If a small, intimate day is what you want, it can be achieved without offending too many people. Be upfront and honest about your intentions from the start, and consider alternative ways of celebrating. Remember, the most important person there will be your future husband or wife, and that is all that matters!
Disadvantages of Small Weddings
Since the task of creating a smaller guest list can be very stressful, conflicts can arise between the bride and groom, each of whom may have small or large families or circles of friends they're having trouble whittling down.
You'll have more venue options in the planning process, a smaller guest list, and a stronger budget. It also makes the transition from ceremony to reception more seamless with fewer people. An intimate wedding can create a more laid-back environment for brides so that they can be more present on their big day.
Don't Offer a Plus 1
Let everyone know that only a specific number of guests are allowed to attend the wedding. Explain that the guest list is limited to the number of people the venue can accommodate. Unfortunately, no extra wedding guests will be able to attend.
It depends on each person. It's natural for people to feel left out, especially friends and family. But they should still be happy for you and your fiancé if you decide this is how you want to celebrate your love. Not to mention, it's sometimes impossible to invite everyone you want to your ceremony.
The Budget
The answer is simple: if you have less people at your wedding, it's quite likely it will cost you less. The parts of the day that are based on guest counts such as catering, bar service and the amount of floral, decor and rentals you need may go down with smaller weddings.
A simple wedding ceremony can help you save money and open up some opportunities when it comes to your actual wedding day and even your honeymoon. If you're having a wedding during the COVID era, then you may seriously want to consider keeping the ceremony small, at least for this year.
It is inexcusably rude to just skip the wedding when they are expecting you. You could be excused if you are gravely ill, but even then you need to send a written apology.
Small weddings can range in size, but typically include around 20-80 people and are just as special — and potentially a lot less expensive — than a large celebration.
There are many reasons, but the most important one is that they represent a very special moment in a person's life. They are a time when couples come together to celebrate their love for each other, and they are also a time when families and friends get together to support the couple on this big day.
Traditionally, the bride's family pays for the wedding, but that custom is rapidly changing. Couples are increasingly choosing to handle at least half of the wedding expenses on their own. Early planning and a written budget can help avoid miscommunication when deciding who pays for what.
“12 to 14 months is pretty typical, but some couples will take 18 months or as long as two years, while others just want to get it done as quickly as possible. If you're the type of person who wants to be able to plan every last detail exactly as you want it, I'd probably recommend twelve to sixteen months.”
For a smaller wedding with around 50 to 60 guests, we recommend no more than four bridesmaids. For a larger wedding of 150 guests or more, wedding parties with 10 to 12 bridesmaids are more appropriate. Just keep this in mind: More isn't always merrier.
Typically, a guestlist of 75 to 150 people is considered an "average" wedding size. However, average guest counts fluctuate too. Did you know that about ten more guests are invited to weddings this year than last year? That brings the national average to just over 100 wedding guests.
How many guests are typically invited to each size wedding? These numbers may vary a little depending on who you're speaking with, but a small wedding typically includes 50 people or under, a medium wedding has a guest list of anywhere from 50-150 guests, and a large wedding has over 150 attendees.
A big wedding is ideal for the social butterflies among us! If you have a large family or circle of friends, there'll be fewer difficult guest list decisions and less chance of hurt feelings. It will also be easier to accommodate plus ones and children so no one misses out.
A big wedding is likely going to be expensive, given the higher costs for a larger number of wedding invitations, wedding catering costs per-person, wedding favors, and more. A larger wedding often takes extra work on a larger number of details, which can cause wedding stress.
Elopements and civil ceremonies/civil marriages are both legally binding ways to get married without a wedding. With elopements you'll pick up a marriage license from the County Clerk and Recorder and you'll sign it on the day of your elopement and then have it filed after its completed.
Communication is key when it comes to eliminating wedding planning stress. Find a time each week (or even every other week) to meet with your fiance(e) and go over updates, take stock of pending to-do list items, ask questions, discuss any decisions that need to be made, and make sure you're on the same page.