People usually think that if they choose to have a small wedding, it means they’ll have considerably fewer expenses, less stress, and fewer issues to consider. That’s actually not right. You will most probably have as much headache and as many problems as the couples who plan a big wedding, these problems just will be different. Let’s find out what small wedding issues are and how to solve them. For example, how to make your small wedding a fun experience.
Wedding guests’ expectations
You might find yourself in a situation where everybody around judges and disapproves of your decisions. Maybe your parents have always wanted a grand wedding for you. Or your distant relatives expected to be invited to your wedding but you had to cut the guest list because you can’t afford to invite a few hundred guests. Some of your wedding guests will expect to experience a traditional wedding with all due paraphernalia and will be surprised or even disappointed that you don’t care about this stuff. Anyway, almost every wedding gets some critics, so be ready for it and don’t stress too much over it. Those people who really care about you will understand, and that’s all that matters. Try to explain patiently to unsatisfied friends and relatives that you and your honey made a particular decision because it’s your day and your right to do so.
Be prepared for vendors refusing to take small orders
Most wedding vendors prefer to take large orders – whether it’s a florist or a baker or a catering company. Some of them have a minimal order they agree to take. It’s understandable. They value their time and effort – if they take a small order and lose a large one, they lose money. You might have problems with finding a wedding vendor that will agree to work your small wedding. For example, a caterer might refuse to prepare a meal for 20-40 people. But it’s not impossible to get a good vendor for your small budget wedding, although, maybe you’ll spend more time looking for the one. If your wedding is planned for a weekday (not Friday, Saturday, or Sunday) or for low season, it might be easier to find a vendor willing to work with you, because the alternative for them is not to have any orders at all.
Here are a few solutions for this problem:
- plan your wedding for a weekday or low season;
- look for small vendors instead of large and popular ones;
- think about DIYing some of the stuff you need for the wedding;
- look for alternative options (instead of hiring a caterer, just book a table in your favorite restaurant for your 20 wedding guests, etc).
No delivery for small orders
We’re not even talking about free delivery but any delivery at all. Often, wedding vendors agree to work for a small wedding but with some limitations. You will probably have to get the ordered stuff yourself, so plan accordingly – who will do it and when to deliver everything in time. This might apply to a baker, a florist who creates your bouquet, a rental company that provides your wedding furniture, and other vendors.
Be inventive with wedding venue
Most wedding venues have a minimal guest count they work with or a minimal price tag, which means that you can invite just a few dozen of people but the event will be fancier – and that’s not what couples who choose to have a small wedding are looking for. If your wedding is going to be very small and budget-friendly, don’t search for a venue among fancy locations with big names. Be inventive and think about alternative options, like a B&B wedding, farm wedding, wedding in a botanical garden, wedding in a boutique hotel, etc.
Again, you might be able to book an ordinary venue for your small wedding if it’s a low season or weekday.
Can a small wedding even feel fun and cheerful?
It’s a problem some couples come across when they go for a small wedding. Often, the fewer people, the less loud and cheerful the event. So, you’ll have to think about the format of the event to make it as memorable and fun as possible. Of course, you might be an introvert who adores quiet and avoids noise at all times. But if not, consider your future wedding thoroughly. The style of it should be comfy for the people you invite, everyone should feel happy and connected for such a wedding to work out. If most of your guests love to dance, invest in a small dance floor and a dj. If your guests are really active sports lovers, prepare some kind of a quest or sport activity for them. If your guests love to hang out and have a relaxed talk, make a lounge-style wedding reception. And always engage your wedding guests in a conversation, pay attention to every single one of them, hug or shake hands, especially when there are only just 20-40 people. This will make your wedding more homey and hearty. And your mood will affect the mood of your wedding guests. If you feel happy and cheerful, they will get infected with your good mood.
