the whole day - advice needed !

I have seen quite a few venue that do offers for 50 guests but it depends where you are in the country. Do you have a marriott hotel by you? I know my local one caters from about 50 people up to about 300 people.

And I don't think it matters what anyone else thinks. It your day and if that's what you two wants then go for it x

I haven't encountered that. When we were looking at venues we said our numbers would be between between 40 and 50,of which a max of 35 are adults,and nobody said we couldnt have the meal,reception etc. Some places have a minimum spend though but it has been just low enough to not affect us. Maybe it is common in some areas but its not something I have heard of. Would they let you have the whole thing if you went for a weekday?

I think 30 people isn't really enough for an evening disco really. We had nearly 100 at the evening and at times the dancefloor was empty.

You can have a disco with as many, or few, of you as you want!

There'll be 24 people at my wedding (including me and my by-then husband, and three children). We are having a disco and I'm sure it's going to be lots of fun. So what if the dance floor isn't packed all night?!

We've hired a bit private home that has a ceremony license and it's own built-in disco room with all the DJ equipment & lights. We're having the ceremony at 12.30 in the garden, have hired a private chef to cook a three course meal at 2pm, and have a separate cater coming to do some food (crepes) in the evening. I'm anticipating for a couple of hours 5-7 people will just be happy to chat, relax in the garden etc and we'll start the disco at 7ish. We've put together a playlist and my brother in law is going to set it all up at the venue. Our photographer will be with us from bridal preparations through to first dance.

Just because you're having a 'small' wedding, doesn't mean you can't have all the things you want.

FYI, this is my venue in case it ticks your boxes too

Just my thoughts on an early finish:

We're inviting about 140 to our evening do (I didn't realise we knew that many people!) but it's still finishing at about 10ish when the band finishes. People could carry on drinking etc if they wanted but I wanted an early finish because I'll be knackered! I know I won't get any sleep the night before and I want to enjoy my wedding reception, not leave halfway through!

Hi

Thanks for all your advice, I have got some mixed reactions !

It is important for us to do our first dance, and we feel that we can't not have one.

I am glad someone else is having a small wedding and having a disco. We just don't know what to do...

Dilemmas ey? - It's the one thing I am (more than OH) stressing about, as want the day to be perfect and want everyone to be involved. And WE want a first dance, but can't end the day on this !

You could just have an ipod playing and have your first dance to that but I think a disco would be better, at some points the dance floor will probably be empty but I don't see what's wrong with that. it will be there for when people want it.

We're having a tiny wedding with 20 guests but having more in the evening. However not everyone will turn up and i'm expecting it to be fairly quiet, not bothered if the dancefloor is empty at times. The music is there for people to enjoy and when they feel like dancing they will so theres nothing wrong with it being more relaxed and people sitting around. I'd prefer that as a guest to there being no disco and just quietness, i'd have a few drinks and get up and dance regardless so wouldn't worry.

The bus hire sounds like a good idea if it's handy for everyone to get home from the drop off point etc, and i'm sure your guests will appreciate that.

Hi

So we have decided:

• Vintage bus hire to collect our guests from a meeting place and bring to the venue
• A glass of bucks fizz as guests arrive for the Ceremony
• Ceremony to take place
• Canapés and champagne / pimms and bucks fizz - Whilst bride and groom photos are taking place
• Photos with the wedding party
• 3 course Wedding Breakfast
• First Dance
• 2 hours disco - and photo booth (the photo booth that we are having prints out photos (like passport booths) and we are using these pictures for people to stick into a guest book with messages)
• Fireworks
• Drop guests back in vintage bus

This is the photo booth - that prints photos in strips (like passport photobooths) we also get copies on a USB stick

How would you feel as guests? and do you like the sound of this?

Our party will total 32 including 4 young kiddies. We have our venue from 9.00am until midnight. We're not having a disco but will be having our playlist on an iPod and playing that to dance to from about 7.30. People will dance. We're also having some games, roulette etc to keep people happy. We're hiring a vintage coach to go on a mystery drive to a photoshoot after the ceremony then returning to the redressed venue for the wedding breakfast and party. It's your wedding. If your venue can't or won't do what you want then I'd be looking elsewhere tbh. X

I love the bus idea. I think when you have less people you can do more personal stuff like that and it will make it easier for your guests.

