Weddings under 30 guests

[LuckyNumberFive]

We're talking wedding things at the minute. No venue, no date, but we know we want a small, family only wedding.

If you also had a small wedding, what did you do that made it feel special? Any particularly nice touches?

No bridesmaids or groomsmen. We'd like a relatively short day, whether that's day time or evening, but one where people aren't waiting around for ages. A friend got married at 4pm, straight into a buffet, speeches and a disco. We loved the idea of it not taking a whole day but aren't disco people, hence why it's on the table to have a short day time thing instead.

I'm rambling. Just don't know where to start.

Feel like I've got a general list.. invites, photographer, dress/shoes, suit, venue, hair and make up. I must be missing so much from my list though.

Yes we had just 22 people at our wedding and it was perfect! We hired a beautiful small hotel and everyone stayed over the night before and the night of the wedding. Have fun making your plans!

My sister had c. 18 people at her wedding and it was fabulous. Registry office in central London at 12.30 then pre booked taxis to a restaurant where we had a private dining room booked from 1.30 with one big dining table. Four course meal and drinks took us to 5pm and we walked to a nearby hotel cocktail bar where we finished the day. Most people drifted off around 7/8pm and it was so nice.

Friends had the register office then everyone chose what they wanted from a lovely country pub menu - about 20 people

We're hoping to just have it all at one venue rather than a registry office + elsewhere. Just a couple of less mobile family members. Probably makes it more expensive but maybe easier/less faff.

We had 10 people at our wedding including us. We did a registry office, and then went back to the town we live in for a nice lunch.

After that, the younger amongst us (I use that term loosely as none of use were under 40) went for a few beers. My wife had found the best kebab joint in town, and we finished the evening with a kebab from there. Just about perfect.

We had 30 people (that was the limit at the time in COVID days!). It was a full day sort of thing but just at one venue - very casual and heavily outdoors in the courtyard due to lovely weather. You weren't allowed indoor dancing (again, COVID) but we're not dancers anyways. Instead we had a fire pit with throws left out for guests, and a family member prepared a pub quiz that we played for a few hours whilst having drinks, evening small plates going around and wedding cake pieces and a playlist we made ourselves in the background. I honestly couldn't recommend a small wedding with your nearest enough - the quiz idea was a great way to spend time together without it being a DJ and feeling pressure to dance, especially with limited mobility guests!

I went to a lovely Church wedding and afternoon tea in the attached Church Hall. (22 people I think)

I went to a wedding in a registry office where we then walked to the upstairs room of the pub a couple of hundred yards away in the same town centre. (About 40 or us)

I went to another registry office wedding where we did then travel to a very nice restaurant where we have a lovely leisurely meal in a private room (11 of us).

I suspect you might struggle to find a venue that is registered for weddings that isn't set up to cater for weddings much larger than that - unless maybe you get married in the Autumn or Winter, or on a Mon /Tues / Wed.

We had 9 guests. What made the day really special was just the complete spontaneity of it. We caught cabs from the breakfast venue to the register office, then hailed cans again to go across London, walked along the South Bank, went for cocktails (not booked, just turned up), then cabs again to The Dorchester for dinner.
I wondered at the time if I'd go on to regret our tiny, low key wedding, but I never have. Still the most fun day of my life.

30 people - Covid rules!!! No disco at the end - with the range of ages that wouldn’t work. But it was enough to get everyone back to mums house (at a squeeze!!!) - we carried back leftover cake, wine, cheese. Couple of picnic blankets in the garden and it was really lovely evening

We had 30ish in a local restaurant licenced for weddings, so great choice of food. We went for 12-6 at venue and most people went back to my parents for drinks in early evening until about 9.
No speeches, wedding cars.

We had 12 people. I went and chose flowers for a bouquet at a florist in the morning. I made a three tier cake and we decorated it with flowers. Got married about 2pm at attractive register office in a park and the children did readings and we chose nice music. Played in the park a bit afterwards then back home for cake followed by cabs to really good Chinese restaurant. It was fun and low stress.

My brother got married with two witnesses then had a garden party after. Honestly it’s the best ‘wedding’ I’ve been to. So so chilled and relaxed.