Wedding Size Guide: Big vs Small vs Micro Weddings

Weddings come in all shapes and sizes. Tiny elopement? Big hotel ballroom? Dogs as guests? It all works. What matters is that the day feels right for you — not what you think you should do because of Instagram, tradition, or Aunt Margaret’s opinions.


You might remember those huge celebrity weddings. Madonna and Guy Ritchie got married at Skibo Castle in 2000. I drove past on my way north and saw the security everywhere, looked like a royal visit. Nice idea, but most of us aren’t planning a wedding with a helicopter pad and a team of bodyguards. And that’s absolutely fine.


Your version of a “dream wedding” might be six people and a pub lunch, or it might be 150 guests and a dance floor full of questionable moves. I’ve photographed all types across Scotland, and here’s what I’ve learned: every wedding is unique, and every one has its own charm, chaos and personality, just like the couples.


My very first wedding had 20 guests. Simple, calm, beautiful. A few weeks later, I shot a micro wedding with two dogs and ten humans. Super relaxed, lots of laughter… and one dog that farted during the vows. Truly unforgettable.


Then came a 100-guest wedding at Cottiers in Glasgow, another with 80 guests at Kilmardinny House, and on it went. Big or small, they were all full of joy, emotion and the kind of moments you can’t script. That’s why size doesn’t matter nearly as much as how the day feels.


Even registry office weddings are brilliant. Dunfermline City Chambers is stunning for civil ceremonies, and proves that small weddings can still feel huge in all the right ways.


Some couples even split their day. I recently photographed a couple who got married at the registry office in the morning, had lunch, then met everyone again in the evening at Seasons Quayside in Leith. It was relaxed, unconventional and perfect for them.


So how do you pick the right size for your wedding?


Here’s the short version: Think about what you want. Then think about it again.


Not your family, not your friends, not the internet — you. My sister wrote “Please yourself as at least then, somsone is happy” on my guest book at my wedding. Wise words. If you want a banquet with a string quartet, do it. If you want a finger buffet with your five favourite people, also perfect.


Here are my genuinely useful tips:

  • Talk to each other. Agree on the vibe. If one person secretly hates big crowds, it’s better to know before you book a castle.
  • Write things down. A mind-map works wonders when you’re sorting ideas, venues and suppliers.
  • List your suppliers. Hair, makeup, invites, cake, flowers, DJ, photographer, décor, catering… it adds up fast.
  • Don’t panic. Unless you’re planning the whole thing in four weeks, you’ve got time.
  • Be practical. Visit venues, try the food, talk to the staff. Make sure it feels right.
  • Get contracts. They protect you. No contract = no booking.
  • Save the fun extras for later. Photo booth, sax player, garden games, great, but do the boring essentials first.


Micro Weddings: The Good and the Not-So-Good


The good

  • More time with the people you care about most
  • Often cheaper overall
  • Relaxed, intimate atmosphere
  • More venue options (including quirky ones)
  • Flexible and creative, fewer rules

The less good

  • Some suppliers have minimum numbers
  • Cost per person can actually be higher
  • You can’t invite everyone, which may upset some
  • It might not feel like a “big celebration” if that’s what you want


Bigger Weddings: The Good and the Not-So-Good


The good

  • Big reunion with people you haven’t seen for ages
  • Great if you enjoy being centre stage
  • More shared moments with lots of guests
  • And yes… probably more presents

The less good

  • Costs increase quickly
  • You get less one-to-one time with guests
  • Logistics get complicated
  • More pressure and expectations
  • The day can feel like an “event” instead of something personal, but that might be what you are after.


The whole point


There’s no right or wrong wedding size. The “best” wedding is the one that feels like yours.


Whether it’s ten people and a curry, or 200 guests, champagne, a choreographed entrance and a dance floor that slowly turns into organised chaos, it’s your day. Own it. Enjoy it.


And whatever you choose, please book a photographer! I don’t care if you don’t book me, just book someone professional and don’t rely on your uncle Bob with his £200 Canon and crappy kit lens. Photos are the one part you can’t redo. They’re for you, and for the people who’ll look back on them decades from now thinking, “Wow… look at that hair.”

A historic church venue decorated with string lights and cross-back chairs for an elegant wedding ceremony setup. Cottiers.

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