No one is attending our vow renewal - any encouraging words?

I'm sorry you're feeling this way! Travel weddings are so hard nowadays. But just go through with it!! Whoever shows up.. will show up! And make it that much more special. You can make it a nice little let loose party night with your close friends without having to feel nervous uptight about so many guests. you've made it this far

More intimate weddings have actually become very popular post-covid. Chances are, if all 100 guests you wanted had attended, your time with each would have been limited. Now you can really get some quality time in with your guests throughout your wedding, which will be so appreciated especially if some of them are traveling far and you rarely get to see them. If you had the budget for 100 people and now only have 30, consider adding some elements that you never would have dreamed of doing before! This can be something for just you and FH to indulge in (like some kind of fun transportation for a staged exit or a special photo shoot), or upping the quality of the dinner at your reception (like adding a lobster tail, some fun food stations, or a high-end champagne). Or, just celebrate going into your marriage with a healthier savings account, which is a blessing in and of itself!

We see this a lot here, so you're not alone. Destination weddings can be problematic for just this reason, and can end up in hurt feelings. I would focus on the people that will make it, and have an amazing experience!

We ended up with about 47 people total and let me tell you...it was the best night of my life. As an introvert I think having such an intimate group meant we all felt more relaxed to just be ourselves and have fun!! It felt less like a stiff/formal event and more just like the best party any of us had ever been to. It was indescribably amazing and I have spent the last week reliving it over and over again. Trust me- your event will STILL be special...and maybe even moreso because you'll know that every single person there really REALLY wanted to be there

I agree with everyone who advised to enjoy yourselves and the guests who really want to celebrate with you! Don't worry about the ones that don't come - if their lives or relationships with you have changed, then let them go with love. Enjoy your celebration, make it special, and as someone mentioned, be happy about the money you don't spend - use it to have a honeymoon, buy a house, or whatever. Personally, although I enjoy attending big weddings, hubby and I had a small but lovely wedding 38 years ago - we had a simple morning church ceremony -I wore a gown, he wore "morning clothes", we had a MOH and BM We had a champagne, hors d'oeuvres, wedding cake & coffee reception in the adjacent church hall for whomever attended the ceremony. That evening, there were 12 of us family and close friends for a wedding dinner at an elegant restaurant nearby. This year, we're having a Catholic "convalidation" wedding ceremony at my church, again, small, simple - a ceremony during a regular Sunday morning Mass (I'm wearing a cream lace ensemble, he's wearing a formal black suit, white dress shirt, nice tie). Our son is BM, my dearest friend, also the church organist, is MOH. Later in the day is our wedding dinner with 8 of us (MOH and her hubby who are the hosts, our son, his 2 kids and the priest), complete with a wedding cake topped by our original Precious Moments figurine. Then hubby and I will have the honeymoon we never had (we bought a house then had our son). Have a great day, best of luck to you! Years later, when you remember your wedding day, and enjoy the photos, you won't even remember who wasn't there.