So you’ve gotten engaged and you’ve enjoyed basking in the warm glow of the moment, but now you have a wedding to plan. There are so many decisions to make, and most of them have to do with money, people, or time. If you’re stressed or overwhelmed, you may be tempted to throw up your hands and elope. While elopement is a perfectly valid option, a smaller wedding can be less expensive and easier to plan. Keep reading to learn more about these perks of a small wedding, along with some tips to make your vision come to life.

More Venue Choices

Wedding Wire’s Stephanie Weers lists several perks as to why a small wedding may be your best option. For one thing, you’ll be able to choose from a wider selection of venues. If you have a guest list of only 65, for instance, you can easily choose between smaller, intimate settings or grand, spacious locations. Martha Stewart Weddings reveals that venue costs will take up about 10% to 15% of your total budget, so you may save a little money depending on your venue’s pricing structure and the options you choose.

Writing for Brides, Jaimie Mackey discusses nontraditional sites that are ideal for small weddings: restaurants, hotel suites, galleries, and gardens. Other possibilities include wineries, rooftops, parks, and beaches. You can still go for a more traditional venue, of course. Mackey mentions several ways you can make a larger space feel more intimate: adding lounges, creative bars and food stations, or even extra-large tables. For expert help in selecting a site, A Perfect Wedding’s Kate Levy offers a detailed guide to scouting out potential locations.

Doing More With Your Décor

With a smaller wedding, flowers and decorations can go a long way. Martha Stewart Weddings’ Cassie Neiden points out that you don’t have to struggle to cram them into the budget as you would with a larger affair. With the extra financial wiggle room, you can choose more flowers, larger arrangements, or pricier blooms. The same goes for décor: You won’t have to skimp to save pennies, so you could create stunning looks that may not be possible on a more limited budget.

A Wider Range of Music Options

Neiden also mentions having additional options for entertainment, thanks to the extra room in your budget. The key is choosing an act that fits your wedding’s theme and vibe. Keep in mind that DJs can work well for smaller celebrations, and unless you plan on hiring a small chamber orchestra, live musicians are also a valid choice for an intimate nuptial celebration. The Knot’s Simone Hill discusses several do’s and don’ts of selecting music for the big day.

Splurging on What You Want

When you’re done choosing the basics, it’s time to add the finer details. You’re always in control of what you do and don’t include in your celebration, but a smaller wedding usually means more money to spend on stuff that matters to you. Instead of spending an exorbitant amount on your guestbook, for example, you could allocate those funds toward beefing up your bar, selecting a caterer committed to sustainable practices, or sending your guests home with exotic chocolate truffles as favors.

A smaller wedding has some unique perks, especially for couples who face tight budgets, want to keep things simple, or don’t feel like socializing with 100s of their (no-so) closest friends. Key advantages include more choices for venues and entertainment, greater freedom to experiment with décor, and the ability to spend money on what matters most to you. Just like any other nuptials, an organized planning approach plus smart budgeting and minding important details will help you create an event that matches your desires and vision.