Wedding Cost

I and my boyfriend got engaged lately and planning to have a wedding.
Due to budget, we cannot afford a big wedding; we areplanning to have a small wedding with direct family members and close friends.
The problem is, we live in the middle point of both parents and frinends.
We decided to do so when we sarted to take our relationship seriously for fairness.
So now the question is are we supposed to pay for the traveling costs for the guests coming to our wedding?
If we did, it’s gonna cost more than the wedding itself. It is going to be $400 per guest at least.
Honestly, we cannot afford it.
Should we still manage to pay for those or how can we tell them about tavel costs?
Everybody know we are on tight budget and show understanding,
but some people still asking us if we are paying for the flights.
How to deal with it? Maybe we just shouldn’t have wedding at all?
Any suggestions or ideas appreciated.

I absolutely do not think that you should have to pay for your guests’ transportation to your wedding. I have only really heard of very wealthy families doing that.

I am from IL and come from a mid-class family. None of my family members have ever paid our transportation to a wedding for their son or daughter. My parents have traveled as far as Boston and Idaho for nieces and nephews weddings on their own dime.

Honestly, I think it is a lot to ask for you to pay the travel expenses of others. A lot of people where I am from won’t even pay for an open bar, let alone travel. You should not have to begin your married life with a buttload of debt.

Hopefully, some of them can ride together and share expenses.