24th February 2023
Weddings are one of the most significant milestones in a person’s life, specifically for South Asian families, a wedding is one of the most important and joyous occasions.
It is a celebration of love and commitment, and for many, it is a dream come true. When planning a wedding, one of the most important decisions to make is the size of the event. Some couples opt for a small and intimate wedding, while others prefer a big and lavish celebration, commonly known as a “big fat Asian wedding.”
In this blog post, we will explore the options to help you make an informed decision.
Now, this one goes without saying. If you know that you and your partner have large guest lists with tons of family and friends, it’s a no-brainer to go for a more grand celebration.
Grand doesn’t mean 7 different events over 4 different weekends with 1,000+ events and a 6 figure budget btw.
All we mean by that, is that you may want to opt for a larger wedding reception, off the back of an intimate wedding ceremony or pre-wedding events. This will save you the stress of cutting down a guest list, family members getting offended, and not having everyone there as part of your celebration.
If you are someone who loves personalised and bespoke table names, wedding favours, and gifts; then an intimate wedding might be for you.
With a small guest list, you can spend more time with each guest and create a more personal experience for everyone. You can also customise the event to your preferences without worrying about pleasing a large crowd.
Hands up if you love a good dinner party!
A small wedding can create a more intimate atmosphere, allowing you to share your special day with your closest family and friends. This can make the day feel more personal and meaningful.
In terms of decor, you can also opt for a decorator who curates intimate tablescapes. It’s the lovely little details which will make the evening memorable.
If you are someone who has tons of different pinterest vision boards, with tons of different themes; then a grand wedding may be best for you. It gives you endless amounts of options, and also doesn’t limit your suppliers.
An important thing to note, is that if you are looking to have a more intimate wedding, you may narrow out any venues or suppliers who have a minimum guest requirement. This is especially the case for caterers.
Ok, now this is not to say that you can’t have a grand Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani destination wedding, but considering the average price per head for a destination wedding is higher (once you account for travel, accommodation, site visits etc.); you may want to keep this one intimate.
There’s a lot that goes into planning a destination wedding. You want to ensure that you are logistically able to manage all of your guests to have a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU
This whole blogpost contains advice based on our experience, but with the right wedding planner, you can easily plan a big fat Asian wedding abroad and equally be placed with endless options for suppliers right for your intimate wedding. Explore all your options.
When it comes to dancing, the more the merrier!
Chances are, if dancing is one of your biggest priorities, then you will want an incredible DJ & production team. For that quality expense, you are definitely going to want as many dancers on the dance floor as possible.
Get creative with your team, to curate a bespoke and personalised dance floor to really get everyone up on their feet.
Honestly, one of the best parts of the wedding is the food!
Even better, you can truly create a personalised and bespoke menu for you and your guests, regardless of the size of event. The key is to work with a caterer who can help curate a menu of dishes that are easy to serve in bulk, but still bring a unique taste to your guests.
Honestly, if you aren’t much of a logistics person, the best option is to always opt for an intimate wedding. This is also the case if you are one to easily get stressed out by too much planning and too many decisions. At the end of the day, you want to enjoy your wedding to the fullest, and that includes the entire lead up.
That being said, the right wedding planner can really take away all of your concerns.
If you are someone who loves a bit of craft and wants to DIY your wedding invitations, guest favours, gift baskets & more; then opt for intimate!
It might seem like a fun task to create & pack 500 invites, but it’s honestly a mammoth task and so many couples will say that they wish they had outsourced it to the professionals in hindsight.
With smaller and intimate numbers, it’s less time consuming, costly & enjoyable to DIY different elements. Check out some of our favourite wedding DIY’s here.
If you are someone whose engaged and wants a super short engagement, an intimate wedding is the way to go!
It makes it a lot easier to find smaller and intimate wedding venues, within unique spaces. You can work closely with your suppliers and ensure that everything is executed as planned.
Ultimately, the decision to have a small and intimate wedding or a big fat Asian wedding depends on your personal preferences, budget, and cultural expectations. While a big wedding may offer more grandeur and an opportunity to celebrate with everyone you know, a small wedding can be more personal, cost-effective, and less stressful. Whatever you choose, make it special and remember to enjoy!
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