By choosing a small wedding format, you have already moved away from generally accepted norms and added a special charm to your celebration. After all, a wedding in a small group with relatives and close friends is, by definition, more soulful, and you have the opportunity to make it also original, unusual, and exceptional! How? YesYes will share with you the secrets of organizing a small wedding and fresh ideas for a themed celebration.
Guest list
A wedding is called small if your guest list is barely 20 people. Obviously, these are the people closest to you and you want to share your joy with them. And it is also obvious that some of your not very close relatives, university friends and just friends will be offended if they do not receive an invitation to the wedding. Be prepared for the fact that your parents will begin to persuade you to expand the scope of the celebration, because “a feast for the whole world” 20 years ago was considered an indicator of the cordiality and well-being of the family. It’s great that today newlyweds think first of all about their own comfort, and not about outside opinions!
For a small wedding with a short list of guests, we suggest you make wedding invitations with your own hands: such a handmade one, beautifully signed in your handwriting, will be a pleasant surprise for your guests and will be preserved as a memory.
Be sure to let your guests know about the format of your wedding. Specify how important the presence of each invited relative and friend is to you. After all, if 10 out of 100 people cannot attend a wedding, it will hardly be noticeable. And if 5 of your 15 guests are absent, this will definitely affect your mood.
Wedding planner tip: The fewer people, the shorter the reception. At a small wedding, the feast lasts up to 4 hours. Calculation of food and alcohol: 1 kg per adult, 0.5 liters of strong and 1 liter of light alcohol per person.
Who is it suitable for?
So, first, let's decide on the number of invitees. The holiday in question implies the presence of no more than 15 guests. Such a celebration is often held:
- couples who have few close relatives and friends;
- lovers who primarily value coziness, comfort, tranquility and a relaxed atmosphere;
- people who don't like to be the center of attention;
- and, of course, those who have a limited budget or who want to go on a honeymoon rather than go on a big night out.
Location
One of the main bonuses when planning a small wedding was, is and will be complete freedom to choose a place for the celebration! Relatives will understand the quiet, cozy celebration at home and will enthusiastically share the idea of a banquet on a small yacht. In the warm season, you can have a picnic in the open air, and in winter, rent a cottage outside the city with a bathhouse and a billiard room. A small wedding is the perfect opportunity to get the most out of your special day.
Get ideas for places to celebrate a small wedding:
Forest
Having a get-together in a clearing in a pine forest or in a birch grove is so romantic! You can stretch garlands of photographs or wildflowers between the trees, make your own candlesticks and set up a photo zone with a hut and blanket. And so that nothing overshadows the holiday, don’t forget ultrasonic mosquito repellers.
River or sea bank
Whether it’s a gazebo by the river or a catered buffet right on the beach, the quiet expanse of water or waves endlessly running one after another - a holiday by the water is always unforgettable. You can arrange a photo shoot at sunset or launch a paper boat with your names on it.
Blooming garden
If you know places with abundant flowering plants and trees, placing a large table among such beauty will be an excellent solution. Guests will enjoy the aroma and won’t have to bother with a photo zone!
Country house
If you are a lover of barbecue and barbecue, a summer house will be a great place to celebrate! The highlight of the celebration can be a wok or a guest bartender, with flaming cocktails and an original show.
Cozy cafe
Banquet halls of restaurants are often designed for 50-100 people, so a cafe is better suited for a small wedding. Why not remember the place where you had your first date? Or maybe look for a Provence-style cafe with embroidered tablecloths and its own pastries? A festive dinner with your family will be especially heartwarming.
Roof
Small areas for romantic dinners on specially adapted roofs are extremely popular among brave and creative young people. A wedding on the roof is truly “breathtaking”!
And when darkness falls, the panorama of the lights of your hometown will become a wonderful decoration for your holiday.
Cottage with pool
If you and your guests are real sparklers, the energy is in full swing and you want drive - rent a large cottage, invite a fashionable DJ and have a disco by the pool!
Yacht, motor ship
A holiday on the water, away from prying eyes, with your small company, can be intimate and quiet or loud and very fun!
Tram restaurant
Why not? You can often see wedding cars, but have you ever seen a wedding tram? It is not necessary to arrange a feast in a tram-restaurant, but a circle around the city with champagne and fruit would be a non-standard solution.
Apartment loft
If you think that holding a wedding celebration at home is trivial, look for a modern loft apartment and get the maximum pleasure from the comfort of home.
