Small Wedding, Big Impact: Making Your Venue Work

Planning a small wedding can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to finding the right venue. While the average wedding guest list size in the US was 115 in 2023, a small wedding consists of 50 people or fewer. With a limited guest list, your venue options open up, and you can consider non-traditional venues such as a lakeside ceremony with a reception at a restaurant. However, certain costs like venue site fees remain fixed, so it's important to keep that in mind when planning your budget. To make your small wedding venue work, you can personalize your wedding as much as possible, upgrade your decor and venue, and cater to what you and your partner want.

Choose a non-traditional venue

When it comes to selecting a venue for a small wedding, thinking outside the box can be a great way to find a space that suits your needs. Here are some tips and ideas for choosing a non-traditional venue:

• Consider unique locations: Think beyond the typical wedding venue options. A lakeside ceremony followed by a reception at a restaurant, for example, can be a wonderful alternative to a traditional venue. This approach can also help you avoid venues with high guest minimums or food and beverage minimums.
• Look for intimate spaces: Rather than opting for a large ballroom or banquet hall, seek out venues with smaller, more intimate spaces. This could be a cosy room in a restaurant, a garden patio, or even a unique setting like a science centre or museum.
• Utilise non-wedding venues: Consider venues that don't typically host weddings. For example, a charming café, a historic library, or even a beautiful public park could be perfect for a small wedding. These locations often have lower rental fees and more flexible options.
• Think about private estates: If you're dreaming of a truly unique setting, consider renting a private estate or mansion for your special day. These venues often offer beautiful backdrops for weddings, such as gardens, pools, or elegant architecture.
• Ask about multiple spaces: If you're concerned about feeling "swallowed" by a large venue, ask about utilising multiple spaces within the location. For example, you could have the ceremony in one area, cocktails in another, and the reception in a third space. This will help create a sense of progression and make the venue feel more tailored to your event.
• Incorporate lounge seating: To make a large venue feel more intimate, consider adding lounge seating areas. This can help fill the space and create a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. It also provides guests with a variety of settings to socialise and enjoy the celebration.
• Encourage exploration: If your venue has interesting features or exhibits, encourage guests to explore. This can be a fun way to keep guests entertained and create a unique, memorable experience. Just ensure that there is a clear path to essential areas like restrooms and the exit.

Limit your guest list

One of the first steps to making a small wedding venue work is limiting your guest list. This will be a small, intimate wedding, so it's important to keep the guest list short. Include only your nearest and dearest, such as immediate family members and close friends. If you have room in your budget, you can allow your guests to have a plus-one, but be aware that your headcount can quickly grow if you do.

If you're trying to keep the guest list small, it's a good idea to establish some guidelines around plus-ones. For example, you could say that only significant partners (meaning the couple is engaged or married) are allowed to bring a guest.

You might also want to skip having a wedding party altogether. Instead, focus on curating a list of the most important people in your life. This will help to keep numbers down and ensure that your wedding is an intimate affair.

Being honest with people is important. It can be difficult to tell someone they're not invited, but it's best to be upfront. You can always find other ways to include extra people in separate celebrations.

With a limited guest list, your venue options will open up. You can consider non-traditional venues, such as a lakeside ceremony with a reception at a restaurant, rather than a typical wedding venue with high guest minimums.

Hire a small wedding planner

If you're planning a small wedding, you may want to consider hiring a wedding planner who specializes in small weddings. A small wedding planner can help you with design, provide ideas for personalization, and help with venue and vendor bookings. They can also help you work through the logistics of multi-location celebrations.

A small wedding planner can help you organize the wedding of your dreams and guide you through the process, so you don't have to do it alone. They can also help you create a budget based on your wants and needs for your nuptials, including your wedding style, venue, guest size, and what you can afford.

When choosing a small wedding planner, look for someone who has experience planning small weddings and can provide references from past clients. Ask about their planning process and how they will work with you to create your dream wedding. It is also important to discuss their fees and what is included in their services.

By hiring a small wedding planner, you can take some of the stress out of planning your big day and ensure that your wedding is personalized and intimate.

Personalise your wedding

Personalising your wedding is a great way to make your special day memorable and unique. Here are some ideas to make your wedding intimate and special:

Favours and Notes

Small weddings allow you to splurge on more personalised favours and gifts for your guests. You could give each guest a handwritten note, thanking them for their presence and adding a unique, special message. This will make your guests feel valued and create a lasting memento of your day.

Decor and Venue

With a smaller guest list, you can afford to upgrade your decor and venue choices. You could opt for a quirky, unique venue, such as a science centre, and have more freedom to decorate the space to your tastes.

Food and Drink

Catering for fewer guests means you can be more adventurous with your food and drink choices. You could offer a wider range of food and drink options, perhaps with several food stations to encourage guests to mix and mingle.

Involving Your Guests

With a smaller wedding, you can involve more of your guests in the ceremony itself. You could ask your officiant to include your guests in the ceremony, perhaps with a group blessing of the rings or by asking them to share their intentions for your marriage. This can be a beautiful, spiritual moment and is a unique opportunity that a small wedding offers.

Honesty

Being honest with your guests about your choices is important. If you feel guilty about having an intimate wedding, be open about your reasons. Your guests will understand and respect your wishes, and it is important to stay true to yourself and your partner.

Skip what isn't true to you

Planning a small wedding can be overwhelming, but it's important to remember that it's your day and you can break the rules and do what you want. If you're feeling pressured by the opinions of loved ones or feeling guilty for being unconventional, remember that it's okay to do what you and your partner want. Go where you want to go, and don't do anything to please anyone else.

For example, if you're having a small wedding ceremony, you can involve more of your guests. Depending on the size of the event, you could have everyone read a line of a special reading at the ceremony or have them stand and encircle you as you exchange your vows. You could also ask your officiant to have the guests be involved in the ceremony by blessing the rings or setting their intentions for the couple.

If you're worried about feeling "swallowed" by the venue, consider whether the venue can cordon off certain areas to make the space feel more intimate. You could also add some lounge seating or cocktail tables to fill the space and give guests a comfortable place to relax and chat.

Frequently asked questions