3 Reasons to have a 50-Guest (or Fewer) Wedding

As a wedding planner whose job has been stolen by COVID-19, I've been spending my free time considering the effects this virus will have on the wedding and event industry. Where will we land when this is all done? Will things return to “normal”? Much is still to be determined; however, my prediction is that wedding guest counts will be smaller for years to come.

Before the pandemic, our average guest count was between 150-200 guests. For the foreseeable future, my expectation is that guest counts will drop to an average of 50 guests, and I’m OK with that. Here are the reasons why.

LIMITED TRAVEL DUE TO COVID-19

Couples feel that it is an imposition to ask extended family and various groups of friends to travel during this time – so they shouldn’t ask. Even if guests are young and healthy, the risk of potentially contracting the virus and passing it along to an at-risk loved one doesn't add up. Out of an abundance of caution, most people will likely choose to stay home, and the couple won’t want to put pressure on extended family members and friends by sending them an invitation to witness the marriage in person.

SIDE BAR: If you're planning to skip a wedding you would have attended pre-COVID, do what you can to support a local business in place of traveling. Gift the couple a gift card to their favorite restaurant, order flowers from a local florist, or send a gift from a local home goods boutique. In the past, I would have advised couples to shop off the couple's registry; however, supporting our local economies are so important right now. If you aren't going to spend money traveling, please put some of that money back into the economy to support local businesses.

ONGOING CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS ON GATHERINGS

There will be mandates in place for months to come. Without a vaccine, there would need to be testing at large weddings in the 200+ guest range. This means guests would be required to test negative on the day of the event before being admitted. This would be a huge imposition to both the guests and the hosts of an event. Sticking to a smaller guest count allows for a more easygoing event for everyone.

FINANCIAL PRESSURE

Times are tough, financially speaking. A smaller guest count helps shave costs down to something more manageable for the couple and any wedding sponsors. Weddings with fewer guests can also be more lavish for those in attendance – your most inner circle of loved ones. At a 50-person wedding, guests can be seated at a table for two, four, or with their household, and each table would have its own server. There would also be more space on the dance floor, giving people room to dance freely without feeling overcrowded by hot bodies.

The bottom line is that a 200-guest wedding pre-vaccine is just too risky. Even with only 50 guests in attendance, extended friends and family can still participate in the celebration via Zoom, etc. You can also find some newlywed gift ideas by clicking here (link to another article I wrote on this topic).