7 Tips for a Small Wedding (2024)

FAQs

What is the 30 5 minute rule for weddings? ›

So what is the 30/5 rule? It's the rule that accounts for things that typically take 5 minutes in real life that will take 30 minutes on a wedding day. It also means that 30 minutes on a wedding day will feel like 5 minutes. You may have heard people say over and over that your wedding day will fly by.

Although the average wedding budget is tens of thousands of dollars, that doesn't mean it has to be. By prioritizing specific wedding elements and DIYing some decorations, you can create a magical experience on your wedding day for under $5,000.

A mini wedding - commonly referred to as an intimate or small wedding - is a wedding with less than 50 people that still has all the elements of a traditional wedding, just on a smaller scale. It typically involves the ceremony, a meal, and entertainment over the course of several hours.

How many guests are typically invited to each size wedding? These numbers may vary a little depending on who you're speaking with, but a small wedding typically includes 50 people or under, a medium wedding has a guest list of anywhere from 50-150 guests, and a large wedding has over 150 attendees.

Something else tied to this idea of trouble in marriage is what I call the “80:20 ratio.” That is, around 80 percent of the time, your marriage can be categorized as good or even great, while around 20 percent of the time, you may have troubles of one kind or another.

Also, if you happen to be attending multiple events for the couple, consider this as well: you can use the 60-20-20 rule, which means spending 20 percent of your total budget on an engagement party gift, 20 percent on a gift for the bridal shower, and 60 percent for the actual wedding gift.

As a general rule, plan to budget at least $100 per guest. If you're planning a wedding on a budget, one of the easiest ways to reduce costs is to invite fewer people and have a more intimate celebration.

The average wedding held in 2022, including both the ceremony and reception, cost $30,000, according to The Knot.

What we found is that the median budget for those planning a wedding is $20,000. Of course, a lot of different factors go into budgeting for a wedding, including where you live, who will be contributing, how many people you plan to invite, et cetera.

While they are sometimes used interchangeably, “microweddings,” “elopements” and “intimate weddings” are umbrella terms for the overall day on which your small wedding takes place.

What is the small wedding trend? ›

Micro-weddings are more popular than ever due to Covid-19 restrictions and limitations. These intimate celebrations usually include less than 50 guests and can be formal or casual. They often include many of the traditional wedding details but on a smaller scale.

Disadvantages of Small Weddings

Since the task of creating a smaller guest list can be very stressful, conflicts can arise between the bride and groom, each of whom may have small or large families or circles of friends they're having trouble whittling down.

The most expensive parts of most weddings are costs associated with the reception venue, including the cost of renting materials, including tables and chairs, and serving food or alcohol.

To reduce the number of guests, you can have a child-free ceremony, invite-only the older members of your family, your most dear friends, and only invite the partners of guests in long-term relationships. Avoid inviting all your acquaintances like work colleagues, neighbors, or all those you don't have a close bond.

The topic of money can be touchy, and no one wants to inadvertently offend. Traditionally, the breakdown of expenses was very clear: The bride's family paid for the groom's ring, engagement party, the wedding and reception, a brunch the next day, and a belated reception (if there was one).

Unbreakable Rule #1: RSVP Promptly

Brides and grooms put a lot of thought into who makes the guest list cut. If you're one of the chosen few to be invited, make sure you respond promptly.

While there's no documented average no-show rate for a wedding, we've heard other outlets report that you should expect 5 to 10 percent of guests who RSVP'd yes not to attend. That figure seems a bit high to us, but there's a pretty high likelihood that at least few guests to cancel last minute on your wedding day.

Wedding guest counts can be a tricky thing and are sometimes hard to estimate. On average you can expect that 20% of your invited guests will RSVP they cannot come to your wedding. However, there are a few things that can make that percentage decrease or increase.

The ideal length of an officiant speech varies, but aim for around 5-7 minutes. Ensure it's long enough to convey meaningful, personalized content but short enough to maintain audience engagement.