How big should your wedding be? There is no single right answer to this question, as each set of nuptials should be tailored to each unique couple. But perhaps the best way to start finding your sweet spot is to decide which of the three main categories would work best for you. Here's what you need to know about where you'll put your most valuable resources—time, money, and energy—to create these three wedding types.
1. The Large Wedding
A big blowout party with all your family, friends, acquaintances, college roommates, coworkers, and the mailman takes the most time, energy, and money to pull off. You need a long lead time to devote the amount of planning time needed and a big budget for bulk purchasing and rentals.
The ideal couple should enjoy planning and have time in their schedules. You'll also exchange intimacy for a celebratory atmosphere and spend more time serving as a host on the big day. Social butterflies who can happily forgo micromanaging every aspect will have fun at a large wedding.
2. The Midrange Wedding
Shave some names off that large wedding guest list to craft a medium-sized wedding. Fewer necessities mean you spend less money, time, and energy planning and executing the party. You can then direct those resources to more important aspects. Not feeding hundreds of guests, for instance, means you can spend more on a live DJ, exotic flowers, or a stunning venue.
The value of a midrange wedding in conserving your resources works best when the couple knows their priorities and sticks with them. Paying for fewer dinners probably won't save your budget, after all. But this size lets you practice smart, successful resource management.
3. The Small Wedding
Limited nuptials have always been popular with some, but they gained steam in recent years as more couples eschew the traditional wedding sizes. Saying "I do" with only a few dozen people (or less) around you takes the fewest resources of time, money, and energy. You focus all three on the most important features and can often skip what you don't want to do.
Small weddings are great for couples who want to boost the personalized feeling of their wedding, make it nontraditional, and spend quality time with their closest loved ones. And because you haven't used up all your energy and time planning, you and your new spouse may be able to enjoy the moment more.
Where to Start
Which size wedding appeals most to you and your fiancé? Contact a local wedding consultation service to learn more.
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