Small weddings are not cheap weddings

Halving your guest list does not halve your budget, and the reason is that most of a venue's cost is fixed.

The hall costs what it costs

Hire, staff, power, security and setup are the same for 120 guests as for 400. Only catering scales cleanly.

Per-head cost goes up, not down

A ₹1,50,000 hall over 400 guests is ₹375 a head. Over 120 it is ₹1,250. Small weddings feel expensive per person because they are.

What to do instead

Look for venues sized for you. A 150-capacity terrace priced at ₹40,000 beats a 600-capacity ballroom discounted to ₹90,000, and it will look better in photographs because it will not be three-quarters empty.

Where to spend the difference

Food and photography. At 120 guests you can afford both properly, which at 400 you usually cannot.