Anti-cinema
Nowadays, renting premises for private leisure by your company is becoming increasingly popular. These can be quite spacious cinema halls for 16 people, where in addition to a huge screen you will have table football, games like mafia and banker, a bar counter and the opportunity to bring all the food and drink with you! An excellent option for a small, progressive company.
VIP room in a hookah bar, karaoke or restaurant
Since the banquet halls of restaurants are often large and pretentious, and your wedding is small and intimate, you can choose the VIP hall of your favorite establishment as the place of celebration.
We are sure you have something to add to our list of unusual places to celebrate a small wedding! If opportunities allow, you can even move the holiday to another city, or to the mountains, or to the sky. Remember, location is important. A bold decision equals bright emotions!
Tell your guests in advance about the location of the celebration, because if the celebration is planned outdoors, in the forest or on the beach, the comfort of clothes and shoes will be more important than beauty.
Entertainment
Be sure to consider an entertainment program for the wedding. After all, if there is no real merry fellow and ringleader among the guests, then there is a risk that the holiday will turn into ordinary gatherings.
There are several options on how to make a chamber celebration not boring:
- guests can take turns trying on the role of “toastmaster”, but this is only if your loved ones are creative people and have a good sense of humor;
- sometimes the bride and groom hold their own event, which, like the first option, is suitable for more relaxed and charismatic people;
- Well, the third way is to find a professional presenter with experience in holding events of this format.
By the way, sometimes the presenters also sing, which will also be a great feature for the evening. If not, then find musicians or a cover band. Discuss with them in advance the compositions you want to hear on your special day.
Also at a family wedding, congratulations from loved ones, sincere conversations, funny memories and interesting competitions are very important. You can play a video or slide show about your couple for your guests. And of course, you can’t do without the newlyweds’ dance, to which the spouses can invite everyone to dance if they are embarrassed to twirl together in the center of the hall.
You also need to end the party spectacularly, for example, with fireworks, a fire show, launching lanterns into the sky or lighting sparklers.
Dress code
A wedding with close people often takes place in an unconventional way. Under the motto “Less officialdom - more comfort.” Moreover, if you have chosen an outdoor ceremony, a fluffy wedding dress with a rigid corset will perfectly replace a summer sundress in the bride’s favorite color. The groom can abandon classic materials for a wedding suit in favor of light, light linen.
Why not make your little holiday themed? On a ship it could be a Pirates of the Caribbean theme, in the forest - wood elves, in a cafe - a party in the style of America of the 60s, and in a country house throw a Gatsby party.
The second dress code option is one common color scheme. Choose the colors of your wedding and focus on them in decor, table settings and clothes. Not only will this create a special visual harmony in your company and strengthen community, but it will look great in photographs!
Don't neglect your bride and groom outfits. Whatever the dress you choose for your wedding, don’t skimp on purchasing new, fashionable and beautiful looks. The bride should feel exceptional and irresistible on her big day.
Mandatory Must Have: what you can’t save on
There are three things that it is better not to skimp on at a wedding: the appearance of the bride, the rings and the photographer (videographer).
If a dress and shoes can be bought or rented, then it is better to do makeup and hair in a salon with the skillful hand of a professional.
Rings are something that will accompany the rest of your life. It’s also better not to save on them, especially since it’s not a very good tradition to change wedding rings after the wedding.
Photos or videos are memories that will last a lifetime. Unprofessional photo or video shooting is fraught with blurry frames, spoiled photographs, and bad angles. A person who knows his business will turn wedding photos into a fabulous love story.
Decor
A special table setting, a celebration area richly decorated with flowers and candles, a beautiful photo zone - this is what will distinguish a wedding celebration from just a family dinner. Be sure to pay enough attention to the design of the wedding space. Depending on the style of your wedding, you can decorate it with natural materials, satin ribbons, paper flowers, lanterns. You don't have to invite a decorator and florist for a small wedding; perhaps decorating the ceremony and celebration venue yourself will be real fun and a lot of fun for you and your friends. After all, no one knows better than you exactly how to hang garlands and arrange candlesticks.
Bridal magazines have a lot of ideas for beautiful and inexpensive little things that will give the necessary atmosphere to a wedding celebration. And if you are not good at arranging flower ikebana and don’t really trust your taste in decoration, and the amount of work on your holiday is small for an agency, you can easily find an ideal assistant through our Tender system: create an application, describe the field of work and your wishes, as well as the amount of money you are willing to spend - and the specialist will find you!
Be sure to think about a place where there will be a mailbox for letters - wishes to the young family from guests, or a large and beautiful book for wishes. Believe me, after many years, re-reading warm words from loved ones, you will remember with a smile your small, but so big and significant holiday for you.
