How formal can an intimate wedding be?

Question

I'd like to have a small wedding with only family and a few very close friends. There will probably be less than 50 in attendance (we both have large families). I like the thought of having an intimate evening with only those who truly love us, and also saving money!

But with so few people, would traditional things like the first dance and toasting seem out of place? I've always dreamed of a very elegant wedding-- nothing casual! Will people automatically treat it casually if it's small?

Answer 1

Absolutely not. My wedding was small, intimate and formal and it was perfect.

Answer 2

Dear, it is your wedding.  You CAN NOT do ANYTHING wrong.  Tell everyone what you expect and don't accept any guff from any of them.  Be a Bridezilla if you have to be but it's your wedding, have it your way.

I'm a husband of 37 years, yeah, with the same woman.  My wife drove the train when it came to our wedding, all I did was make d**n sure EVERYTHING went EXACTLY the way she wanted it.  I saw that as the groom's duty and I guess I did OK.  

BTW, I can be had for little or nothing and I don't take prisoners  JK.  

May I wish you the best on your special day.

Answer 3

No, not at all. I think at a smaller wedding that everyone will feel more involved with these little traditions, like they're more important.

Plus 50 people is a lot of people.

The one thing most people would change about their wedding would be how many people they invited. Most people wish they had invited fewer people. Just because you feel obliged to invite people, like coworkers, doesn't mean you should. This day is about you.

I personally plan to have a small wedding, with all those traditions included.

Have fun! It's your day, do what will make you happy