You may find this hard to believe, but you’re not the only one who has the vision of a small and intimate wedding instead of a grandiose event with a guest list that includes everyone you (and your parents) have ever met. Despite what all the wedding shows tell us, there are plenty of people out there who want something that’s a little smaller in scale.
People opt for small weddings for a variety of reasons. There’s the desire to share such a special event with only the most important people in your life. Smaller weddings also mean more flexibility – you might be able to do that destination wedding you’ve always dreamed about, or get married in that charming small church. And then there’s the simplicity that comes along with having to accommodate less people.
While a small wedding may be less complicated in many aspects, planning one doesn’t come without its frustrations. Here are a few common challenges that come along with having a small wedding and how to overcome them.
* The guest list. Trimming the guest list is difficult for any wedding, much less a small affair. If you and your fiancé are in agreement about a more intimate affair, sit down and start compiling the list. If the cuts end up being too painful, you may have to consider something larger. Sometimes you don’t know who you might be missing until you get it on paper.
* If you are having a hard time narrowing the guest list, there’s always the option of a small ceremony and larger reception. This is an especially popular option for destination weddings where not all the guests will have the means to get to the ceremony.
* Hard feelings from those who aren’t invited. Contrary to what you might be thinking, it may actually be easier to explain non-invites when you have a smaller guest list. It’s easy for your friends to understand not being invited when they know they weren’t the only ones.
* Food and drink minimums. You may find that some caterers and venues have a minimum amount of money they require for their services. With a smaller gathering, that might mean you’d be paying for items you don’t need. While this may disqualify some caterers, it may also mean you can hire your favorite restaurant to provide the food when they might not otherwise have the capacity to serve hundreds of guests. Many smaller venues won’t have a minimum or will allow you to bring in food and drink from outside vendors.
With a smaller wedding you have a chance to be a little more creative like this.
