More and more people are opting for smaller, more personal wedding ceremonies so that they can put the spotlight squarely on their new spouse, their vows, and their loved ones. Even though there's nothing wrong with going all out for the big day, sometimes the little things can have the biggest impact.
Celebrations of both types have their merits. Those soon-to-be spouses who want a more intimate wedding celebration will find helpful suggestions in this post.
A small wedding can be a happy time for the whole group, not just the bride and groom. They provide a smaller, more personal ceremony with less guests and less pressure for the happy couple. Knowing your options and how to make your small wedding day great for you and your guests is essential if you're planning one. With these suggestions in mind, couples are guaranteed to have an unforgettable romantic encounter.
The more time you spend thinking about it, the more questions pop up in your mind regarding how and where to do it. It can be difficult enough to decide whether or not to be married, and for those who have made up their minds, there's still the matter of planning the kind of ceremony they want. Extravagant party for many guests? A small, private gathering for family and friends? Choosing from among all the solutions that seem tailor-made for your situation is challenging.
This article will provide you with a summary of the many positive aspects of a small, private wedding. Small weddings are less extravagant than big ones, making them ideal if you want your special day to be relaxed and stress-free. Typically, fewer people are invited to these celebrations, but they still have some sort of ceremony. It's possible to save money on the wedding day by opting for a smaller, more personal ceremony. Keep reading if you're thinking about hosting such an event or if you just want to learn more about the pros and downsides.
If you think a small, intimate wedding would be what you're looking for on your big day because of the smaller guest list, shorter planning time, lower spending on food and décor (and other goods), greater focus on each guest during the reception, and a more personal feel, keep reading!
The Pros of Having a Small Wedding
Spending Quality Time With Your Friends And Family
The couple may feel that they don't have enough time to talk to each of their guests if they go for a big wedding. Inviting up to 200 guests to a party might make it feel like a herculean task to meet everyone and make them feel like they were important enough to spend time with. The task is much easier to handle for a smaller wedding. Check out Boutique Events Group Wedding Venue for your ultimate wedding reception.
Think about how long it would take to chat with everyone in a room with 20 tables of 10 people. Imagine a wedding reception with only five tables, each seating six guests, and you'll get an idea of how much easier it is to mingle with everyone.
There are many factors to consider while planning a wedding, but one of the most common is the host's desire to spend more time with each guest. We've found that the intimacy of a setting designed for smaller groups is hard to reproduce in larger ones.
An Intimate Setting Has Been Shown To Reduce Anxiety
Because there are so many variables at play, it stands to reason that the more people there are in attendance at the marriage, the more there is to potentially go wrong.
When it comes to planning every detail of your wedding, from the seating chart to the flowers to the wedding favours to the decorations for the reception hall, larger is not necessarily better.
Think about the time and effort required to set up 200 unique wedding favours as opposed to 50, or to decorate five tables as opposed to twenty. You'll get a sense of the various tasks that might pile up in the months leading up to the big day.
Your wedding venue's staff will provide the above conveniences and more, including their own unique brand of personalised service. If you opt for a more intimate location that only hosts one wedding each day, you can rest assured that you and your guests will receive undivided attention from everyone involved in the preparation and execution of your special day.
Our research shows that when couples work with the same wedding coordinator throughout the planning process, they develop deeper connections with their locations.
The value of this friendship in making the planning and execution of the wedding day less stressful cannot be overstated.
Saving Money By Having A Small Wedding
The financial part of wedding planning has never been so crucial to think about this year, as many couples have had to make last-minute changes to their plans.
Having a smaller wedding can save you money in several ways, like not having to worry as much about deposit with locations and vendors and getting married. Even if you've always intended on having a modest wedding, you should still put some thought into the budget because the costs might mount up faster than you realise.
When it comes to selecting the most meaningful elements to include in your wedding, our wedding planning guide has you covered. You can move forwards with wedding preparations once you have decided on a style and a price range.
For many couples, having to make do with less is actually preferable when working with a lesser budget.
If you're planning a wedding and want to make the most of the time leading up to the big day, limiting your selections can help.
