How to Keep Your Wedding Small

The rise in popularity of small weddings has seen a massive growth in recent years. But what is considered a ‘small wedding’? We saw elopements and micro weddings (15 people or less) take off during the Covid-19 pandemic and while large weddings (100+ guests) will always be a popular option for couples, this doesn’t always suit everyone. Small means intimate. It leaves space for authenticity and heartfelt connections with your partner and guests. When we say small, we’re looking at the step up from micro wedding, so between 15 – 50 guests.

Having a smaller wedding doesn't mean you have to compromise on style, budget, or vision. But it does mean the day itself can feel more relaxed and deeply personal. They also tend to be cheaper and can be shorter in length in comparison to a wedding day with all the usual traditions. Couples are also able to spend more quality time with their favourite people - which is virtually impossible to do with a guest list into the 100s!

Going ahead with a smaller wedding starts by compiling your guestlist. Instead of immediately feeling bad for the people that aren’t invited, consider who you turn to when it comes to a big life event? Or who would you invite to a restaurant? These guys are your VIPs and if you wouldn’t jump to share big news with them or want to sit with them one-on-one for an evening out at a restaurant then that’s a pretty big reason to discount them from your intimate wedding plans.

Small weddings can be totally awesome in their own way, and can lend themselves to much more flexibility and originality. Couples with smaller guest numbers also have more options available regarding their wedding venue. Don't rule out a wedding in your garden, on a boat, a magical woodland setting, your favourite gallery space, or even your local pub / bar / restaurant. Do seek out venues that specialise in hosting small / intimate weddings though. This will stop you from being tempted to increase the guest list and keep your plans clear and focused.

Choosing what date to get wed on can also be a good excuse to keep your celebrations on the small side. If you want to keep the guest list to just close friends and family, consider getting married during the week or over public holidays. These are the people that wouldn’t miss it for the world and are going to attend your wedding whatever the day so go for whenever you like!

Trust us, small weddings are the opposite of sad and boring. We think ditching some of the usual traditions could be a fantastic way to make your small wedding extra-special! Plus if you’re spending less money on the number of people attending, you could free up some of the budget to make it a memorable day with immersive experiences or luxury food and drinks for your nearest and dearest.

Finally, just because you’re opting for a small wedding doesn’t mean you shouldn't invest in an amazing photographer. This is one of the biggest days of your life so you will want to document it, regardless of size! Plus, your memory-making photographs can be just as exciting and special to the people who didn't attend as the ones that did. The emotion of a wedding day will always be the same whether you have 20 guests or 200, and let’s face it – that’s what it’s all about.