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special ideas for small weddings

Small Wedding Ideas to Make Your Day Special

//  by The Wedding Shoppe

Smaller weddings have gained great popularity in recent years, with some advantages such as a smaller budget, less stress and a more personal touch. It also gives you the opportunity to create a more intimate day for you, your partner and your guests. From fun wedding photos to tasty potlucks, here are some of our favorite small wedding ideas to make your day extra special:

Polaroid Photos

small wedding polaroid photo ideas

Not only are polaroids a great gift for your guests to take home, they’re also a fun way to create photo memories of your special day. With a smaller wedding and fewer guests, you won’t have to go overboard on film as well. Leave a camera or two out on the tables for your family and friends to use throughout your reception. Encourage them to take their favorites or leave a photo for your guestbook – or both! This is one of the small wedding ideas that guests especially love!

Community Table

small wedding community table idea

A great perk of opting for a smaller wedding is having more interaction with all of your guests. Depending on the number of friends and family at your reception, we recommend seating everyone at one long banquet table rather than several smaller tables. This will make your wedding much more intimate while also allowing everyone to come together and truly feel like family.

Destination Wedding

small destination wedding ideas
Photo Courtesy of SposiamoVi

A shorter guest list gives you a variety of small wedding ideas that would normally not be possible with a larger ceremony. A destination wedding is the perfect opportunity to gather your closest family and friends to say your “I do’s” at the location of your dreams. Whether you want to escape somewhere tropical or an Italian villa, you can also host a more informal celebration in the weeks following for guests who were not able to attend.

Potluck Party

small wedding potluck party idea
Photo Courtesy of AhmetZe

While catering is a great option for weddings, it can sometimes get expensive and complicated to feed so many people. Hosting a potluck for your reception is a fun way to get guests involved and even try new delicious dishes. You can never go wrong with some homemade mac n cheese or your grandma’s favorite cupcake recipe! This is one of the small wedding ideas that works perfectly for a backyard wedding.

Splurge a Little

small wedding ice sculpture idea
Photo Courtesy of John Cain Photography

Your wedding day will be something you remember forever – so why not go all out? Since you won’t be spending as much on huge catering orders or other details for a smaller wedding, this is one of the small wedding ideas that gives you more room to spurge in the areas you really want. Have an ice sculpture made for your reception, purchase beautiful calligraphy invites for your guests or add extravagant decor for your reception. Splurge a little – you deserve it!

These small wedding ideas work for both local and destination weddings. Looking for somewhere warm and tropical to have your wedding? Check out some of our favorite beach venues for a destination wedding from around the world!

As always, we are ready to help you find the wedding dress of our dreams! Contact us today to get started.

ideas for small weddings

Blog Author – Michelle

Michelle McFarland is the founder and owner of The Wedding Shoppe in Berkley, Michigan. With over 25 years in bridal retail, she’s known for creating unforgettable shopping experiences and building thriving, service-driven teams. Michelle is also the founder of Aisle & Altar Designs, expanding her impact across both retail and wholesale bridal sectors.

Learn More About Michelle
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