How Much Does a Small Wedding Cost?
Bride posing outdoors with a red and blue wedding bouquet.
The Cost Breakdown Calculator
Before 2020 a small wedding was 50 guests or less. Today that’s a big wedding! If you’re planning your wedding this year, be sure to check your local rules. Then decide how big you want your guest list to be. You could plan a small wedding with 50 guests, a very small wedding with 25 guests or a micro wedding with 10 guests.
Next, think about where you want to have it. Do you want your wedding at home or do you want to go out? Then, consider your budget. According to The Knot, the average cost of a wedding ceremony and reception in 2022 was $30,000. Yes, $30,000! That statistic, along with many others, is gearing couples towards small weddings more than ever.
Consider how much do you want to spend on your wedding. If you’re not sure how much a small wedding will cost, check out the samples below:
How to Budget for a Small Wedding
It’s so easy to go over budget when you have a vision you’re trying to achieve. It’s important to have a clear vision and truly understand the big picture. Even so, there are common pitfalls anyone could miss that turn into major budget busters. Here’s what to look out for and how to avoid them!
Not creating a budget
The biggest pitfall of all is to not truly understand the funds you are working with. Before you start the planning process, sit down with your future spouse and anyone else who is contributing to the wedding fund. Create a preliminary budget, so you can start formulating your vision in a realistic way.
Forgetting to track spending
When you’re planning a big event, there are a lot of moving parts. It’s so important to keep tabs on where your money is going. If you don’t, you risk going way over budget!
Not accounting for taxes and gratuity
Everyone has to pay taxes, even vendors and venues! Look up how much taxes are in your state and factor that into your budget to avoid sticker shock.
Avoiding budget conversations
Talking about money isn’t easy or necessarily fun, even when there are hard decisions to be made. Not discussing the budget frequently is a pitfall that many couples face. Set a time weekly to review your wedding budget as you near the big day. This will help ward off any surprises and start your marriage off on the right foot.
Not anticipating hidden costs
There are endless possibilities when it comes to hidden costs and fees. Be prepared by allocating about five percent of your overall budget to unforeseen expenses.
Incorrectly allocating funds
Finally, a big budget buster is having an unclear vision of your wedding day priorities. THis could leave you in the red in an important category after you overspent on one that turned out to not mean as much to you. Sit down with your partner and discuss what the most important aspects of your wedding are. Make sure they get the most funding!
How to Prioritize Spending for a Small Wedding
When you’re planning on a budget, it’s so important to identify what matters most to you and your future spouse. This is crucial with a small wedding, because you will be trying to arrange your dream wedding on a small scale.
Have a deep conversation with your partner and decide what to prioritize. Are you wanting a perfect venue or do you dream of an amazing catered dinner? Is a show-stopping wedding dress more important than centerpieces?
Once you know what’s at the top of your list, review your budget to see where you can cut costs. For example, you can nix the alcohol budget if it means you’ll be able to book the photographer whose portfolio caught your eye. That way, even if you have to make sacrifices, what’s most important to you won’t be compromised.
Hidden Costs in Small Wedding
Even a micro wedding has hidden expenses that you may be surprised by as you go through the wedding planning process. They may seem like small costs, but they add up over time and can seriously jeopardize your budget. Here’s a list of items to look out for as you make a plan for your small wedding.
Postage for invitations and thank you cards
Costs associated with bridal showers (Ubers, drinks, outfits)
Thank you gifts for the bridal party
Refreshments for the getting ready spaces
Decor for the couples table
Back up items (replacement light bulbs, sewing kit)
Tips for delivery workers
Cake cutting set
Last minute items for finishing touches
Finding Affordable Wedding Venues
Your venue is one of the most important choices you’ll make for your wedding day. It’s not hard to find budget friendly venues that will make your day magical. Start off by checking out local restaurants and businesses. There are many barns, green houses, and other locations that offer event spaces perfect for your vows.
Look for unconventional venues off the beaten path. Local parks, beaches, and even the backyards of friends and family are affordable options that aren’t short on beauty. These are especially good options if you are getting married during the warmer months. The flowers and foliage of spring and summer will add to the beauty of your event and help you save big on decor!
