)Everything else is optional.

Of course, some things are more optional than others.

What matters is that you pick the right elements to keep to make you and your guests happy.

But more traditional (i.e., older) wedding guests will still want to give you something.

A tiny registry with medium-ticket items will make it clear that gifts are truly optional.

Theres a decent chance theyll be relieved they dont have to come.

Even at a large wedding, youll find yourself trimming the list.

Lifehacker has somegreat shortcuts for picking someone to cut.

For example, dont invite anyone you wouldnt take out to dinner.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen

Theres a good chance youre already skipping these.

And feel free to organize your own.

For example, my friends and I nerded out with a game of Dungeons & Dragons.

Consider a joint party.

Its also a great choice for couples who share a friend group.

All this goes for the bridal shower too.

A priest

If youre not religious, whom do you get to marry you?

You might want an authority figure or mentor from your life.

Maine even lets lawyers do it.Check your states rules.

Or maybe you just want to hire someone.

Search onWeddingWireorThe Knot, where officiants can cost anywhere from $100 to over $1,000.

You dont need any songs or poems or speeches.

Since our officiant was my wifes longtime friend, I had my closest friend give a brief speech.

Our ceremony was done in about fifteen minutes.

Assigned seats

For the reception, try assigning guests to tables, but not specific seats.

This is especially helpful when many of your attendees have overlapping friend groups.

Servers

Cut down on waitstaff by going buffet style.

Your guests will be fine ordering their own drinks.

Alcohol

If youre not comfortable with drinking, you dont owe your guests booze.

Guests who usually drink will be stressed out by a dry wedding, but theyll survive.

Just warn them ahead of time.

The Knot suggests you keep it interesting withmocktails and fun food options.

The mocktails are especially helpful for the friends who snuck in a flask.

Unless youre having an extremely quick and casual wedding, a cash bar is obnoxious.

If youre trying to save money, consider some other options.

Cake

Ive thrown away so much uneaten cake, says the wedding planner OCallaghan.

Couples are tending to got to less traditional desserts such as pudding shots, doughnuts, and pie.

None of this is necessary at a wedding.

You know what you like, and more importantly, you know what you dont like.

Make four playlists: Ceremony, Dinner, Dancing, and Last Song.

Overstuff the reception and dancing playlists, just in case.

Load them all on a laptop or iPad (Spotify lets you download playlists locally).

When its time to wrap the night up, switch on the Last Song.

If you do get a DJ or a band, remember toban all the bad songs.

No one but creepy uncles expects you to do this.

Dont do this bit unless every one of your single friends would actually want to.

Otherwise youre potentially forcing some woman to let a stranger grope her leg.

Flowers

Unless the venue is ugly, it doesnt actually need flowers.

Which is great, because once you say wedding to a florist, their prices magically inflate.

Youll want to see all your guests Instagram shots.

Give them a hashtag so you (and they) can see everything in one place.

Pick a simple, memorable hashtag.

Dont get too clever; you’re free to just combine both your last names.

Check that your tag is unique, so youre not trawling through every Instagram shot tagged #SmithWedding.

Find some generous way to thank them for this huge favor, and remember theyre a guest first.

Mason jars

These are the most high-maintenance way to imply youre low-maintenance.

You want to look chill and folksy?

Serve the wine in your assorted coffee mugs.

Yeah, didnt think so.

In short, everything at a wedding is optional, but each choice affects the others.

By skipping whats not important to you, you might spend more time on what is.