With the economic downturn, 2009 has been the year of the small wedding and I have to say that I have come to really like them.  The majority of my brides, this past year, have planned weddings in the 50-100 person range.  I have definitely coordinated some that were larger and even had one that was smaller, but the norm hovered around that number.

You get a bigger bang for your buck with a smaller wedding for sure.  I have seen my clients invest more money into food, florals, linens, and fun extras like photo booths, cigar stations, espresso bars, and even an on-site mini-donut vendor because they felt like they could spend a little extra when they didn't need as much of any one item (50 people = 5 table linens v. 20 for a 200 person wedding).

I think 50 people is really the critical mass needed to have dancing at a wedding.  With that number, you can fill the dance floor and feel the energy of a crowd.  My clients Seth and Marie had a wedding that size, and thanks to DJ Andy Hagenah of Disc Go Round, the dance floor was full all night.  They chose the La Valencia in La Jolla, for their venue, which is one of my absolute favorite locations for a small to medium sized wedding.  But with their smaller size they didn't go "small."  They had gorgeous flowers, done by Annette Gomez (who does amazing work!), and stayed within a reasonable budget because they only had 5 tables to fill.

Small weddings can definitely go "big."

Steal this idea:
Over Thanksgiving weekend, I coordinated a wedding for only 40 people and it was a wonderful, very intimate affair.  The bridal couple, Kathryn & Michel, wanted to spend time with each of their guests and therefore decided to sit with a different table for each course.  They had their reception at the Grand Colonial in La Jolla (a perfect venue for a smaller wedding) and had the staff set (5) tables with (10) chairs each but only assaigned (8) guests per table.  Kathryn & Michel opted for a drawn out 5-course meal and shifted to the empty seats at each table each time a new course was served.  I thought the idea was brilliant!  Only with a group of their size, could such a idea be possible.  And their guests felt incredibly honored by it!

  
Gorgeous flowers and decor and Marie & Seth's 50-person wedding
 
Marie & Seth in their photo booth and dancing away with friends and family