Believe it or not, many local art and history museums have event spaces that are perfect for small weddings. And they don’t cost as much as you may think. They even allow you and your guests after-hours access to the displays, which makes for some amazing pictures! Don’t be afraid to call and see what they have to offer. You may be surprised at how accessible these spaces are for small weddings.
Affordable Catering Options for Small Weddings
Food costs may seem overwhelming, but it’s actually pretty simple to cut costs on your catering budget! You can host your wedding in between meal times and offer bite sized appetizers and snacks instead of a sit down dinner. Charcuterie boards and grazing tables are very elegant but so easy to DIY on a dime.
If you’re looking to book a caterer, many offer affordable buffets that cost quite a bit less than served, sit down dinners. You can also look into local food trucks. They can offer a limited menu and do all of the cooking. Plus, guests will get a kick out of lining up and trying out all the different flavors!
Timeline for Planning a Small Wedding
12 Months Before: Make your big decisions
Set your budget
Choose the date
“Propose” to your bridal party
Start touring/book venue
Begin drafting your guest list
Choose a color palette & wedding theme
6 Months Before: Begin settling on the details
Finalize your guest list
Send “Save the Date” cards
Start shopping for wedding attire
Schedule tastings with caterers and bakers
Start shopping for decor to match your wedding theme
Set up your registries
Small Wedding Budget Breakdown - 50 Guests
Small Wedding, At Home:
If you’re planning your wedding at home, keep things as simple as possible. Without a traditional venue or wedding planner, you’ll have a lot of details to work out yourself. It’ll be a lot easier to enjoy your day if you’ve got less things to worry about.
When you’re inviting 50 people the easiest wedding to plan and execute is a classic cake, punch, and sandwich reception. As a bonus, it comes in at only $1,765. If you’ve got a bigger budget, you can add appetizers or small portions of main courses and still keep your wedding easy to manage.
Wedding Ceremony:
License & Officiant $300
Wedding rings $550
Wedding attire $500
Subtotal = $1,350
Rentals:
Chairs $150
Cocktail tables $100
Cake Table $25
Tablecloths & napkins $75
Subtotal = $350
Food & Drinks:
Sparkling wine for toasting ($15 x 10 bottles) $150
Non alcoholic punch $30
Wedding cake $225
Sandwich platters $160
Disposable dishes & cups $75
Subtotal = $640
Everything Else:
Decorations $150
Invitations $75
Bouquet & Boutonnière $75
Subtotal = $175
Grand Total = $2,640
Small Wedding, Going Out to a Banquet Hall:
If you want to have a dinner dance for your wedding, the best option is a ballroom or banquet hall. Usually they ask for a minimum number of guests. Most of them won’t book a wedding smaller than 100 people. But with today’s restrictions, many are bending or changing their rules. If you want a traditional dinner wedding, call your local hotels and wedding halls and ask for current prices. They might be willing to lower or waive minimum fees for smaller weddings.
Wedding Ceremony:
License & Officiant $300
Wedding Rings $550
Wedding attire $525
Subtotal = $1,350
Rentals:
Room rental fee $2,200
Tux rental = $175
Subtotal = $2,375
Food & Drinks:
Catering ($50 x 50 people) $2,500
Bar package ($30 x 50 people) $1,500
Wedding Cake $1,250
Subtotal = $5,250
Wedding Vendors:
Photographer $1,800
DJ $1,000
Subtotal = $2,800
Everything Else:
Centerpieces $225
Invitations $140
Bouquet & Boutonnière $100
Subtotal = $465
Grand Total = $12,065
Very Small Wedding - 25 Guests
Wedding cake decorated with orange and pink flowers.
Very Small Wedding, At Home:
If you’re not a professional caterer, 25 people is a lot to feed at your home. Plus, you’ll already have a lot to organize on your wedding day. Keep your food simple by planning a make ahead meal. If you want to DIY, you can make sandwiches, salads and fruit and veggie trays ahead of time. Then put them out when it’s time to eat. If you don’t want to make it yourself, you could put in an order at your favorite grocery store or deli.