From a purely financial standpoint, there is a huge gap between feeding 200 people and feeding 50 people. Depending on how much of your budget is allotted for food and drink, you may be surprised at how far it goes when you're dealing with a more intimate location.
There are several advantages to working with a smaller venue, and one of them is that you can often take advantage of the venue's established ties with prefered smaller vendors.
Customise Away From Concerns Of High Volume
What's great about a wedding is that it's a chance for the couple to express themselves to their friends and family in a way that's uniquely them.
All the little things that brought their vision to life can add up, whether they opt for a Pinterest-inspired DIY wedding full of projects or a themed wedding based on their favourite books, movies, or locations, or a wedding that honours the significance of the people who will be sharing the day with them.
When you want to provide each of your guests a unique experience, it may take more time than you anticipate to make all of the necessary preparations.
If you're having a smaller wedding, you'll have more time to put into the finer details, like creating one-of-a-kind centrepieces, personalised wedding favours, and unique decorations for the venue.
If You're Dealing With A Small Group, DIY Is The Way To Go
The majority of us have been asked to assist in some way with a friends or family member's wedding planning. You know how night before going to bed it can be to get everything ready for an event because you probably had to do things like fold programmes, make centrepieces, write invites and place cards, or find lights, lanterns, candles, or a number of other necessities.
It's nice to have a smaller wedding because it means less work finding vendors and setting up the venue.
If you don't have to worry about transporting a lot of heavy goods to the ceremony site the day before the wedding, you'll have more time to concentrate on getting ready for the wedding and for the wedding party.
Processing Invitations And Replies
Invitations are one of the most personal touches of a wedding. Use the time it takes to write out invitations as an opportunity to reflect on the person you're inviting and the reasons why you want them to be a part of your big day.
This is a great activity, but it will take some time, so if you are short on time, having fewer guests may be preferable.
Guests who take longer than expected to respond to invitations and RSVPs are a constant source of annoyance, sentimentality aside. You'll have less people to track down and more time to scrutinise the final guest list if you keep it small.
Tips For A Small Wedding
Having a modestly sized wedding ceremony and reception has numerous advantages. In addition to saving money, hiring fewer vendors simplifies planning the big day. However, it also gives you and your group permission to engage in more personal, close-knit social activities.
Having a smaller wedding ceremony allows you to be more flexible with themes and seating arrangements, leaving guests with a more customised and heartfelt experience that truly reflects you and your partner. In addition, you'll be able to make everyone's time together more pleasurable and exciting.
These ideas for a tiny wedding ceremony will help you plan the perfect private celebration if you're thinking of having one. Once you've settled on a strategy that works for you, you'll be eager to start making preparations for some romantic in-store dates to send to your significant other.
Elope
Just spend the day together without any hassle. If you and your partner decide to run away together or elope on the heat of the moment, you are both free to do whatever you like.
A modest wedding ceremony is economical in more ways than one. In addition, you and your partner have complete creative control over the branding of this one-of-a-kind union.
After all, a wedding is a time to celebrate your shared love and unique personalities with the people you care most about. So once the major day is over, develop a customized wedding ceremony album that you and your spouse will seem to be through for years to come.
Have A Party After The Reception
You aren't prepared to stop the party. After the reception is finished, have some guests over for a post-birthday party.
Don't Forget To Take Some Group Shots
When the wedding party and guests number fewer than ten people, photographers will have an easier time capturing group shots and photos of the ceremony and reception. Pose with your loved ones in a heart shape outside the venue, or have your photographer take a bird's-eye view of you and your guests standing in a heart shape inside.
Reduce the Size of the Wedding Party
Not having a bridal party at all, or having a small one, is a great way to save money and make it easier to keep everyone organised. It's not necessary to have a large bridal party if you're only thinking of having your best friend as your maid of honour and excellent man as your best man.
Make A Cozy Seating Arrangement
Fewer guests means more of a chance for conversation and getting to know one another at the reception. If you want everyone to be able to participate in the conversation, a round table is the way to go.
Plan Your Seating Arrangement Creatively
There is more room for creative seating layout when there are fewer seats to fill. Try out some unique configurations, such a spiral aisle with the minister in the middle.
