Money as a couple: How to plan a small wedding budget
A small wedding budget for 20 to 40 guests can be a fraction of a large wedding's cost, because the guest list drives most other costs. In a worked example, a wedding for 30 guests costs about 6,000, with food and the venue making up most of it.
By Wealtie Team · 3 min read
Key takeaways
- A small wedding budget can be a fraction of a large wedding's cost.
- In a worked example, a wedding for 30 guests costs about 6,000.
- The guest list drives most costs, so a smaller list saves the most.
- Small weddings let you spend more per guest on what matters to you.
How do you plan a small wedding budget?
Start with the guest list, then plan each part around it. A small wedding, sometimes called a micro wedding, usually means 20 to 40 guests: close family and friends. Because food, drink, venue size, invitations and favours all depend on numbers, a smaller guest list lowers almost every cost. Many couples find a small wedding feels more personal too, with time to talk to every guest.
What does a small wedding cost?
Here's a worked example for 30 guests, in round numbers that work in any currency:
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Food and drink, 30 at 70 | 2,100 |
| Venue | 1,200 |
| Photographer | 1,000 |
| Outfits | 800 |
| Flowers, cake and extras | 600 |
| Ceremony fees | 300 |
| Total | 6,000 |
Your own costs depend on where you marry and what matters most to you. The wedding budget shows how costs rise with larger guest lists.
How do you choose a guest list?
Decide on a number first, then fill it. The number you choose will shape your venue options and much of your budget, so it's worth agreeing early. Many couples start with immediate family and closest friends, and add others only if there's room. Agreeing who's invited with families early avoids surprises. Explaining that it's a small wedding helps people understand if they're not invited. Sticking to a clear rule, like only people you've both met, makes decisions easier.
Where can you hold a small wedding?
Small weddings open up venues that wouldn't fit a big crowd:
- A private room in a favourite restaurant, often with food included
- A family home or garden
- A small country house or barn
- A civil ceremony venue with a nearby meal
- A rented holiday home for the weekend
Restaurants can be especially good value, since food, drink, staff and setting come together. Ask whether the private room has a minimum spend and what it includes.
How do you make a small wedding feel special?
With fewer guests, you can spend more per person on the things you love: a better meal, a great photographer, nicer wine or a special location. Many couples say they enjoyed their small wedding more because they spent real time with every guest. Personal touches, like handwritten notes for each guest, a long shared table or a short speech from everyone, are easier at a small wedding.
Spend on what you'll remember
Decide your two or three priorities, like food and photos, and keep other costs simple. That's often the best way to get the most from a small budget. Writing your priorities down together helps when you're tempted by extras.
Food for a small wedding
With fewer guests, a long table at a good restaurant or a relaxed sharing menu can feel generous without huge cost. Some couples choose a set menu with one or two choices, which keeps the price per head predictable and makes the meal feel like a dinner party.
Where can you save?
- Wear an outfit you'll wear again, or buy second-hand
- Use seasonal flowers, or a few statement arrangements
- Bake or buy a simple cake and decorate it with flowers
- Use digital invitations
- Book a photographer for a few hours, not the whole day
How to host dinner on a budget has ideas if you host the meal yourselves.
People who aren't invited
Some couples hold a relaxed party later, like drinks at a pub or a barbecue, for a wider group. It lets more people celebrate with you without the cost of a large wedding. Guests can bring a dish or buy their own drinks, keeping it relaxed. Share the news warmly, and explain your choice kindly.
How do you save for a small wedding?
Divide your budget by the months until the wedding and set that aside each month. A 6,000 wedding saved over eighteen months is about 335 a month. A sinking fund keeps the money separate. If you're choosing between a small wedding and eloping, compare the costs and what matters most to you both.
A small wedding also leaves room for the things that matter to you. With fewer guests, you can spend more per person on food, choose a special venue that would be too expensive for a large crowd, or put the savings towards a honeymoon or a home.
How do you track a small wedding in Wealtie?
Add a savings account for the wedding and move money into it as a transfer, which isn't counted as spending. Log costs in an events line in your expense categories. Wealtie's sharing lets you share accounts with a partner; the person who shares needs Pro, and the person invited can be on any plan. A limit in the budget tracker keeps everyday spending on track.
Questions people ask
In a worked example, about 6,000 for 30 guests, with food and the venue the biggest costs.
Usually around 20 to 40, mainly close family and friends.
A restaurant private room, a family garden, a small country house or a rented holiday home.
Spend more per guest on your priorities, like food or photos, and add personal touches.
This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your situation is your own; check the numbers that apply to you before you act on them.
