Understand why you are disappointed and upset, but if you are having a wedding that requires a large number of your guests to travel, stay in hotels etc. you have to factor in that many wont be able to come.

Having a smaller wedding was a bonus imo. We had about 45 guests and I felt like I really got to relax and spend the day with everyone, in stead of feeling pressured to get around and fit in a brief 'hello' with everyone.

I've been to large weddings where I've had a brief coversation with the bride and groom to congratulate them and that was it. A bit crap really!

Is there an area nearby that would have accommodation? You could organise transport to and from your wedding for any guests staying further away. Our reception venue was a bit off the beaten track and we organised mini buses. Worked out really well. No harm in looking into some alternative options for your friends and seeing if it makes it easier for them to attend .

At the end of the day, the guests that are coming are the ones that are important. Focus on them and yourselves and you will have a memorable celebration.

Expat - I did not say EVERYONE does not go to a wedding because they could not be bothered - that is what you assumed when you read my post. As for people with financial limitations who on their right mind would have a go at ANYONE who could not afford to go to a wedding? I certainly would not. As I said, you pointed that out as a potential issue and I pointed out the could not be bothered issue. I am very well aware of financial limitations but have also experienced people's apathy through my own life so I KNOW it exists. I also said in my last post that it is not down to the guests if the couple choose to get into debt for their wedding (You chose to repeat that at the beginning of your post.)

Cat64 - the petrol would not be much more than that - having just driven a round trip of 500 miles myself in the last 24hours. As for the accommodation, I take your point. It was more trying to convey an attitude rather than specific figures if somebody really had to budget and wanted to go to the wedding, then it could be done. However if "everyone" is as skint as others seem to be making out and nobody is truly capable of "can't be bothered" as we would be encouraged to believe then this couple will be lucky if ANYONE turns up at their wedding!

Don't cancel your wedding - people that want to be there will. It is your big day, enjoy it!

Fruity - your sums just don't add up. 3 nights accommodation for 5 people is not going to come in at £30. The petrol's going to be more than that I'd have thought, for most family cars. There are the other meals to be paid for. I can't see £30 covering the bidget for 'drinks / incidentals' for 5 people either.
I agree it is a good idea if you are asking guests to travel to a place they don't know, to enclose a list of a range of accommodation with the invites, and to get the invites out very early, with a note or verbal message that they should be aware it's a BH weekend, so might want to look at accomm. now rather than later. That way, people could have known 4 - 6 months ago about what they were actually agreeing to, rather than vaguely thinking it would be a nice idea to go to OPs wedding without thinking practically about the realities.If they decide then they can't really justify it, then OP knows months in advance and makes decisions based on that.
However, I don't think you should cancel - you should talke to the caterers / restaurent about your new numbers (it's still 7 weeks away) and enjoy the day with your relatives and friends from home, then accept the offer of a party when you get back. Enjoy your day

Could you not just hire a coach to get them there and bring them home on the same night? Ask them to chip in with the cost, then no one will miss the wedding and they can all drink as no one will be driving.

Fruiysunshine did you actually read any of my posts, as a B&B owner I would expect a 3 night stay over a bank holiday weekend as would all the B&B owners that I know.

If people chose to go into debt over a wedding that's their lookout and their invitees surely shouldn't feel beholden to overstretch themselves financially in a dire economy because of that.

I felt you were very derogatory as well, basically labelling anyone who isn't willing to spend money they truly may not have to go to a wedding as just not wanting to be bothered and therefore less of a mate.

That's certainly not true for everyone.

Well, you have all backed up my reasoning actually. I highlighted one particular reason for people not attending. I say some can't be bothered and others say some can't afford it, totally agree with you but they are BOTH potential reasons. We have 5 kids and I know lots about travelling with many stops and trying to locate accommodation but life is what you make it and if you allow yourself to be held back due to lack of money or the hassle of travelling with multiple children then that's down to you. I still maintain that some people genuinely think "it's too much hassle".

"It's not a matter of saving, in this economy, some have nothing to save, much less for someone's friggin' wedding!" Said with such a derogatory tone Expat, let's home you don't feel that way about the next person who invites you to a wedding which THEY may have put themselves in debt for (even though you did not ask them too, I know!) and believed you are close enough to them to invite.

Anyway, I think weddings are wonderful events whether they are huge or small - it is a brand new start for 2 people.

Having a wedding over a bank holidfay weekend is just not a good idea.

and if you do have any to spare, that's what you need it for (i hear ya, we need to get the radiator on our 13-year-old car replaced Monday when DH doesn't need it to get to work).

anything spare you have to put away it strictly for emergencies.

hundreds of pounds on a wedding or anything that's not essential just doesn't figure into a lot of peoples' budgets in this economy.

and if you do have any to spare, that's what you need it for (i hear ya, we need to get the radiator on our 13-year-old car replaced Monday when DH doesn't need it to get to work).

anything spare you have to put away it strictly for emergencies.

hundreds of pounds on a wedding or anything that's not essential just doesn't figure into a lot of peoples' budgets in this economy.