How Many Wedding Guests Is Normal?

Congratulations are in order for singer Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner, who tied the knot in Old Marylebone Town Hall over the weekend.

Per The Sun, the “intimate” ceremony involved just eight guests and was followed by a small dinner.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Nikita Thorne, a wedding planning expert at Guides for Brides, said the Future Nostalgia singer’s low-key nuptials are part of a controversial “shift”.

“Since Covid, we’ve definitely seen a shift towards smaller, more intentional weddings,” Thorne told us.

“During the pandemic, couples were forced to strip weddings back, and for many people, I think that encouraged them to focus more on what genuinely mattered to them… Chic city weddings, private ceremonies and smaller guest lists are now often viewed as aspirational and stylish rather than a compromise.”

In 2025, The Economist wrote, town hall weddings in London’s popular Old Marylebone and Islington venues jumped 29% and 51% respectively.

No matter the venue, the expert said, guest lists seem to be shrinking.

“Currently, we are seeing a significant increase in couples only inviting those with whom they have a direct relationship, often leading to them excluding plus-ones, even when it’s a long-term partner of the guest invited,” Thorne shared.

“This is causing a lot of controversy, but from the couple’s point of view, [it] is understandable if they want the most stress-free wedding surrounded by those who know them well.”

When I asked Thorne if she recommended an upper limit for wedding guests, she said it really depends on the couple.

“Some couples genuinely love the atmosphere and energy of a big wedding. On one hand, larger weddings naturally come with more hosting responsibilities and cost,” she said.

But “smaller weddings can feel more pressured as each guest has more time to spend with you,” too.

Some couples like the combination of a low-key ceremony followed by a more buzzy party (as with Charli XCX, whose wedding was also a town hall do, Dua Lipa and Callum Turner are rumoured to be planning a huge Italian bash later on).

“Be intentional with your guest list,” Thorne said.

“You want to feel relaxed, comfortable and genuinely happy with the people surrounding you on the day.”