did anyone have a really SMALL wedding, but without intending to, and how did you feel about it?

[JUSTUSTWO]

Originally Posted by acireta 

 

Smaller weddings can be so beautiful and intimate! You will still come home married after the trip of a lifetime, and think about how much more quality time you'll get to spend with the special people who made it down there with you! And everyone else will be super jealous of your pics and experiences!

 

Plus, you can spend more on each OOT bag since you only have a few to make! Just kidding on that one, but it might be a plus for you, I dunno.

 

We had a TON of people who said "I wanna go, I wanna go. I'll book right away." The only bookings are my mom, my two bridesmaids and our best man and his wife. So I'll believe it when I see it. These very special people who already booked will be there, everyone else is just icing on the cake.

I couldn't have said it better than Erica. While we were a group of about 35, I initially envisioned many more. There were so many people who were excited about us getting married in Jamaica & said they would be there. Those people who reassured us that they were coming, were the same people who pulled out once the invitations were sent out & it was time to book. On the other hand we also had quite a few people attend who we never expected. 

While I was very upset about the amount of "no's" that we got, once I arrived in Jamaica, those people who didn't make it were the farthest from my mind. I looked around at those family & friends who did take the time to join us & realized that they were the ones who mattered and they are the ones who helped make our wedding all the more special. 

And for me, managing a group of 30 or less was way more conveinent than managing a larger group. I had enough to worry about leading up to the wedding & couldn't imagine having to worry about more people than I did.

 

Basically, just hang in there. If a DW is your dream, then continue to hang on to & follow YOUR dream. Don't let other people ruin what you have planned. Yes its nice to have friends and family support you on your wedding day, but in the end, its all about you & your FI and what YOU guys want. You will have an amazing wedding regardless.

 

[Vic0214]

I know how everyone feels! I always dreamed of having a big wedding and I always thought that no matter where i had it that certain people like my best friend of 12 yehars would pull it together and be there. I was soo wrong! There are people who mean the world to me that cannot come and it truly breaks my heart. I 'm trying to keep it together because i don't want to feel obligated and feel bad that they can't afford but it's soo hard to just shrug it off when it's killing me. I just have to remember I'm having a way more beautiful wedding than i would be having here in toronto and my closest Family members will be there by my side.

[wendyjd]

Our wedding was only 9 people, I thought we'd have 15-25 so I was disappointed at first.  The only person who I truly wanted there that wasn't was my brother, however he chose not to come bc he doesn't like to fly.  His daughter and fiance came even though he didn't.  The whole week and the wedding turned out wonderful and we were able to spend time with everyone, even have dinner together every night.  Out OOT bag content were much better, we even found really inexpensive mp3 players which had a tropical playlist for sunning.  Really dont stress the guest lists the most important people will be there and like everyone else said, you will be married to the love of your life. 

[PurpleUnicorn]

i just want to thank everyone so much for their replies. it really is helping ALOT!  one thing that bothers me too, that i know i will get over, is that i might end with more people standing up with me at the altar because i have SIX bridesmaids, than i will have actually sitting in the audience!!  but oh well.  i guess the point is that those 6 girls are super important to me and they are ALL coming.

and i am big time keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well with FIs parents and they come.  if at least HIS parents there, i will feel it is more like a wedding joining 2 families, as opposed to it only being MY friends and family.

 

i like the stories about everyone spending so much time with their guests, i have that to look forward to for sure. especially since i recently moved from east to west coast and i miss everyone so much, and really all my favorite people ARE coming!

[merrylee]

I couldn't agree more with everyone.  My FSIL got married in Cancun October 2010 and there was 14 of us including them.  Now we didn't spend every waking moment together but we still spent  A LOT of quality time together which is the main reason we decided to go the DW route.  It was the most awesome experience.  We ate every meal together etc....

 

Now *our* wedding may or may not be bigger but either way I am going to love it.  I have 3 couples willing to put a deposit down and we'll have to see how it turns out.  We haven't sent out STD's yet or anything, but I do have a pretravel RSVP telling them what I expect the cost to be about and what I need from them.

 

So 3 couples RSVP'd there. We are doing a larger resort so that if you don't want to be with us 100% if the time you don't have to be.

 

You will have an amazing wedding and enjoy every second with the ones who could make it.

[Banksnelson]

I am going through the same thing. I never wanted a really big wedding but I expected more than the 14 we have booked now with less then 3 months to go. Part of me feels silly spending so much money on a dress and shoes and stuff for just a few people to see. But I'm really trying to not stress over any of it anymore. I know we will have a great time and in the end none of the little things will matter!

[QueenDiva]

From someone having a "larger" DW of currently 52 people, I envy you. I thought I would like to have about this number, but it's nothing but stress. I think this would've been a more enjoyable process with less guests.

[mishi071411]

It is so refreshing to see this post! Just yesterday I was looking for posts from people in my shoes. I had so many people that were very excited about the wedding, and now less and less. My FI and I specifically asked my uncle, because he was planning to marry us. Him and his wife (who are avid scuba divers and travel enthusiasts) were very excited. We also asked my FI SIL because she's picky... and she thought it was a great idea too! Well they both backed out, along with tons of other people that said they would go. I began buying a lot of things for oot bags, and now am backing off until it gets closer so I don't waste my money. I told my sisters that the girls on this website have tons of people booked, and that I must be doing something wrong! They were so supportive with "Forget them, we'll have a blast without them". Everyone says "You're having a reception when you get back, aren't you?" and everytime they ask this I can't help but wonder if the AHR will have to be bigger then I originally expected just to accomodate the people who can't go (I only wanted a small party back home) This is always what I've wanted, but I guess I expected people to be more honest then telling me what I wanted to hear. Out of 120 invites, we have 5 people booked for a July wedding.

 

[JR14]

I MUST AGREE with Queen Diva!!!  I'm overwhelmed by the number of people coming its like I'm having a normal wedding but just during a huge family vacation!!!  Then again, I knew it wasn't going to be small....

I've been to small intimate weddings and can't say enough how much more emotional and touching it is, sharing the best memories with the closest loved ones that truly cared to be there with you.   Trust me, it's a blessing in disguise, and no matter what it really comes down to you and your FI being together happily ever after!!!  (and maybe you'll still get a few more friends to book)

**ps - I especially envy you cuz my OOT bags are gonna KILLLL ME!!! LOL

 

Originally Posted by QueenDiva 

From someone having a "larger" DW of currently 52 people, I envy you. I thought I would like to have about this number, but it's nothing but stress. I think this would've been a more enjoyable process with less guests.

[PurpleUnicorn]

 

 

Originally Posted by Banksnelson 

 

Part of me feels silly spending so much money on a dress and shoes and stuff for just a few people to see.

 

i feel this way too!  i was thinking, why did i spend so much on my dress?  for 10 people to see?