Should you have a simple small wedding or a grand wedding - Pros and Cons

You must find a venue, send out wedding invitations, plan the perfect hashtag, curate your menu, choose your wedding theme, and more. Keeping things simple might be a good idea. Furthermore, if you’re planning a COVID wedding, it’s best to keep things small to ensure everyone’s safety.

However, if planning your wedding is your thing, and you plan to go all out on your big day, then, by all means, do it. The day is yours, and it deserves to be perfect.

Whats the average cost of a wedding?

Keeping things simple has its perks, however. Getting married isn’t cheap. A wedding in the UK in 2019 cost around £30,000. You can save enough money by simplifying your wedding, reducing the number of guests, using DIY decorations, serving a simple menu, or even hiring that one DJ friend. By doing so, you can spend money on what matters most.

Planning Simple or Smaller Wedding

Simple or small weddings consist of only people who are essential to the couple. There are usually 50 guests or fewer in attendance. It is not necessarily cheap to have a small wedding. However, it is more personalized and maybe focuses on just very special friends and immediate family.

Pros

1. Costs are lower

Smaller guest lists result in cheaper weddings since most wedding venues charge per guest. You can spend more on your dress or décor if you save money on food and drinks per guest.  Maybe think about fake flowers, a second hand dress, buying your own table decorations and making wedding favours yourself.

2. Enjoy Your Food And Drinks

You can spend a little more on your menu if you have a simpler ceremony and fewer guests. Your budget will allow you to create a menu that you love. It is even possible to hire a local chef.

Choosing between the crispy artichoke hearts appetizers and the Nicoise salad won’t be necessary if you’re feeding 10-25 people instead of 100+. Both are fine but additional savings can also be spent on cocktails or champagne at the bar.  Maybe find a venue that will allow you to bring your own drinks.  It’ll save you money but also your guests may not have to dip their hands own their pockets.

3. Intimacy

Your guests get more time with a simple wedding. You can also let loose, be yourself, and feel comfortable on your special day with a smaller guest list.  Some wedding venues will not be available but it will open the door to others you may not have thought about.

4. Easy to plan a smaller wedding

Simple weddings take less time and are less stressful to plan. You won’t be spreading yourself too thin to meet everyone or even pease everyone. For a more relaxed wedding, consider a small wedding.

Without a large crowd, logistics are easier, and you don’t have to worry about parking or stay overs in multiple hotels! It’s also less stressful when you’re not trying to figure out who’s most likely to take offence at being seated at table 20.

5. Plan your honeymoon with savings and go big

It’s great to have a wedding, but guests are also important. You deserve a honeymoon. A simple wedding ceremony saves you money for the honeymoon of your dreams.

Spend some extra money on that Tahiti trip you’ve always wanted. Maybe the Swiss Alps are your ideal destination. No matter where it is, a simple wedding ceremony can open up some new options

Cons

1. It may offend some people

People who didn’t receive an invitation to your wedding may feel hurt depending the size of your family and how many folks are in your life. People will wonder why they weren’t invited, and you will have to deal with their questions.

2. Gifts are fewer

A smaller wedding may not allow you to receive reimbursement for some wedding costs. There are fewer gifts at a smaller wedding. Gifts aren’t crucial, but who doesn’t love them?

3. Disappointments

Small weddings are perfect for those looking for something more low-key and relaxed, but small weddings might not be your cup of tea if you want more extravagant and memorable. Small weddings can seem un-special looking back.

4. Limits on venues

Many reception halls and wedding halls require a minimum number of guests to reserve for small weddings. You can also consider a backyard barbeque, a small garden wedding, a local park, nearby beaches, etc.

What about having a Grand Wedding?

There is an increasing trend for couples to rebel against traditional notions nowadays. Among these innovators, “grand” may mean a wedding with 80+ guests, all expenses included. Perception is the key. The affair should be viewed as grand from beginning to end. The elements must be executed appropriately and tastefully styled.

Pros

1. Everyone is included

The advantage of having a large wedding is that you can invite everyone on your list without worrying about anyone getting offended. You can share your special day with all your friends and family.

2. This is your chance to go all out!

It’s great fun to have a grand wedding. It is your chance to go all out and hire a DJ or band, book a beautiful and large wedding venue, and serve a large dinner and dessert menu. You can make your wedding memorable by having a large wedding!

3. Several hands to help

It helps to delegate tasks to a wide support network when planning a large wedding. You may also discover hidden talents and interests in loved ones.

4. Plan grand

Large guest lists require a spacious venue so a five-piece band, photo booth, or a fireworks display can occur. Would you like a cozy play corner or lounge area for the kids? Done!

5. There are gifts everywhere!

It’s common to get tons of gifts at large weddings. You can get reimbursed for part of your wedding costs and maybe even go on an amazing honeymoon with the money!

6. Just have a large party blowout

Some couples use a larger grand wedding to have a party blowout.  Have that massive party you always wanted and celebrate with everyone you know.

Cons

1. Cost

Larger weddings will be more expensive since most venues charge per guest at £150+ just for food and a drink. You may also need a DJ or band, an open bar, or a larger menu to accommodate all your guests.  Plus most grander venues will charge for just the hire of the venue.

2. Stress

A larger wedding takes more time to plan, so you’ll need more time before the party. Plan a menu to please everyone, coordinate bridal and bachelorette parties with your guests, and more.  Ideally you will need 2 years to get started, especially when booking those wedding suppliers.

3. Overcrowded

Your wedding day can be difficult when you have a lot of guests. Talking to all of your guests may be exhausting. Your guests may not show up at the end of the party.

4. It’s harder to plan

More people mean more logistics. The caterer must accommodate a certain number of people, and you must choose your venue based on its size. Consequently, planning becomes more expensive and more limited in what can be done and where.  Things like where will you guests stay?  You will need to think about multiple hotels and even transport for your guests if you’re having a Church wedding.

Final thoughts

Simple weddings enhance intimacy and save money for a new journey compared to lavish grand wedding parties that invite around 80-plus guests.  As a Liverpool wedding photographer I have seen them all. Small, simple and large weddings.  I have no preference to either, I feel it’s the people and location that make the day.  But make sure you plan either to perfection and have lots of your own personality added so you remember it always.

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