When you organise a small, private wedding, you get the benefit of being able to move away from the standard, predetermined table layouts that are intended to seat the most people possible at the reception.
Due to the more casual and inclusive nature of a large banquet table, it is often chosen as one of the most popular small wedding ideas.
A lengthy banquet table might not be the safest choice with social distance being recommended till further notice in most parts of the country, but the good news is that you can still get creative when arranging your tables.
We suggest putting guests at tables in groups of two or four, depending on how large your quarantine group/household is. Depending on the available area, you might want to think about using a U-shaped, staggered, or circular arrangement for your tables.
Outdoor Ceremony
Having a wedding outside allows you to celebrate your love for one another without having to leave the comfort of your own home. Your guests will appreciate eating and mingling in a relaxed atmosphere, so set up a covered area with tables and chairs, then decorate it with string lights and plants. Even a dance floor can be constructed in the garden from repurposed wooden pallets.
An Outdoor Party
Do you and your significant other enjoy spending time in nature's splendour? Gather up some friends and family and get hitched in the woods or amid the tents. Mix in some tasty s'mores to the wedding reception festivities instead of a traditional cake.
Destination Wedding
Because of the expense and inconvenience involved, fewer guests are invited to a destination wedding.
Maybe you and your sweetheart have a destination in mind that you're both dying to see. If that's the case, now is the time to cross it off your lists once and for all. Not to mention, you probably won't want to travel too far for your honeymoon.
It's not necessary to travel internationally to have a "destination" wedding; there are plenty of breathtaking local venues for such an occasion.
After it is secure to do so, you can plan a wedding at a remote location, be it a lavish mansion a few hours distant by vehicle or a beach resort across the globe (be sure to check health regulations and quarantine guidelines first).
Inviting fewer people means you'll have more time to organise transportation, unwind once you get there, and have fun with your company.
If you've been forced to reduce your party's guest list due to concerns about COVID-19, consider it a blessing in disguise: not only will you have more options and flexibility with fewer guests, but everyone will have an easier time sticking to safety protocols. Looking for the ultimate Wedding Reception Venue in Melbourne? Look no further, Boutique Events Group is here.
Find a Food Truck Instead of a Caterer
Is it possible to skip the caterer in favour of something more extraordinary? Get a food truck for your outdoor party. Think about food trucks serving wholesome options like wood-fired pizza, falafel, tacos on the street, and frozen treats.
Make sure you get all the necessary permits and legal paperwork from the vendor in advance.
Wedding reception meals are a highlight of the big day, but they may also be a significant financial commitment.
If you have fewer people attending your wedding, you may be able to splurge on extras like unique appetisers, wine pairings, dessert options, and even artistic plating if you're willing to spend the extra money. For the full five-star treatment, leave a menu card at each guest's place setting.
A Wedding in City Hall
When you get married at City Hall, you might save money on a traditional wedding site. Instead, make the best impression possible on your photographer by inviting only the people whose presence you've personally tested (by inviting the most people possible, of course).
Pick A Place That Isn't Huge Or Conventional
You'll be free to get creative with your setting if you don't have to worry about fitting a large number of your buddies into a small area. Imagine getting married at the same coffee shop or library where you and your partner first crossed paths. You may now add a touch of extra emotion and significance to your special day.
If you only plan on inviting a few close family members and friends, the world is your oyster in terms of potential wedding locations. You can create a memorable event by choosing a location that no one else would think to choose, such as a public landmark, a gorgeous hilltop, your favourite hole-in-the-wall restaurant, or a spot that requires specialised transportation.
If you're looking for easy wedding ideas and want to simplify your big day as much as possible, don't discount the importance of a beautiful location.
Put Together Gifts for Guests or Wedding Favors
Having a small wedding allows you to be more creative with your wedding favours without breaking the bank. Give each guest a personalised mug filled with their choice of coffee, tea, and homemade pastries, jams, and granola.
