It seems that for a long time, big weddings were expected. Guest lists of 200 to 300 people with large elaborate receptions were the way to go. After all, it is your day, so why not celebrate? I used to love looking through bridal magazines at all of the beautiful over-the-top dresses, cakes, and favors and getting all of the great wedding advice for a large wedding.
But with the economy changing, some people are discovering the joy in small weddings, too. Engaged couples may now find that a large wedding with all of the trimmings is seen as ostentatious, or they can’t seem to justify starting their lives out with a large bill for their wedding. They may also be concerned for family members or relatives who may not be able to afford the cost of attending the wedding.
If you are trying to make the decision about whether or not to have a large wedding or a small wedding, you might want to take a look at the pros and cons of these options.
Big Wedding
Pros
You can include a large number of people in your celebration and reconnect with family and friends
It makes a big impact
More presents for the couple
A big party can be fun
Cons
It takes a lot of time to plan
It can get expensive
Everyone will have an opinion on how thing should be done
Elaborate and careful seating arrangements are needed
Small Wedding
Pros
You can focus on more on your spouse instead of hundreds of people
There is less stress involved in both planning and in the day itself
There are more options with choosing a location for the wedding, such as on a beach, in the forest, in a favorite restaurant or at an exotic foreign location.
You can share the most important day of our life with your intimate family and friends
You can have many different small after parties and stretch out the celebration
Cons
You might upset someone who wasn’t invited
You probably won’t be able to make use of a wedding planner
Fewer gifts for the couple
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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