Darin and I knew from the get-go that we wanted a small wedding. Our social circle is small and Darin is an only child so it wasn’t difficult for us.
Inviting only the family members and friends who were close to us made sense. What didn’t make sense was inviting distant relatives, co-workers that we’d never have over for dinner, or acquaintances we barely knew.
For some couples, however, the decision to have an intimate wedding is not so simple – especially for those who have big families and a vast circle of friends. For these couples, the decision to have a small wedding can come with a great deal of angst.
One of the biggest concerns for these couples is offending people who aren’t invited.
If this is an issue you are struggling with, cheer up: There has never been a better time to have a small wedding.
The lousy economy is the perfect excuse to scale back your wedding. With so many job losses and stocks taking a nose-dive, there’s a good chance that the people on your uninvited list will be much more likely to understand your decision to have an intimate wedding than they would have a few years ago when the economy was booming.
Besides, as I have mentioned in previous posts, some of your guests might actually be relieved that they are not invited. (Shelling out travel fare and money for a wedding gift can be taxing on someone who is experiencing unemployment or job instability.)
There’s still a possibility that some of the people you know who aren’t on the guest list will be miffed. You can’t please everyone. And although it’s good to be tactful and considerate to those who don’t understand your decision to go small, your wedding is, well, your wedding.
In the end, you will be happy that you were true to yourselves and that you celebrated your day with the people who matter most in your lives.
Still not convinced? Read Ten Reasons to Have a Small Wedding.
