in mind. Keep the vibe warm, intimate, and unforgettable.

6. Bring your styling vision to life

Since the guest count is small, your styling budget can stretch further, making room for thoughtful details.

Styling ideas:

✔ Candlelit tablescapes

✔ Soft florals and greenery

✔ Personalised place cards

✔ Linen textures and glassware

✔ Ambient lighting and fairy lights

Hideaway Lane’s cosy layout and intimate architecture, paired with stunning chandeliers, make styling effortless and photogenic, ensuring your wedding looks just as beautiful as it feels.

7. Plan your timeline

Unlike big weddings, micro-wedding timelines are calm and flexible.

Suggested order:

1. Guest arrival

2. Ceremony

3. Couple portraits

4. Drinks or grazing

5. Canapes

6. First dance (optional)

7. Speeches

8. Cake moment

9. Farewell exit

Keep it relaxed and effortless — that’s the beauty of a small wedding at Hideaway Lane, where every moment flows seamlessly, allowing you to enjoy your celebration with ease.

8. Add personal touches

This is where micro-weddings truly shine, and Hideaway Lane makes it easy to add meaningful details to your celebration.

Consider adding:

✔ Handwritten notes for guests

✔ Meaningful songs

✔ Collect family recipes as well wishes in your wishing well

✔ Bring a unique drink or cocktail**

✔ A memory table

✔ A personalised guest book

✔ Our Signature Hideaway Tea as a thoughtful wedding favour (can be added to any package)

** With our BYO policy, you can bring beer, wine, bubbles, and pre-made cocktails, allowing you to personalise your drinks experience.

It’s these special details that make the day feel uniquely yours — and create lasting memories.

9. Create a photo plan

With fewer guests and less pressure, micro-weddings allow for creative and intimate photo moments.

Checklist:

✔ Couple portraits

✔ Venue details

✔ Family moments

✔ Bridal party (if any)

✔ Candlelit reception shots

✔ Candid laughter and connection

Hideaway Lane’s garden room and lounge offer stunning indoor photo opportunities, no matter the weather. Located in Wollongong’s CBD, surrounded by urban streets, the venue blends natural beauty with city charm, creating the perfect backdrop for your celebration.

10. Confirm logistics

Before the big day, double-check the essentials:

✔ Final run sheet

✔ Vendor arrival times

✔ Access and bump-in details

✔ Special dietary needs

✔ Parking and directions

✔ Wet weather plan (not needed at Hideaway Lane, we’re covered!)

Let us take care of these details for you at Hideaway Lane, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience from start to finish!

Your micro-wedding should feel like you

A small wedding doesn’t mean less, rather it means more: more connection, more intention, more emotion, and more beauty in every moment. With the right space and team behind you, your micro-wedding becomes a celebration filled with warmth and meaning.

If you’re planning a micro-wedding in Wollongong and want a venue that feels private, elegant, and personal, Hideaway Lane would love to welcome you.

Enquire now to book a walkthrough or check availability.