You can have your dream wedding. Designer dress. Jaw-dropping location. Stunning flowers. Amazing band. Yep, even on a modest budget, a Hollywood-style wedding is possible when you keep the numbers down. The less you have to spend feeding throngs of people, the more you can splurge on the things that matter to you.
Your fiancé will thank you. The bigger the bash, the higher the stress level, according to Goldberg, who says she’s seen women break down from exhaustion, go on antidepressants, and blow up at their guy when planning huge weddings. “Plus, when brides-to-be get stressed or anxious, they tend to micromanage,” she adds. “And no man wants to be micromanaged.” So do yourself — and your fiancé — a favor and limit the guest list.
You’ll have more fun. The post-ceremony party is just that — a party. But when you have a ton of guests, it can start to feel more like an obligation. “With hundreds of people there, women start to feel like they need to host, and forget to have a good time,” explains Goldberg. “In fact, at 75% of the large weddings, the bride walks into the reception hall, turns to me, and says, ‘I can’t wait for this to be over.’” Keeping it intimate enables you to relax and focus on your happiness as a couple.
It gives you an excuse to invite only those you love. Instead of feeling bad about not including your entire sorority or being pressured in to sending a Save-the-Date to your dad’s golf buddies, you can just say, “I’m so sorry, but we’re having a small wedding and really have to limit it to immediate family and close friends.” No hurt feelings. No guilt. Just a group of people you really want to be with.