Be sure to come up with and arrange an area for photography. Funny selfies and beautiful group photos taken against an interesting background with your names or in the style of your wedding (if it's themed) will look both impressive and cute.
At a modern wedding, and especially at a small one, it is customary to give pleasant gifts to your guests - this could be handmade soap, wooden angels with your initials or gingerbread.
Where to buy everything you need for a wedding inexpensively: some useful ideas
Here are several online stores where you can buy everything for a wedding inexpensively:
- av.ru/shops
- www.globus.ru
- www.auchan.ru
- party-boom.ru/catalog/svadebnye_akses
- www.unirenter.ru/catalog/svadebnye_platya
- www.unibo.ru/prokat-svadebnih-platev
Here is an excellent video from which you will learn how to optimize your wedding budget without compromising the celebration:
If the budget for the upcoming event is limited or the newlyweds are planning a honeymoon using the money saved, there is an alternative to a magnificent celebration. Having correctly thought through the course of the event, organizational aspects and calculated all the points of possible expenses, a wedding on a budget can easily be turned into one of the most beautiful, bright and memorable events in life together.
Photoshoot
A small wedding is also an opportunity to arrange an interesting photo shoot with the whole group. When choosing a photographer for your holiday, immediately inform about the format of your wedding and clarify whether the photographer is ready to offer you interesting ideas for a general photo shoot. Reportage photographers take good pictures when working with a group of 70-100 people, so we advise you to look for a family photographer. in our Catalog : look through their portfolio to choose the one most suitable for your vision.
We wrote above about the general dress code and a separate photo zone. It is also important to properly plan the time for a photo shoot, because in the fall at 6 o’clock there is already little natural light on the street and it is better to plan a photo shoot for 13.00-14.00. In summer, on the contrary, at lunchtime bright sunlight will make both the photographer and the newlyweds sweat, while evening time with soft lighting is considered ideal for beautiful shots. You shouldn’t deny yourself a photo shoot at sunset, especially if you chose the river bank or a rooftop establishment as the venue for your celebration.
Meeting the bride and groom without a traditional ransom: ideas
Bride ransom is a tradition that is becoming a thing of the past. Original options for meeting a couple in love:
- No unnecessary rituals. The groom drives up to the bride's house in a wedding cortege. He goes up to the apartment, where he asks the bride's parents for their daughter's hand in marriage. This can be combined with a blessing and the presentation of gifts. Such a meeting will look beautiful on a wedding video.
- Extreme ransom. The option is extraordinary and is suitable for grooms - industrial climbers, rescuers, firefighters, rock climbers. They get to their beloved’s apartment through a balcony or window. You can drive a lift or a fire truck to the house and effectively rise to the bride.
- Mini-concert. Men with outstanding musical, vocal or dancing abilities can give a performance. Upon arrival at the bride’s home, you need to ask her for her hand in the process of performing a creative number, demonstrating her talents.
- Buffet. The bride and groom, together with their guests, meet at a designated place (embankment, park), and after a light snack combined with a pleasant conversation, they go to the official part of the wedding at the registry office or the wedding in church.
- Romantic option. The traditional meeting of the newlyweds can be moved from the bride's home to an unusual place. It could be a park, a cafe, an embankment, a square.
If the bride and groom do not want a ransom, their meeting is organized immediately at the registry office or at an outdoor ceremony. The newlyweds arrive in different cars to the place where the ceremony will take place. This moment should be festive, accompanied by romantic music.
Entertainment
Many couples believe that a small wedding can be done without a host. Another part of the newlyweds are sure that a stranger in a narrow circle of family and friends will be superfluous. But you must clearly understand that a wedding is a special holiday, and discussing neighbors, work details or housing and communal services tariffs will be inappropriate at the wedding table. Your wedding day should have, if not a detailed script, then at least a plan. Of course, in a small company you can safely abandon the traditional rituals of ransoming the bride and biting off a loaf, but it is better to plan the order of toasts and the time of your first wedding dance in advance.
If you decide to refuse the services of a facilitator, delegate his functions to a close friend or sibling. There must be someone at the table who will smooth out awkward pauses and get the company up to dance in time. By the way, think about the musical accompaniment of your wedding. What do you want: live music, DJ sets or your favorite songs on the speakers? Someone will have to change tracks and make the music quieter while eating and louder while dancing.
At a small wedding, traditional competitions can be replaced with board games, karaoke or a walk. If you are celebrating a wedding outdoors, you can remember your childhood and play giant dzhanga or throwing darts!
