How to plan a small wedding
To plan a small wedding, start with a closed guest list and clear rules, and choose the venue around that number: restaurants, country houses or venues with small spaces work better than a big, half-empty hall. Tell those who aren't invited plainly and, if you like, share the day with more people through the wedding website.
The list first
At a small wedding each guest counts for more. Agree on a simple rule (only close family and close friends, no plus-ones you don't know) and apply it to everyone equally.
A venue to match
A space designed for two hundred people looks empty with thirty. Look for places with small rooms or private dining rooms in restaurants, and ask whether they have a minimum number of guests.
What a small wedding allows
- One long table for everyone.
- A more careful menu or an experience (a tasting, a meal in the countryside).
- Time for each guest.
- A bigger budget per person.
Those who aren't invited
Explain it plainly: “We wanted something very intimate.” If you would like to share the day with more people, you can show them the website with the photos afterwards, or celebrate informally later on.