One thing I would ask is- have you written a guest list? I know it is super early but my OH and I thought we'd have a small wedding, but when we started writing down who mattered to us it was much bigger than expected!

I'm sure it'll be lovely whatever you decide

Still deciding.

Won't it seem strange if we just do a first dance?

It's just the evening we cant decide on, we want to have our first dance - don't know where to fit this in between. (we are both passionate about doing the first dance)

If we don't have a disco / party evening. We will have fireworks to end the wedding.

Too many decisions

If it isn't too far from you I really suggest you look at http://www.oldswanandminstermill.com they cater for up to 50 and do the whole works ceremony, breakfast, photos, evening disco in a beautiful building overlooking the river.

I don't think 30 people or the finish time is strange at all. I would suggest not capping the night with a finish time though: why not just see where the night takes you?

we were advised against a bus taking people there/back. Logistically we thought it helpful, however a few people said it could be restricting if they didn't want to stay as late or the kids started getting tired etc. however with a 9-10 finish time youl probably avoid this problem. Mention it to a few close guests and see what they think.

good luck!

Our package is for 40 people we are having 38 people there (including 2 small children) we wanted a small wedding because OH and I don't do well with attention being on us. Its close family and friends and it will be great. Evening we are having a disco with dance floor and a casino. Disco is for the music and for those that want to dance we wont be having the DJ element of it but the music and light and dance floor for sure. probably once the drinks start flowing people will soon be 'busting some shapes' and the casino is something fun for OH and his boys to feel a little James Bond like!

30 people is still a lot of people in my opinion, maybe its not in the world of weddings but if you get 30 people in one room that's a fair few people do boogie the night away xx

Our package is for 40 people we are having 38 people there (including 2 small children) we wanted a small wedding because OH and I don't do well with attention being on us. Its close family and friends and it will be great. Evening we are having a disco with dance floor and a casino. Disco is for the music and for those that want to dance we wont be having the DJ element of it but the music and light and dance floor for sure. probably once the drinks start flowing people will soon be 'busting some shapes' and the casino is something fun for OH and his boys to feel a little James Bond like!

30 people is still a lot of people in my opinion, maybe its not in the world of weddings but if you get 30 people in one room that's a fair few people do boogie the night away xx

Hi

It looks beautiful, but unfortunately I live in the West Sussex / Hampshire border

As a seasoned wedding DJ myself..... I love small intimate weddings. The smallest I did was 20 people and it was a blast. I knew everyone's name by the end of the night and everyone was still there at the end too (1am).What I would say though is choose your wedding DJ carefully. You ideally need someone who is very personable and knows how to interact with guests at a small function rather than someone who is used to being inconspicuous behind the rig.

Quote MM3:

We're having a tiny wedding with 20 guests but having more in the evening. However not everyone will turn up and i'm expecting it to be fairly quiet, not bothered if the dancefloor is empty at times. The music is there for people to enjoy and when they feel like dancing they will so theres nothing wrong with it being more relaxed and people sitting around. I'd prefer that as a guest to there being no disco and just quietness, i'd have a few drinks and get up and dance regardless so wouldn't worry.

------''

Totally this ^^

We're having 12 (!) to the ceremony and no more than 70 to the reception. To be honest I love dancing at discos and if I'm the only one on the dance floor all night then so be it!! No way we wouldn't be having a disco Mr McFarley and I will probably leave at about 10.30-11pm but everyone is welcome to carry on partaying! x

Hi,

The most intimate wedding we have played for is around 30 guests, and it was a great reception. If you get your DJ involved with your guests beforehand, or ask for your guests fave songs then most people will enjoy the personal touch.

We played lots of the guests requests, as I recall we went round talking to guests and basically we were like a live jukebox!

Love the vintage bus idea!

James

The Spectrum.