Since your guests are people close to you, whose talents and preferences you know a lot about, take this into account when planning entertainment. For example, if your fiance’s sister sings beautifully, you can ask her to prepare a musical gift for your wedding. And if your niece is a dancer, she can dance for you.
Print out photos of you and your loved one or create a slideshow of the brightest moments of your relationship. On such a special day, it would be appropriate to remember the story of your acquaintance again.
Now you know about all the nuances of organizing a small wedding and you can arrange your holiday so that it is easy and fun, leaving only pleasant emotions and bright memories! Our Catalog contains proven specialists for you. And if you like to plan everything yourself, then be sure to check out our coolest Online Planner.
Who should you invite to a budget wedding?
The more modest the wedding budget is planned, the less crowded the event promises to be. But by inviting a minimum number of guests, the holiday will not lose its significance: the newlyweds will share their joy with their closest and dearest people. A narrow circle of guests will provide a cozy, intimate, family atmosphere. Who must be invited:
- parents;
- brothers/sisters (with family);
- God-parents;
- grandmother, grandfather;
- closest friends (usually 2-3 best friends/girlfriends).
There is no need to invite classmates, neighbors, or colleagues. For example, inviting just one member of the work team means offending everyone else. Therefore, for a budget wedding, you need to limit yourself to your closest and dearest people.
Budget planning
So, the concept has been defined and it’s time to calculate the budget. To ensure that the wedding is not boring and at the same time inexpensive, the newlyweds should plan everything carefully. It is better to write a cost plan, listing everything, including the smallest expenses. You should not forget to leave money “in reserve”; this amount should be 20% of all wedding costs. It is needed to cover unforeseen expenses, since in the process of organizing a wedding some emergency situations may arise.
Restaurant
If the newlyweds do not want to deviate from celebrating their wedding in a restaurant, then here are some ideas on how to spend less:
You need to accurately calculate the number of invited guests and make sure they will come. If you are not so sure, you need to discuss with the restaurant the possibility of additional ordering of dishes. The required number of appetizers and salads can be calculated using the following formula: 1 serving for 3 people. At the same time, dishes should have different composition and calorie content.
Variety is very important - it creates the effect of a full table, and guests will not leave hungry. You only need to book a restaurant where you are allowed to bring some of your own food. And in the establishment itself, order only hot dishes and salads. It is better to buy a cake from a deli, since restaurant cakes are many times more expensive. It is worth discussing with the restaurant that all uneaten food after the holiday will be packed into containers.
Photo
More and more newlyweds are expressing a desire to have an original wedding instead of a traditional one. Positive emotions after such events remain for a long time not only among the heroes of the occasion, but also among the guests of the holiday.
Wedding budget
Operating with approximate amounts is like setting off on a free voyage. The current may eventually push the budget of a young family into debt. Determine the real amount you can afford, and based on it, draw up a plan and estimate for the event.
What should it include:
- wedding dress and groom's suit;
- wedding rings;
- hairstyle and makeup for the bride;
- bouquet and boutonniere;
- restaurant;
- transport for newlyweds and guests;
- photographer;
- videographer;
- leading;
- musicians;
- invitations;
- a wedding cake;
- loaf;
- various accessories and decorations;
- And so on.
“The number of guests reduces certain costs: for example, the cost of a banquet and cake, transport costs and other budget items that, with a small number of guests, simply become irrelevant. You can also resort to the help of a wedding agency minimally, more for advice and finding a hall for the celebration and contractors than for the organization itself. Moreover, if there is a need to save money, then the difference between 10 and 100 invited guests is colossal, and if the newlyweds want to celebrate this day only with their closest ones, but make the day unforgettable, then by expanding with activities and decor, they can spend only 2-3 times less than 100 people,” says one of the managers of the wedding agency GloryWedding, Anastasia Fedik.