No matter how big or small your wedding guest list is, wedding favours are a thoughtful way to show your appreciation to your visitors. However, if you're just inviting a limited number of guests to your wedding, you may want to skip the traditional favours in favour of creating welcome boxes or gift boxes.
Having a wedding weekend or a wedding at a specific location makes this a fantastic option. Personalized wedding favours will stand out the most if they reflect the couple's interests and the setting of the wedding.
If you've taken any precautions against the spread of the COVID-19 virus at your wedding, now is a good time to remind guests of them. Include a mask, some hand sanitizer, and a heartfelt thank-you message in each of the favour boxes you're sending out to guests.
Send Out Fancy Invites
Unless you have an infinite budget, you'll have to make some tough choices when planning a wedding for a large number of people, such as skimping on elaborate details like custom invitations.
On the other hand, if you're only inviting a small group of people to celebrate with you, you may be able to afford to treat yourselves to at least one luxury item. Sending out one hundred or more handwritten invites to a wedding would be impossible, but sending out twenty would be a breeze (and worth it).
We love the notion of upgrading the stationery with fancy paper, wax seals, and original watercolour artwork for a modest wedding.
Create A Classy Bar For The Reception
The bar is often a focal point at a wedding, whether it's stocked with alcoholic beverages or nonalcoholic mocktails, so why not make yours special? Create a one-of-a-kind wedding bar using rented equipment and other decorative elements to really set the mood for your celebration.
If you're planning a modest wedding but still need to fill a large room, this is one of our favourite tiny wedding ideas. Or, for a more unique small wedding reception idea, consider renting a lovely mobile bar to surprise your guests with.
We anticipate an even greater role for bars and bartenders, given the persistence of social distance measures, particularly as individuals increasingly prefer to purchase individual drinks rather than refilling a pitcher or purchasing in bulk.
Include An Entertainment Element
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to planning the wedding of your dreams, so feel free to preserve or discard as many traditions as you wish.
However, if you are concerned about maintaining excitement among a smaller gathering, we suggest adding some interactive aspects to your reception. Boutique Events Group is your ultimate Wedding Reception Venue to create your dream wedding.
In this way, you may relax and enjoy the wedding without worrying about whether or not the dance floor will be crowded. Small wedding ideas that encourage guests to get up and mingle include cigar bars, cocktail bar stations, create perfume bars, and do-it-yourself candle stations.
Additionally, your guests will have something to remember your wedding by for a long time to come if they take home a personalised favour or participate in a special activity.
Conclusion:
A small wedding can be a happy time for the whole group, not just the bride and groom. They provide a smaller, more personal ceremony with less guests and less pressure for the happy couple. Small weddings are less extravagant than big ones, making them ideal if you want your special day to be relaxed and stress-free. With these suggestions, couples are guaranteed to have an unforgettable romantic encounter. Inviting up to 200 guests to a party might make it feel like a herculean task to meet everyone and make them feel like they were important enough to spend time with.
If you opt for a more intimate location that only hosts one wedding each day, you can rest assured that you and your guests will receive undivided attention. Having a smaller wedding can save you money in several ways, like not having to worry as much about deposit with locations and vendors. For many couples, having to make do with less is actually preferable when working with a lesser budget. From a purely financial standpoint, there is a huge gap between feeding 200 people and feeding 50 people. It's nice to have a smaller wedding because it means less work finding vendors and setting up the venue.
Processing invitations and replies are one of the most personal touches of a wedding. You'll have less people to track down and more time to scrutinise the final guest list if you keep it small. These ideas for a modestly sized wedding ceremony and reception will help you plan the perfect private celebration. When the wedding party and guests number fewer than ten people, photographers will have an easier time capturing group shots and photos of the ceremony and reception. Not having a bridal party at all, or having a small one, is a great way to save money and make it easier to keep everyone organised.
If you want everyone to be able to participate in the conversation, a round table is the way to go. When you organise a small, private wedding, you get the benefit of being able to move away from the standard, predetermined table layouts that are intended to seat the most people possible at the reception. There is more room for creative seating layout when there are fewer seats to fill. Try out some unique configurations, such a spiral aisle with the minister in the middle, or a U-shaped, staggered, or circular arrangement for your tables. With fewer people attending your wedding, you may be able to splurge on extras like unique appetisers, wine pairings, dessert options, and even artistic plating if you're willing to spend the extra money.
