In the last decade, huge weddings and hundreds of guests were almost standard at a wedding - whether in Budapest or in the countryside. But this trend seems to be breaking...
The rise of small weddings
You could blame this on COVID-19, as the pandemic has indeed turned events upside down, but in fact the rise of small weddings started a few years before the virus and the restrictions. Small weddings became more and more popular and indeed took root with the introduction of restrictions on numbers.
Nowadays, when we talk about weddings, most people don't think of a party with hundreds of people: they think of a cosy, pleasant wedding where everyone can enjoy themselves with their loved ones… But why have small weddings become so widespread and what are their benefits? Let's see.
#1 The small wedding Budapest advantage in price: premium wedding - thanks to the small number of guests
There's no doubt that the biggest cost of organising a wedding is catering and venue hire. However, the cost of both catering and wedding restaurant hire is highly dependent on the number of guests!
What does this mean in practice? The smaller the number of people you have for the big day of your life, the smaller the budget available, so you can have your own premium wedding on a smaller budget - where you don't have to give anything up.
#2 Small wedding, small hassle / big wedding, big hassle - when compiling the guest list
One of the most important tasks a couple will have to do when planning their wedding is to draw up a list of guests. If you've already got into this part of the process and the number of people hasn't been decided yet, you'll be familiar with the "chain" that starts: "If we've invited your cousin's girlfriend, we should invite the neighbour's aunt - who's bringing her husband, and we haven't even mentioned the distant relatives..."
Well, that's one of the biggest advantages of small weddings: because they don't invite everyone they know to the wedding, there's no offence taken! It's enough to inform your really close relatives and friends about the wedding.
#3 The emotional advantage of a small wedding: a real adventure, an experience, just with your loved ones!
The Big Day of your life will be an unforgettable adventure that you can tell your grandchildren about decades from now, showing them the most beautiful wedding photos and videos, remembering the most beautiful moments.
And in most cases, the best moments of our lives are not with half strangers, distant relatives, but with close family and best friends! More than one bride has been nervous at her wedding because the hundreds of guests all wanted a photo together - and the big day slowly passed... At a small wedding, in a small circle, this can't happen - and you can be sure that only the most important people in your life will share this beautiful day!
#4 The link between small staff and flexible timing
Setting the date for a wedding, especially when you have to fit in with the schedules of hundreds of guests, is not easy. With larger weddings, it's almost impossible to be sure, so often a lot of people are unavailable on the big day, which can be both inconvenient if it's someone important to you, and an unnecessary extra expense.
When organising a small wedding, on the other hand, choosing a date can be easier, as you can arrange the perfect day with family and friends with just a few phone calls - and close relatives are much more flexible! You can be sure that even if you can't find a date that works for everyone, your loved ones will still manage to be there!
#5 Choosing a venue can be easier for small weddings
Today, most restaurants, including our wedding restaurants, are perfectly equipped to make all or part of the restaurant private for the wedding party. As really small weddings often don't even require a full restaurant, the date chosen can be more flexible – whereas for a larger wedding of up to several hundred people, it's a good idea to book the venue more than a year in advance.
Small wedding Budapest
If you want to enjoy your small wedding with your family and you haven't found the perfect wedding restaurant yet, let us recommend you our most beautiful and varied wedding restaurants! Ask for a quote by filling in the form below, or check out our small wedding venues in the form below!
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Pierrot: a romantic wedding in Buda Castle, even in the garden
If you're looking for a fantastically elegant yet relaxed romantic small wedding for your big day, our Pierrot restaurant is the place to be.
This restaurant is located in the Buda Castle District, and thanks to its romantic atmosphere, it has hosted many weddings and engagements. In addition to the restaurant's cosy interior, it also has a secluded garden, where you can celebrate your wedding in a dignified setting, hiding among the castle walls!
Pest-Buda Bistro: a cosy, intimate wedding in Budapest
For those who are planning a small, intimate, family-style wedding instead of a lavish affair, Pest-Buda Bistro is an excellent choice. This restaurant is also located in the Buda Castle district, not far from the wedding hall: with a relaxed and cosy interior and delicious food reminiscent of grandma's kitchen, it is sure to make all ages feel at home!
Baltazár: trendy and stylish small wedding
And if you're looking for a stylish, casual, cool wedding venue, check out Baltazár Grill!
Our grill restaurant offers an unforgettable atmosphere for our guests: for small weddings we can rent the whole restaurant, but our fireplace room or our cosy wine cellar can host even the smallest gatherings.