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When most people think about getting married, they imagine a huge wedding with all of their friends and family in attendance. While this can be a lot of fun, it's not always the best option for everyone. In fact, there are many benefits to having a smaller wedding. Here are some of the pros of opting for a smaller wedding ceremony.

The average cost of a wedding in the United States is $28,000, and the average number of guests is 130. Although these figures may have been slightly lower in the last couple of years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers are starting to rise again as things get back to normal. And these are both high numbers in terms of cost and the number of guests. So what are the pros of having a smaller wedding?

Cost

One of the biggest benefits of having a smaller wedding is that it will be less expensive.

With the average cost of a wedding being equal to the cost of a house in some parts of the United States, the chances are that if you saved some money, you'd be able to put it to really good use. Photographer Joanne Keighery found that those who had smaller weddings were more likely to spend money on decent wedding photography since they had their priorites from the start.

You Can Focus on the Things That Matter

If you save money on some aspects of your wedding, then you can spend more money on the things that really matter to you. This might mean having a better quality dress or suit, hiring a great photographer, or getting a custom engagement ring from a designer you admire, like Vanessa Nicole. 

You Can Have a More Intimate Ceremony

If you're not looking forward to the idea of getting married in front of hundreds of people, then a smaller wedding might be a better option for you. Having a smaller ceremony can make the day feel more intimate and special. Inviting fewer people means you'll save money, as aspects like catering are often charged on a 'per head' basis. And you'll actually get to spend a little bit of time with each of your guests. People say that at larger weddings, they barely get to say more than 'hello' to most people. 

You Can Choose a Smaller Venue

It goes without saying that if you have a smaller wedding, you can choose a smaller venue. This means you can choose a venue you really like, instead of somewhere that is big enough to accommodate everyone. And if you're having a destination wedding, choosing a smaller venue can help keep costs down as well.

You Can Avoid Family Drama

Of course, this isn't always the case, but sometimes having a smaller wedding can help to avoid family drama. If you have a large family, there's always the chance that someone will say or do something to cause a scene. By having a smaller wedding with only your closest family and friends there, you can avoid this potential drama.

There's Less Organizing To Do

When you have a smaller wedding, there's less organizing to do. This can be a huge benefit if you're not the most organized person in the world. From building your wedding website to crafting the seating plan, there's a lot to think about when you're planning a wedding. But if you have a smaller wedding, there's less to do and it can be less stressful as a result.

More Environmentally Friendly

It's also worth mentioning that smaller weddings are often more environmentally friendly. If you're worried about your carbon footprint, then having a smaller wedding is a good way to reduce it. With a smaller wedding, you'll have to source food for fewer people, and there will be fewer people traveling to your venue for your wedding day. There are extra things you can do for the fewer guests you have to help keep your environmental impact down too. With fewer guests, you'll be more likely to source all the food you need from local producers near your wedding. And you could choose to do all the invitations digitally instead of using paper too.

You Can Avoid the 'Wedding Crash'

Having a smaller wedding can help you to avoid the 'wedding crash'. This is when people who weren't invited to your wedding turn up on the day anyway. It's more likely to happen if you have a large wedding as people think they might be able to get away with it. But if you have a smaller wedding, then it's less likely to happen. 

You Can Spend More Time With Your Partner

Having a smaller wedding can help you to spend more time with your partner on your wedding day. This is because you won't be spending as much time greeting and talking to guests. Instead, you can spend more time with each other, enjoying your special day. After all, that's what your day is about.

It's Easier to do DIY Elements

If you're looking to add some personal DIY elements to your wedding, then a smaller wedding is going to be easier to do. For example, it'll be easier to package up all the wedding favors by yourself, and with a smaller venue, you may even be able to decorate it yourself too. With fewer guests, you'll have less to worry about and you can focus on creating the wedding day of your dreams.

You Can Have a More Relaxed Day

Lastly, one of the benefits of having a smaller wedding is that you can have a more relaxed day. With fewer people to worry about, you can actually enjoy your wedding day instead of feeling like you're constantly running around trying to make sure everyone is happy.

All in all, there are many benefits to having a smaller wedding. Of course, it's not the right choice for everyone, but it's definitely something to consider if you're looking to save money or have a more intimate ceremony.