If you've been forced to reduce your party's guest list due to concerns about COVID-19, consider it a blessing in disguise. Having a small wedding means you don't have to worry about fitting a large number of people into a small area. You can be more creative with your wedding favours without breaking the bank. Personalised mugs and gift boxes are a great way to show your appreciation to your guests. If you're just inviting a few close friends or family, you may want to skip the traditional favours in favour of creating welcome boxes or gift boxes.
If you're planning a modest wedding, there's no need to splurge on every aspect of the reception - but why not treat yourself to a few luxuries? Stylish stationery, wax seals and original watercolour artwork could be added to your invitations for a modest ceremony. Create a one-of-a-kind wedding bar using rented equipment and other decorative elements to really set the mood for your celebration. Or, for a unique small wedding reception, consider renting a lovely mobile bar to surprise your guests with.
Content Summary:
- Celebrations of both types have their merits.
- A small wedding can be a happy time for the whole group, not just the bride and groom.
- They provide a smaller, more personal ceremony with less guests and less pressure for the happy couple.
- Knowing your options and how to make your small wedding day great for you and your guests is essential if you're planning one.
- It can be difficult enough to decide whether or not to be married, and for those who have made up their minds, there's still the matter of planning the kind of ceremony they want.
- This article will provide you with a summary of the many positive aspects of a small, private wedding.
- It's possible to save money on the wedding day by opting for a smaller, more personal ceremony.
- If you think a small, intimate wedding would be what you're looking for on your big day because of the smaller guest list, shorter planning time, lower spending on food and décor (and other goods), greater focus on each guest during the reception, and a more personal feel, keep reading!
- Spending quality time with your friends and family The couple may feel that they don't have enough time to talk to each of their guests if they go for a big wedding.
- Inviting up to 200 guests to a party might make it feel like a herculean task to meet everyone and make them feel like they were important enough to spend time with.
- The task is much easier to handle for a smaller wedding.
- There are many factors to consider while planning a wedding, but one of the most common is the host's desire to spend more time with each guest.
- An intimate setting has been shown to reduce anxiety.
- If you opt for a more intimate location that only hosts one wedding each day, you can rest assured that you and your guests will receive undivided attention from everyone involved in the preparation and execution of your special day.
- Our research shows that when couples work with the same wedding coordinator throughout the planning process, they develop deeper connections with their locations.
- Having a smaller wedding can save you money in several ways, like not having to worry as much about deposit with locations and vendors and getting married.
- When it comes to selecting the most meaningful elements to include in your wedding, our wedding planning guide has you covered.
- You can move forwards with wedding preparations once you have decided on a style and a price range.
- For many couples, having to make do with less is actually preferable when working with a lesser budget.
- If you're planning a wedding and want to make the most of the time leading up to the big day, limiting your selections can help.
- Depending on how much of your budget is allotted for food and drink, you may be surprised at how far it goes when you're dealing with a more intimate location.
- There are several advantages to working with a smaller venue, and one of them is that you can often take advantage of the venue's established ties with prefered smaller vendors.
- What's great about a wedding is that it's a chance for the couple to express themselves to their friends and family in a way that's uniquely them.
- When you want to provide each of your guests a unique experience, it may take more time than you anticipate to make all of the necessary preparations.
- If you're having a smaller wedding, you'll have more time to put into the finer details, like creating one-of-a-kind centrepieces, personalised wedding favours, and unique decorations for the venue.
- The majority of us have been asked to assist in some way with a friends or family member's wedding planning.
- It's nice to have a smaller wedding because it means less work finding vendors and setting up the venue.
- If you don't have to worry about transporting a lot of heavy goods to the ceremony site the day before the wedding, you'll have more time to concentrate on getting ready for the wedding and for the wedding party.
- Processing invitations and repliesInvitations are one of the most personal touches of a wedding.
- Having a modestly sized wedding ceremony and reception has numerous advantages.