An approximate estimate for a wedding in the summer season might look like this:
| An example of a wedding estimate for 50 people in Moscow | |||
| Summer season | ECONOMY | STANDARD | PREMIUM |
| Wedding agency fee /complete turnkey wedding organization or only wedding coordinator services/ | 15 000 ₽ /coordinator only/ | 55 000 ₽ /Full construction/ | 85 000 ₽ /Full construction/ |
| Site rental | 0 ₽ | 30 000 ₽ | 100 000 ₽ |
| Banquet | 150 000 ₽ | 250 000 ₽ | 400 000 ₽ |
| Your own alcohol | 30 000 ₽ | 50 000 ₽ | 90 000 ₽ |
| Wedding printing | 0 ₽ | 15 000 ₽ | 25 000 ₽ |
| Cards for guests' tables | 0 ₽ | 3 000 ₽ | 7 000 ₽ |
| Print seating plan | 0 ₽ | 3 000 ₽ | 10 000 ₽ |
| Musicians | 0 ₽ | 50 000 ₽ | 150 000 ₽ |
| Host + DJ | 35 000 ₽ | 60 000 ₽ | 80 000 ₽ |
| Photographer | 30 000 ₽ | 50 000 ₽ | 90 000 ₽ |
| Videographer | 0 ₽ | 40 000 ₽ | 90 000 ₽ |
| Visagiste | 10 000 ₽ | 15 000 ₽ | 25 000 ₽ |
| Field registrar | 0 ₽ | 10 000 ₽ | 15 000 ₽ |
| Cake | 10 000 ₽ | 15 000 ₽ | 30 000 ₽ |
| Book for recommendations | 0 ₽ | 5 000 ₽ | 5 000 ₽ |
| Loaf | 0 ₽ | 1 500 ₽ | 1 500 ₽ |
| Transport for guests | 0 ₽ | 20 000 ₽ | 20 000 ₽ |
| Transport for newlyweds | 0 ₽ | 10 000 ₽ | 50 000 ₽ |
| Arch with flowers (for registration) | 0 ₽ | 20 000 ₽ | 35 000 ₽ |
| Tablecloths for rent | 0 ₽ | 10 000 ₽ | 20 000 ₽ |
| Napkins for rent | 0 ₽ | 5 000 ₽ | 10 000 ₽ |
| Chiavari/Napoleon chairs/most popular/ | 0 ₽ | 15 000 ₽ | 25 000 ₽ |
| Hall: flowers on guests' tables | 10 000 ₽ | 15 000 ₽ | 50 000 ₽ |
| Hall: table numbers in a gold frame (10 pcs) | 0 ₽ | 3 000 ₽ | 5 500 ₽ |
| Hall, serving: stand plates | 0 ₽ | 0 ₽ | 20 000 ₽ |
| Hall, serving: glasses | 0 ₽ | 0 ₽ | 10 000 ₽ |
| Presidium: tablecloth | 0 ₽ | 0 ₽ | 3 000 ₽ |
| Presidium: floral border of fresh flowers | 10 000 ₽ | 15 000 ₽ | 35 000 ₽ |
| Bridal bouquet and boutonniere for the groom | 4 500 ₽ | 8 500 ₽ | 11 000 ₽ |
| Photo zone: banner (Press-Wall) 2.5 x 3 m | 0 ₽ | 0 ₽ | 10 000 ₽ |
| Delivery and return of customized goods, logistics | 0 ₽ | 10 000 ₽ | 20 000 ₽ |
| The work of decorators | 0 ₽ | 15 000 ₽ | 35 000 ₽ |
| Bottom line | 304 500 ₽ | 798 500 ₽ | 1 657 500 ₽ |
“In 99% of cases, weddings do not pay off, so you should not treat the event as a way to get rich. It’s best not to spend a budget that doesn’t exist on a wedding, but to adjust the format of the event to a comfortable budget,” warns Anastasia Fedik.
First of all, the most important expenses should be described in the estimate, with the little things at the end of the list. Having determined the amount for each expense item, you need to strictly follow it. If you have gone over budget in some areas, it means you need to reduce non-essential expenses by the same amount.
It is best to pay for wedding purchases and services with a bank card with a cashback option. Since large expenses lie ahead, the amount of refunded funds may be 1–5%.
Cards with the biggest cashback
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Remember the numbers
Even when your budget is limited, there is a risk of spending more than you were originally prepared to spend. To prevent this from happening, remember the numbers in each expense item and avoid temptations. The best option is to get an organizer or install an application for wedding preparations. When they offer you the decor, venue and dress of your dreams, but more expensive than you want, check the plan. Are you preparing for a wedding with friends and family? In this case, take with you shopping only those who can dissuade you from spontaneous purchases. And if you have friends who are aware of all the sales or have discounts from contractors, contact them for help.
Not all couples planning a budget wedding give up the decorations or cake. They just use popular life hacks. Firstly, they study young specialists. Among them there are always those who do their job well, but have not yet developed. Therefore, the prices for their services are lower than those of experienced contractors. Secondly, they are looking for organizers who offer profitable “wedding packages”. Your attentiveness will also help you reduce costs. Read contracts with contractors before you sign anything. If they include services that you don't need, feel free to refuse them and reduce the price.
