Planning a Small vs. Large Wedding: Pros, Cons, and Tips for Every Size
One of the biggest decisions a couple has to make when planning their wedding is the size. In this blog, we will look at the pros and cons of a small vs. large wedding with tips to help plan both.
Small Weddings
Small weddings have become more popular following the restrictions of COVID-19 and the rising cost of living. There are many pros to small weddings, including the following:
They are more affordable.
They are more intimate, allowing you to spend quality time with all of your guests.
They make it easier to find a venue that suits your preferences.
They can allow for a more exciting menu because there are fewer guests to feed.
They provide more money to do everything exactly as you want it with less compromise.
There are also some cons to smaller weddings, such as the following:
They tend to open up the risk of hurting people’s feelings when they aren’t invited.
It becomes very difficult to pare down the guest list.
Your families might be offended by a small wedding due to expectations of a larger affair to honour tradition.
You get fewer gifts
You might find that some wedding reception halls have a minimum guest count that limits your choices.
Tips for Small Weddings
Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to make planning a small wedding easier, including the following:
Lay the groundwork: If you know you’ll be getting married, but aren’t engaged yet, talk about your plans for a smaller wedding when the opportunity arises. This can often help manage expectations. When people know this is your wish, they’ll be less likely to be offended by your small wedding plans.
Set a “no exceptions” guest list rule: To ensure you can easily explain why someone isn’t invited, set a list of guest rules with no exceptions. For example, you might include immediate family, aunts and uncles, and close friends, excluding cousins and co-workers, or immediate family only with your maid of honour and best man. Set the rules and stick to them so no one can point out discrepancies.
Consider your plus-one rules: Along with the above rules, consider your plus-one rules. For example, if your brother tends to date a slew of women, and you don’t want him showing up with a random girl you don’t know, set a plus-one rule based on spouses or long-term partners only, as opposed to “dates.”
Children: Unless you’re very close to nieces and nephews or your friends’ kids, it’s more common to exclude children from smaller weddings due to their intimate feel. However, you also have to keep in mind that some guests might pass on the wedding, citing not having a babysitter as an excuse. Close friends and family shouldn’t do this, but some might, so you’ll have to go with your gut on this one.
Hold an “after party”: Consider holding an after-party potluck for the people you wish you could invite, but can’t. This can be a casual, low-cost affair to include loved ones without the pressures of a wedding (such as having to give you a gift).
Accept that you can’t please everyone: The truth is that not everyone will be happy with your decision, but this day is about you and your soon-to-be-spouse, so don’t let it get to you!
Large Weddings
Large weddings are a big deal, and come with big expectations and price tags. However, they are also more traditional in many families and cultures, which means it might be your only option. There are benefits to large weddings, such as the following:
They allow you to include everyone.
They can come with added support with more people involved being willing to help in the planning, offering options to reduce costs with referrals, etc.
You get a lot more gifts!
No one is offended.
Both sides of the family are included, and you can add other people to the guest list.
You can still call the shots based on the number of guests to suit your budget.
Cash gifts are often expected for larger weddings, helping to cover your costs.
There are also some disadvantages to larger weddings, including the following:
Costs are, of course, much higher.
You need a larger wedding reception hall, which can sometimes lack character.
You have a harder time choosing a date trying to accommodate a much longer guest list.
It’s more difficult to determine where to hold the wedding due to people coming from various locations.
Seating arrangements are a nightmare.
The stress is higher when planning a larger wedding.
Expectations are greater when planning a larger wedding for every detail, especially the food and reception.
It can be harder to accommodate all the guests at the ceremony site.
The quality of food can suffer if you choose the wrong caterer, who may not be able to deliver fresh, hot food to the guests.
Line-ups at the bar and buffet can frustrate guests.
Tips for Planning a Large Wedding
Large weddings take a lot of time, effort, and money to plan. These tips can make things easier:
Guest list: Make sure you have your guest list figured out before you choose your venue. You want a more realistic view of the numbers to help set your budget for the wedding.
Be ready to compromise: With so many details to consider, your budget can start to look like a monster. Be ready to compromise to keep the budget in check. You also face more input from family when planning a larger wedding, so some compromise might be required there as well.
Work with a venue with everything under one roof: Reduce stress and have a seamless wedding by planning everything under one roof. A venue that offers assistance with the plans, an in-house chef to manage the menu, and equipment from tables and chairs to linens and AV assistance will streamline the process.
Don’t sweat the small stuff: When making decisions, try not to worry too much. For example, if the mother of the bride wants to recommend a florist, if they’re highly rated, save yourself stress and meet with them. You might find that you’ll save time and also reduce stress by taking a calm approach.
Contact the Wedding Venue Experts
Whether your wedding is big or small, everything is easier when you choose the right wedding reception hall to help you with your plans. Château Le Jardin can accommodate weddings of any size, offering an elegant wedding reception hall, world-class catering, and unmatched service.
For more information about the wedding reception halls at Château Le Jardin, click here. You can also call us at 1-888-529-8573 or book a consultation online.