Intimate vs. Large Wedding - Which Is Right for You?
- Leonards Hill Estate
- Jan 4
- 3 min read
There's this narrative in wedding culture that bigger is always better.
More guests, more vendors, more everything. But here's the truth: some of the most magical weddings we've hosted at Leonards Hill Estate have been intimate celebrations with fewer than 50 guests.
If you're torn between an intimate gathering and a larger celebration, let's break down both options so you can figure out what's right for you.
What the Numbers Actually Mean
Intimate Wedding: 20-60 guests – Immediate family, wedding party, and closest friends. Everyone knows each other.
Mid-Size Wedding: 60-100 guests – The sweet spot. Extended family and broader friend circles.
Large Wedding: 100-200+ guests – Extended family, family friends, work colleagues, larger social circles.
There's no right or wrong choice - only what feels right for you.
Why Intimate Weddings Work
You actually get to talk to your guests. Real conversations, not just quick "thanks for coming!" moments. You'll remember these connections.
The vibe is different. More like a beautiful dinner party than a production. Everyone's relaxed, conversations flow naturally, and the dance floor isn't awkward.
Your budget goes further. With fewer guests, you can either spend less overall or upgrade everything - better food, premium drinks, that dream photographer, your ideal venue.
Less stress. Fewer opinions, simpler logistics, no complex seating charts or distant relatives causing drama.
More venue options. Intimate weddings open up unique spaces - private estates, boutique restaurants, exclusive Daylesford wedding venues like Leonards Hill Estate that shine with smaller groups.
You might actually enjoy your wedding. You can breathe, be present, eat your dinner, and taste your cake.
Why Large Weddings Work
Everyone you love is there. If you have huge extended family and vast friend networks, and you genuinely want everyone there - a big wedding makes sense.
The energy is incredible. A packed dance floor, 150 people singing along, the buzz of a big celebration - it's electric.
It's a family reunion. For families spread across the country, your wedding becomes the reason everyone gets together.
You honour family expectations. Sometimes family dynamics matter. If not inviting your parents' friends would cause genuine hurt, a larger wedding solves that.
You love hosting. If planning a large party sounds exciting rather than overwhelming, lean into it.
The Honest Downsides
Intimate Wedding Challenges:
Someone's feelings will get hurt when they're not invited
You might face family pressure
Less "wow" factor if you've dreamed of a grand entrance
Some vendors have minimum guest requirements
Large Wedding Challenges:
The cost adds up fast (even at budget prices)
You'll barely see anyone - maybe 2 minutes per guest
Seating charts become a nightmare
You'll be exhausted from being "on" for 6+ hours
More opinions, more drama, more logistics
Questions to Help You Decide
About your personalities:
Do large groups energise or drain you?
Are you comfortable being the centre of attention?
Do you prefer deep conversations or wide social circles?
About your relationships:
Can you list 40 people you genuinely want there?
Are there people you'd genuinely regret not inviting, or are you adding people out of obligation?
About your budget:
What can you comfortably afford?
Would you rather have an intimate celebration at your dream venue, or a larger one at a budget venue?
About your vision:
When you picture your wedding, what do you see?
What do you want to remember - faces and conversations, or the energy of a crowd?
How This Affects Your Venue Choice
For intimate weddings (20-60): Private estates like Leonards Hill Estate, boutique restaurants, gallery spaces, garden venues that feel cosy rather than cavernous.
For mid-size (60-100): Most wedding venues Victoria are designed for this sweet spot - estate venues, wineries, historic buildings.
For large weddings (100+): Hotel ballrooms, conference centres, dedicated wedding venues with high capacity and strong logistics.
At Leonards Hill Estate, we specialise in intimate and mid-sized celebrations (30-80 guests) where our spaces truly shine - large enough for a proper celebration, intimate enough to feel genuinely connected.
The Bottom Line
An intimate Daylesford wedding with 40 people who genuinely matter will always be more meaningful than a 150-person obligation-fest.
But if you have genuine connections with 120 people and you'd regret not celebrating with them, honour that too.
Ask yourself:
What do we want to remember about this day?
What will we regret more -people not being there, or feeling overwhelmed?
What can we genuinely afford without stress?
What feels authentic to who we are as a couple?
Your answers will guide you to the right decision.
Ready to explore your options? Whether you're dreaming of an intimate celebration or something larger, visit Leonards Hill Estate and see how our spaces work for different group sizes. Book a tour - let's talk about your vision.
Comments