21 Ideas to Level Up Small Weddings—Straight from the Experts

Whether you keep your wedding at home or opt for an intimate venue, a smaller guest list allows for you to go all out on details you'd likely have had to dilute for a larger group. "With a smaller guest count, you have the opportunity to really pull out all the stops and give you, your beloved, and your guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience," says luxury and celebrity event designer, David Beahm. "From a unique and gorgeous venue, to an abundance of flowers, your family china, embroidered linen napkins, fabulous furnishings, fine stationery, really rare wines, or a guest chef creating the menu you've always dreamed—go for it!"

Blake of Gregory Blake Sams Events, agrees wholeheartedly, encouraging couples to "incorporate heirloom pieces like fine china, silver, linens, vessels, and more" when designing the event. Most families don't have heirlooms in bulk, but your intimate dinner party of your closest family and friends is the most sentimental, thoughtful, and size-appropriate way to showcase objet that you'd only otherwise enjoy at private family occasions.

Accessorize in a way that feels outside the bridal box. Dare to walk down the aisle in color; skip a full length gown; wear your mother's wedding dress; in fact—wear two (or even three) looks during the evening. Style your looks for a small wedding the same way you would a larger one—based on your setting. You don’t need to wear what people expect you to wear, but your looks should feel unique to your personal style, to you both as a couple, and to the location you've decided to host your nearest and dearest.

Should you be looking to don multiple looks, keep in mind that each wardrobe change will signal a shift in energy to your guests. Enter into your dinner reception in a new look; or change into luxurious silk pajamas or a micro mini for late night.

When it comes to food and beverage, go super luxe. "Perhaps a caviar and champagne cart is too extravagant for 200 guests, but for 20 people it becomes something you can include," suggests Luis Otoya of RobbinsOtoya and The Kitchen Kiki. "Use the smaller guest count as an opportunity to get more creative and unique with the courses and ingredients. Layer in extra courses to your dinner menu, like individual cheese and charcuterie boards or individual raw bars. Have fun with the wine selection and go for more unique and extra special options." Your guests likely aren't expecting a feast for the ages—surprise and delight them.

It's all about the details for any event, but when hosting a smaller affair, have fun with surprise elements that your guests will cherish forever. Opt to monogram each guests initials on their own dinner napkin. "It serves as their place card at the table, but also makes guests feel instantly considered and special," says Victoria Holland of Victoria Ann Events. Holland also suggests producing custom chinaware for your wedding day that you can then keep as your newlywed set.

If you're considering accepting help from family and friends on or prior to the wedding day, leave the primary components to the professionals. Even if you're aunt is a beloved florist or your brother-in-law is a seasoned photographer, you want those key people to be there to enjoy the day. With that said, perhaps your cousin in an incredible ceramicist who can craft vessels for your centerpieces, or maybe one of your siblings is a talented musician, and can play the tune that walks you down the aisle. Consider your loved ones' talents and time, and incorporate their not-so-secret talents in meaningful ways. "It's these micro details that stay with us and make the moment that much more memorable," says Fallon Carter of Fallon Carter Events.

With intimate weddings you get the chance to really tailor your guest experience. "To keep things fun and personalized, hire your favorite food truck and have guests walk up and order like they would at a festival or any of their late-night haunts," says Nicole-Natassha Goulding of Chic by Nicole Weddings and Events and Ethos West Collective. While this could work for the main meal, we suggest you opt for this cheeky eating experience for dessert—or, for late-night snacks.

Looking for an even-more-personal touch? "As a sweet surprise, create a special menu based on individual guest preferences and name the dishes in honor of each attendee," suggests Goulding.

While a standard welcome bag is just that—standard—considering your guests' needs on a more individual level will make their stay at a smaller event that much more memorable. "Details unmanageable for large guest counts are doable and magical for smaller intimate weddings," says Joy Proctor. She suggests putting together thoughtful welcome bags—complete with amenities tailored to your guests dietary needs, slippers and robes in their size, and hand written welcome notes.

