When it comes to wedding, size really does matter. Choosing the appropriate wedding size can involve a lot of conflicting factors, like your heart and your budget. Let these ideas aid you in figuring out if you are better suited to a big or little wedding.
One reason to have a large wedding is that you come from a big family. When you come from a giant close knit family, a small guest can be an absolute impossibility. In some families, there is no way to trim the list without hurting a lot of feelings. In a lot of families, a wedding is a big deal for the whole clan, not just the individual who is getting married, and to exclude anyone would seem wrong. If your idea of the perfect wedding involves being surrounded by all of your sisters and girlfriends wearing pretty dresses and bridesmaid jewelry, go for the big wedding.
Another reason that couples sometimes opt for a big wedding is the pageantry. Let’s face it, some brides just love being the center of attention. If you have always wanted to feel like a princess or a celebrity on your wedding day, an intimate ceremony in front of a judge simply isn’t going to satisfy you. Large weddings tend to be more grand than smaller ones, so if your idea of the dream wedding involves ice sculptures, trumpeters, and a full orchestra, you will definitely be happiest with a big wedding celebration.
There are also many valid reasons to consider an intimate wedding. A lot of families simply find the price tag of a large wedding to be too high. Obviously, the more people who attend your wedding, the more it will cost you to host the party. Many couples feel that they simply cannot have the type of wedding they want or can afford without keeping the guest list small. The easiest way to keep the wedding budget low is to have a little wedding. The bride and groom should not leave anyone they love out of their wedding because of cost; if it comes down to it, you will find some ways to entertain affordably. Of course if it is important to you to have all of your nearest and dearest there when you tie the knot, cut back in areas other than the guest list.
There are also plenty of people who can afford the large celebration, but it just isn’t their style. Shy brides and grooms can be very nervous about being the center of attention. It could be that being in the spotlight is painfully uncomfortable to you. You might be far happier with an intimate marriage ceremony in your own living room. Wear a beautiful and simple wedding dress, have one or two attendants in chic dresses and unique bridesmaid jewelry, and tie the knot in a brief service. For some people, this scenario is absolutely perfect.
Most couples can work through all of the questions to find the right wedding size for them. A very small ceremony with immediate family with a bigger party at a later date is often a good compromise. This often feels like a good middle ground – everyone gets to come to the party, but it is more relaxed than a traditional reception. Determing the perfect wedding size can require careful weighing of all the factors.