Perks to a small wedding

A small wedding can make big impacts.

There are endless perks to having a small wedding and reception.

Lynn and Steve are still enjoying the benefits of their small wedding, which took place on the top floors of the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego. With their intimate guest list and the expertise of event planner Sara Brown (Sara Brown Events,) these newlyweds had an outstanding, stress-free celebration with every one of their guests.

A small wedding gives the bride and groom a chance to…

…give more to your guests. 

Instead of using your budget to serve a long guest list with cheaper food, entertainment, and hospitality, you can treat your modest guest list to nicer, higher-quality accommodations. Quality over quantity applies to weddings in a big way. Providing a small group of guests a memorable experience will take the (wedding) cake over a crowded wedding/reception any day.

…have a personal moment with every single guest.

A small wedding enables the bride and groom to actually talk with each of their guests. Not only do you get to personally thank your best friends and loved ones for coming, but you get to make them feel important to you/your spouse as well. That level of intimacy is more difficult to achieve with larger weddings, where the bride and groom run around the reception dinner with no time to waste, thanking guest after guest with every breath.

…save money for the more important things.

Each guest’s attendance can cost up to $300, depending on where you are or what your wedding has planned. The bill for each guest’s meal alone can push your budget over the edge, which is why a more intimate wedding can be a major money saver. That money saved can be used on a better venue, nicer accommodations, your honeymoon, or even towards a down payment for a starter-house.

…be yourselves with the people that know you the best.

This is your day, and you should surround yourself with the people you are most comfortable with. These are the people who have seen your entire love story blossom, grow, and flourish. Each of your guests will have played a roll in your and your partner’s journey together, and understand your relationship. Moreover, you can each put your guards down and truly enjoy yourselves with the people you know and love most.

On a personal note, photographing small weddings is one of my favorite things to do. As someone whose job it is to capture indescribable moments between loved ones, documenting the thoughtful and honest interactions of close-knit family and friends is vibrant in my images. There are many perks to a small wedding, and if you’re fond of giving you and your guests a high-quality experience with a personal touch, a small wedding is for you.

UPDATE: For all brides and grooms going through the tough experience of having to either refinance, reschedule, or cancel their big day as a result of Covid-19, I have a few resources for you that can help re-set you on the most financially smart path forward. Check out these expert tips and complimentary services from Interest.com that assist you in re-wrangling the finances involved in planning your wedding:

• A wedding budget calculator that helps couples explore their options for offsetting wedding expenses and increasing their budget
• Expert testimonials from wedding vendors and planners on how to postpone your wedding during the pandemic
• A detailed chart highlighting popular ways that couples finance their wedding expenses