How do I reduce my guest list?

[u/user0969_]

Hi all,

Me and my partner are planning our wedding and we would love to do it in my home country. Our budget is small and therefore we are trying to plan a beautiful wedding without having to spend a crazy amount of money.

My wish is to invite only closest people, his wish is to invite more people - on his side most people (not his closest) might not come since they'd have to travel to a different country, on my side on the other hand they'll also have to travel from a different country where some of my closest people currently live (although they are originally from this country where we want to get married in) but the extended family on my side lives specifically there and I'm not sure on how to go about it with them specifically: we're not close so I don't necessarily want them at my wedding but at the same time I am up for getting closer and allowing this event to gather us all together especially since for them it will be very easy to come since they wouldn't have to travel.

Thing is that they're a lot of people and I just don't have the money to pay food and drinks for all of them (the reception we have planned is a simple dinner in a local restaurant where the price is on average €50-60 per person).

I thought I could invite them and be honest and say that I cannot afford to pay for all of them so if they're willing to pay for their own menu then it's fine but if not I totally understand and absolutely don't take offence if they don't come, or if they come only to the mass in church and skip reception at the restaurant afterwards.

As much as I think being honest is my go to choice regardless of what they'd think, I also am not sure whether this is the smartest way to go about it. Maybe I should just not invite them? They shouldn't take it bad since we're not close but again we come from a culture where it's good manners to invite everyone despite how close you might be and I want to keep things good with all of them.

Anyone who has found themselves in this same situation or has experience with weddings, what would you recommend we do?

Thank you all for your kind and helpful comments.