How do I set a wedding budget for a small intimate wedding?

For a small wedding, the guest list is the foundation of your budget. Decide on the number first, because every other cost, from venue to catering to stationery, depends on it. A wedding for twenty or thirty people can feel just as special as one for a hundred, but the way you spend is different. You might choose a private dining room, a garden, or a small hall, and spend more on a great meal or a live musician because the cost per person is still manageable.

List your priorities as a couple, then allocate your total across those. With fewer guests, you can afford nicer touches like a good photographer, a celebrant who writes a personal ceremony, or a beautiful bouquet. You can also skip many traditional extras, like a large cake, a DJ, or elaborate table centrepieces, because the intimacy carries the day. Keep a simple spreadsheet with your planned and actual costs, and update it as you book.

Remember that a small wedding still needs the legal bits. In England and Wales, you give notice at your local register office and can marry at an approved venue or registered religious building. In Scotland, you submit a marriage notice and can marry almost anywhere with a registrar or celebrant. In Northern Ireland, notice goes to the registrar in the district of the wedding. Check the current rules with your venue, registrar, or place of worship, because they can vary. With fewer moving parts, you can focus on the people and the moments that matter most.