One often considers indoor-outdoor entertaining and living—but consider the reverse for a small group. "If you're having a tented reception that's surrounded by nature, invite the trees inside. Spring for a taller tent and let the trees green up your space," encourages Ashley Mason of Saunter Weddings. "Instead of a floral installation from scratch, add an abundance of blooms to the trees as your statement pieces, or light them up with suspended fixtures for a grand, yet intimate feel."

"If you were planning a big wedding, and now it’s a small wedding—riff on that," says Bryan Rafanelli of Rafanelli Events and author of A Great Party. "Think: tiny wedding cake, a small French posey bridal bouquet, chic champagne splits, and serve all the beautifully curated mini entrées for a cocktail supper vibe, like mini fish tacos, mini filet Mignon, tiny baby back ribs, etc."

But why stop there? Rafanelli advises that you extend this nod to all things small across the event, in the sweetest and chicest of ways. "Your can even design a mini bar with 186ml bottles of champagne, rosé, craft beer, and sparkling waters. As for the bridal party, have the little people in your life be your best people. Your 5-year old nephew becomes your best mini man, and your 6-year old niece can serve as your maid of honor."

"Large or small, the dance floor is where the party really shakes down. Don't skimp on the full band," says Lynn Easton of Easton Events. "The juxtaposition of an intimate guest count with the power of a full band performing is unparalleled. A full band is going to bring maximum energy to your celebration, and the dance floor is guaranteed to be full, regardless of your guest count."

With a small group, sometimes it's nice to also make it personal. "Include space for song suggestions in your RSVP card and play a medley of all those tunes to ensure each guest has their moment to shine on the dance floor," suggests Guerdy Abraira of Guerdy Design.

When it comes to privacy and safety, smaller, more intimate venues become options for those planning an event for an edited guest list. "Opt for taking over a small boutique property for your intimate celebration. This eliminates the stress of preparing and hosting the experience at a family homestead and still allows for personal touches," says Blake of Gregory Blake Sams Events. "Create a multi-day celebration utilizing all aspects of the property, like the private piazzas, as well as the salon, café, library, and lush courtyard garden. The experience allows everyone in attendance the ability to really connect with the bride and groom and share their special day with a warm, at-home feel—without the stresses that come along with actually being at home," he says.

“One request about which we are often cautious with events of size, is how to successfully integrate a favorite restaurant, or esteemed chef to cater,” explains Ryan Hill of Apotheosis Events. “Catering for large numbers of guests is a specific skill, and way of cooking that not everybody possesses. This conversation changes entirely when your gathering is an intimate 20-50 guests. That chef you adore is back on the menu, so to speak. Most restaurants have private dining rooms or courtyards, so handling your guest count isn't entirely new to them.”

More good news? This also applies to wine. “Ring up the sommelier for your favorite wine list in town, and hire them to work with you as well,” Hill suggests. “It makes your entire menu a bespoke enterprise—plus, a great sommelier may have access to that perfect bottle that you can't get anywhere else.”

Bright and bold tones can look overwhelming when done in droves, but for a smaller gathering, playing with rich, saturated hues is key to making a splash in an intimate setting," says Augusta Cole of Augusta Cole Events. "You can be bolder with your color choices and feel confident to mix and match patterns when you are designing for a smaller audience," she says.

Cole also encourages that you work with a color palette you'd consider entertaining with long into the future. "I am encouraging my clients to look at their wedding as a way to further enhance their at-home entertaining. If you have been eying a gorgeous china pattern, but never had the reason to splurge, now is a perfect time. Rather than renting all of the elements of your tabletop, invest in tablecloths, chargers, china, flatware, napkins, or that gasp-worthy Italian blown glass that you will enjoy for years to come."

At a large wedding, the timeline is infinitely more sensitive, and time is slotted in for photos in a calculated way," explains celebrity wedding photographer Jose Villa. "If you have a smaller group, create a studio-quality photo "booth" with a backdrop and lighting designed by your photographer for memorable portraits of you, and of each member of your family. Not only does a smaller guest count allow for a more relaxed feel, it gives us the opportunity to really capture art-directed portraits of each guest, and of you in your fashion moments. After the wedding, consider gifting each guest a printed portrait of themselves as a favor."