A Small Wedding for up to 70 Guests - How to Organise It

A small wedding is not a cut-down version of a big one. It is a different format: fewer guests, more time for each of them and a budget that goes into quality rather than the number of place settings. Below we show how to plan it step by step.

Step 1: a guest list with a clear rule

The hardest part of a small wedding is cutting the list. A simple rule agreed at the start helps, for example: family up to cousins, friends you have seen in the last year, no plus-ones for guests without a steady partner. One rule for everyone is easier to defend than dozens of exceptions.

Step 2: budget per person

With 50-70 guests it is easier to set a budget per person and split it into:

• venue - hiring the hall for set hours,
• food and drinks - usually the largest item,
• music and photographer,
• outfits, rings, decorations.

Fewer guests let you order a better menu, a good photographer or a band that would not fit the budget of a big wedding.

Step 3: the format

A small wedding does not have to last until dawn. Three formats are popular:

• a celebration lunch - a few hours after the ceremony, toast, cake and conversation,
• a dinner with dancing - from afternoon until late evening,
• a classic wedding party - with traditional games and dancing into the night, just with fewer people.

Choose the format before looking for a venue, because it decides the hire hours and the menu. A celebration lunch is in practice a banquet lasting a few hours, while a classic wedding party needs a longer hire and a bigger dance floor.

Step 4: a programme without long gaps

With fewer guests every part of the programme is more visible. Short speeches from parents and witnesses, the first dance, the cake and one shared activity, such as a quiz about the couple, work well. You do not need more.

Step 5: a venue that fits your numbers

An empty hall for 200 looks sad with 50 guests. Look for a place your list will fill while leaving room for a dance floor. Pay attention to:

• seated capacity, not theatre style,
• exclusivity - the venue for you alone,
• a second area - a terrace or garden for the welcome and conversation,
• access and parking for guests from out of town.

With around 50-70 guests a mid-sized banquet hall works better than a large wedding house.

Questions for a wedding venue

• How many people will sit at tables with room for a dance floor?
• Until what time does the hire run?
• What is included in the hire price and what is charged separately?
• Can we bring our own cake and drinks?
• Can we come in the day before with decorations?

A small wedding at BRDA 144

At BRDA 144 on ul. Krzysztofa Gotowskiego 6 in Bydgoszcz the 144 sqm hall seats up to 69 people at tables and is yours alone for the wedding. It opens onto a 100 sqm terrace overlooking the Brda, good for the welcome and photos. The hire includes tables, chairs, air conditioning and a sound system, and there is parking next to the building. We prepare the menu through our own catering, at an extra cost, and at an extra cost we can also take care of decorations.

Questions about a small wedding

How many guests make a small wedding?

There is no fixed limit. People usually call a wedding small at 30-70 guests, meaning close family and friends.

Is a small wedding cheaper?

The cost per person can be similar or higher, because couples often choose a better menu. The total budget, however, is usually clearly lower than with 150 guests.

How do you tell family that not everyone is invited?

Directly and early, pointing to one rule for everyone. Most people take that better than guessing why someone else got an invitation and they did not.