What are some unique ways couples are spending their wedding dollars saved due to smaller guest lists?

Couples are each deciding what is best for them and their friends and family, and going smaller can be a beautiful way to celebrate with your significant other in a more special way!
We had one mini digital wedding this year and it was FAB! The couple had originally planned a large 150ish wedding in New York City, but once they changed the date once and realized what was ahead they decided to go small, but fabulous! One of the brides is a doctor, who has been on the frontline of Covid, so she only had a couple of days she could take off and it made it all the more urgent to happen.
To make their digital wedding special and personal for them they invested in the venue, flowers and gifts for guests! Cedar Lakes Estate is typically for large weekend weddings, but they booked a Suite for a couple of nights, relaxed and soaked in nature before marrying on the waterfront in front of beautiful blooms and all of their loved ones on Zoom!
For cocktail hour the couple enjoyed their favorite cocktails and bites and we sent gift boxes over to those who attended the virtual cocktail hour so they could toast along with the brides and enjoy snacks, both sweet and savory including cake, from afar!
The cocktail hour was so special, hearing the toasts were so heartfelt and meaningful! After the digital cocktail hour the brides sat down for a beautiful private dinner on the water, with a four course meal to celebrate their wedding!
Bigger is not always better, and smaller is not always less! Couples are each deciding what is best for them and their friends and family, and going smaller can be a beautiful way to celebrate with your significant other in a more special way!
We are finding that they are going all out on the wedding details.
It’s been so much fun to see how our couples are reallocating their budgets when they have to cut their guest counts unexpectedly. We are finding that they are going all out on the wedding details. They are renting upscale china, flatware, glassware, and chargers. They are adorning their tables with heavy florals and tons of candlelight. We are also finding that they are including furniture rentals more than ever.
We are seeing couples add more tables to their reception space. This allows them to spread out their guests, while still providing an intimate setting. We are also seeing couples get creative with their ceremony setups. They are including couches and benches and having groups of the family sit together.
Venue: Williamsburg Winery
Photographer: Luke and Ashley Photography
Florals: Aleen Floral Design
Cake: Extraordinary cupcakes
Planner: Wedding Co of Williamsburg
For one of our Summer 2020 couples who chose to proceed with their date, we moved the wedding outdoors and ensured the guests were well spaced out and seated in family bubbles.
Over the top decor, menus fit for a king with caviar, lobster, filet replacing chicken, salmon, and short ribs.
Couples are opting for over the top decor, menus fit for a king with caviar, lobster, filet replacing chicken, salmon, and short ribs.
One thing that comes into play is the need for larger tenting for social distancing for outdoor events which results in more revenue for the venue.
Couples are desperately seeking venues with less than a month to go as indoor venues cancel due to COVID.
Since they saved so much by minimizing their guest count, they opted to do a coursed, plate and serve dinner.
I had a wedding last November that had a guest count of 35 people. Since they saved so much by minimizing their guest count, they opted to do a coursed, plate and serve dinner. This made the dinner more exciting and filled in a lot of time during the reception. The couple had plenty of time to visit each table and greet their family and friends.
We planned a wedding in France years ago and I loved how much time was spent on the dinner, which lasted four hours. I think this is a much better way to serve your guests, fill in down time and allow your guests to actually chat and spend time together. I hope to see more of this trend moving forward!
Photo Credit: Toni Albers Photography
For catering, couples have moved from a buffet-style meal for 150 to an elegant, 5-course plated meal for 30.
We've seen the most fabulous touches added to smaller celebrations!
We’ve seen the most fabulous touches added to smaller celebrations! Below are a few examples:
– Upgraded tabletop (linens, china, flatware, glassware, etc.)
– Over the top florals!
– Chef’s Tasting Menus with Wine Pairings
– Creative, personalized menus
– COVID Friendly Cocktails and Appetizers (passed and topped with decorative coasters and acrylic lids)
Photo credits:
Some of our couples who are comfortable traveling are spending their wedding dollars saved on travel experiences...
Some of our couples who are comfortable traveling are spending their wedding dollars saved on travel experiences either for their honeymoon or to visit places they have always dreamt of. We also have a few couples that are purchasing new homes or investment properties, and donating to their favorite charities.
When it comes to celebrating with loved ones at a safe distance, couples have solicited the assistance of vendors who can provide them with high-quality streaming services...
You don't need much, as long as love is present.
For the most part my 2020 couples postponed their weddings to 2021, but they were still able to celebrate their union with their intimate family. You don’t need much, as long as love is present.
Photo #1 – Julie and Manny were able to get a few things together with the help of their family, and in their new home were able to celebrate their wedding. Other guests were invited to watch the ceremony on Zoom, me included. You were able to feel the love and the special moment.
Photo #3-8 – Alexa and Frank were able to reduce their wedding to the NYS mandated guest count of 50. In addition, there was a no dance policy but with everything else going on guests
Live streaming and face timing has also become really popular during key events of the day.
We have had a lot more seated dinners with fun plate ware and custom dummy cakes so they could still have a large cake but we weren’t wasting food.
A client couple of mine used their saved money to buy their first home!
A client couple of mine used their saved money to buy their first home! They ended up saving close to $10,000.00 from their wedding costs and so they decided to use that money to get a home. I am so happy and excited for them to not only start their journey as husband and wife but now also as new home owners.
...our clients have decided to postpone their large-scale reception and instead had a micro wedding surrounded by just the immediate family.
- Groom’s Childhood Home
- Cake Cutting
- First Dance
- Chuppah
- Mala (floral garland)
- Live Video for family who couldn’t be at the wedding
Photo Credit: Heather Kincaid