- Having a smaller wedding ceremony allows you to be more flexible with themes and seating arrangements, leaving guests with a more customised and heartfelt experience that truly reflects you and your partner.
- These ideas for a tiny wedding ceremony will help you plan the perfect private celebration if you're thinking of having one.
- Just spend the day together without any hassle.
- A modest wedding ceremony is economical in more ways than one.
- So once the major day is over, develop a customized wedding ceremony album that you and your spouse will seem to be through for years to come.
- You aren't prepared to stop the party.
- After the reception is finished, have some guests over for a post-birthday party.
- Not having a bridal party at all, or having a small one, is a great way to save money and make it easier to keep everyone organised.
- Plan your seating arrangement creatively.
- There is more room for creative seating layout when there are fewer seats to fill.
- Try out some unique configurations, such a spiral aisle with the minister in the middle.
- When you organise a small, private wedding, you get the benefit of being able to move away from the standard, predetermined table layouts that are intended to seat the most people possible at the reception.
- Due to the more casual and inclusive nature of a large banquet table, it is often chosen as one of the most popular small wedding ideas.
- We suggest putting guests at tables in groups of two or four, depending on how large your quarantine group/household is.
- Depending on the available area, you might want to think about using a U-shaped, staggered, or circular arrangement for your tables.
- Having a wedding outside allows you to celebrate your love for one another without having to leave the comfort of your own home.
- Do you and your significant other enjoy spending time in nature's splendour?
- Gather up some friends and family and get hitched in the woods or amid the tents.
- Mix in some tasty s'mores to the wedding reception festivities in instead of a traditional cake.
- Because of the expense and inconvenience involved, fewer guests are invited to a destination wedding.
- When you get married at City Hall, you might save money on a traditional wedding site.
- If you're looking for easy wedding ideas and want to simplify your big day as much as possible, don't discount the importance of a beautiful location.
- Having a small wedding allows you to be more creative with your wedding favours without breaking the bank.
- No matter how big or small your wedding guest list is, wedding favours are a thoughtful way to show your appreciation to your visitors.
- However, if you're just inviting a limited number of guests to your wedding, you may want to skip the traditional favours in favour of creating welcome boxes or gift boxes.
- Having a wedding weekend or a wedding at a specific location makes this a fantastic option.
- Personalised wedding favours will stand out the most if they reflect the couple's interests and the setting of the wedding.
- If you've taken any precautions against the spread of the COVID-19 virus at your wedding, now is a good time to remind guests of them.
- Unless you have an infinite budget, you'll have to make some tough choices when planning a wedding for a large number of people, such as skimping on elaborate details like custom invitations.
- The bar is often a focal point at a wedding, whether it's stocked with alcoholic beverages or nonalcoholic mocktails, so why not make yours special?
- Create a one-of-a-kind wedding bar using rented equipment and other decorative elements to really set the mood for your celebration.
- Or, for a more unique small wedding reception idea, consider renting a lovely mobile bar to surprise your guests with.
- Include an entertainment element There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to planning the wedding of your dreams, so feel free to preserve or discard as many traditions as you wish.
- However, if you are concerned about maintaining excitement among a smaller gathering, we suggest adding some interactive aspects to your reception.
FAQs About Small Weddings
Weddings with guest counts between 20 and 75 are generally considered “intimate,” although we've had them with as few as six guests. While elopements are intimate affairs as well, we tend to use the term “intimate wedding” to refer to more formalized events with an itinerary and, often, multiple events.
As a couple, it's best to agree on a number you're both comfortable with and then work towards this. Typically, an intimate wedding invites 50 people so that's 25 on each side. When you make your initial guest list, start by creating three tiers. The first tier includes your immediate family members.
By keeping the affair small, you can save a lot on meals, seats, wedding favors, and invitations. So, if you're on a strict budget, a small wedding is obviously ideal. Besides, you can use whatever money you save toward an extravagant honeymoon, or to plan a more lavish celebration.
Probably most people are aware of the most common advantages of having a small wedding, namely saving money and cutting down on stress. With current world events, it's clear that intimate weddings are a trend that will likely continue for quite a while to come.