If you’re thinking about making your own wedding meal, read this next Self Cater Your Wedding: How to DIY Your Wedding Food.
Wedding Ceremony:
License & Officiant $300
Wedding Rings $550
Wedding attire $325
Subtotal = $1,175
Rentals:
Ceremony chairs $60
Dining tables $50
Cake table $10
Tablecloths & napkins $40
Subtotal = $160
Food & Drinks:
Food order ($20 x 25 people) $500
Drinks $200
Wedding Cake $125
Subtotal = $825
Everything Else:
Photographer $1,450
Centerpieces $75
Invitations $50
Bouquet & Boutonnière $50
Subtotal = $1,625
Grand Total = $3,525
Very Small Wedding, Going Out to a Community Center:
If you’d rather plan a dinner wedding, you can rent a room at your local community center or meeting hall. If you’re planning a small wedding you’ll still need to budget for the typical wedding items, but you’ll be able to save a lot on your food and beverage costs.
Wedding Ceremony:
License & Officiant $300
Wedding Rings $550
Wedding attire $525
Subtotal = $1,375
Rentals:
Room rental fee $1,500
Subtotal = $1,500
Food & Drinks:
Catering ($45 x 25 people) $1,125
Bar package ($20 x 25 people) $500
Wedding Cake $125
Subtotal = $1,750
Wedding Vendors:
Photographer $1,250
DJ $525
Subtotal = $1,775
Everything Else:
Centerpieces $150
Invitations $75
Bouquet & Boutonnière $125
Subtotal = $350
Grand Total = $6,500
Micro Wedding Budget Breakdown - 10 Guests
Bride holding a pink and green bridal bouquet.
Micro Wedding, At Home:
With 10 guests, you can think of your micro wedding as a really nice dinner party. If you like to cook, feeding 10 guests is doable. Or you can relax and order in.
So many restaurants are offering amazing takeout dishes right now. Take advantage of that by ordering meals for your guests. You can have all your food and rentals delivered right to your house. All you have to do is set it up and get married!
(Notice that you haven’t hired anyone for this wedding. If you’re sticking with 10 people for safety reasons, it’s important not to add anyone else to the group. If you do decide to hire a photographer or caterer, add that into your budget.)
Wedding Ceremony:
License & Officiant $300
Wedding Rings $550
Wedding attire $325
Subtotal = $1,175
Rentals:
Ceremony chairs $20
Dining tables $30
Tablecloths & napkins $25
Subtotal = $75
Food & Drinks:
Restaurant meals ($35 x 10) $350
Drinks $100
Wedding cake $100
Subtotal = $550
Everything Else:
Centerpieces $50
Invitations $50
Bouquet & Boutonnière $40
Subtotal = $140
Grand Total = $1,940
Micro Wedding, Going Out to a Restaurant:
Restaurant tables set with pink and white floral centerpieces.
A restaurant is a great place to hold your micro wedding. They’ll have distancing rules in place so you and your guests can feel safe while enjoying a delicious meal. With only 10 people, you can treat your guests to a fantastic night out while still sticking to your budget.
If your favorite restaurant is open, call and see if they can reserve a space for your wedding dinner. If you want to have speeches or dancing after dinner, some even have private rooms you can reserve.
Wedding Ceremony:
License & Officiant $300
Wedding Rings $550
Wedding attire $525
Subtotal = $1,375
Food & Drinks:
Restaurant meals ($50 x 10) $500
Drinks $200
Wedding cake $105
Subtotal = $800
Everything Else:
Photographer $1,200
Centerpieces $100
Invitations $25
Bouquet & Boutonnière $75
Subtotal = $1,400
Grand Total = $3,325
Have a Fantastic Wedding
Small weddings are just as wonderful as big weddings, so don’t hold back. If you’ve got your heart set on something - whether it’s a gorgeous dress, a delicious meal or a romantic dance - make sure you plan for it. Even though you’ve got less people, you can still have a great wedding.
As long as you’ve got your honey and the people closest to you, you can have a meaningful ceremony and an amazing celebration. So go ahead and buy the dress. Choose some delicious food. And order that cake. Then enjoy every moment of your day, with all of the guests that do you have!
