Your guest list is probably the most important part of your wedding after your fiance and wedding dress. And why not? After all, it includes the name of every person in the world that you want to share the most important day of your life with.
However, making your guest list doesn’t have to be stressful at all. Start early, get organized and don’t feel bound or overwhelmed. After all, it is your big day and you get to decide whom you want to celebrate with.
Here are 7 essential tips to tackle your guest list guilt free and sans drama!
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Table of Contents
1. Prioritize Your List
When creating your list, start by writing the names of every person you’d want to see at your wedding, irrespective of the budget and venue. Then, start dividing the guests into two lists- the first one is your “A” list and comprises of people that you cannot imagine having a wedding without, like your close friends and family The second list is made up of guests you’d still like to see at the wedding, like your distant family or co-workers. This might seem harsh but you’ll have to prioritize the people in your life.
2. Get Organized
Guest lists include a lot of information and can get lengthy so make sure you create a separate sheet to keep everything organized. It can serve as more than just a head count- use it to store addresses, track the save the dates you sent out, the gifts you received, and manage RSVPs. Colour code everything to have a visual reference for each group so that you don’t miss out on any detail.
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3. Set A Boundary
The venue decides your maximum capacity and your budget can give a realistic picture of how many people you should invite to the wedding. However, a venue at full capacity can be too much, so start by keeping your number on the conservative side and if you find that your venue or budget offers room for more, you can always add later on.
4. Don’t Let Your Parents Wear You Down
Your parents and your in-laws will have their own requests when it comes to the guest list, especially if they’re involved in the planning process. The best way to handle this situation is to sit down and discuss it in advance so that there are no surprises later on. Traditionally, the couple gets half the guest list, and each set of parents gets a quarter of the guest list but you can adjust it to suit your needs.
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5. Be Minimal With Your Invites
While sending out invites, remember that both sides of the family don’t have to be treated the same. For example, if your fiance invites his second cousins, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to. It’s best to treat each side of the family according to closeness and family ties. Also, avoid inviting guests by association, if he/she is not your friend/family, they don’t get an invite.
6. Filter The Plus Ones
Clearly, everyone would love to bring a date to the wedding. If your friend/family has been with his/her significant other for more than 6 months and you have met them before, it is a good idea to include them in the guest list. However, if the couple is fairly new, it’s best to leave them out. If you don’t want your solo friends to feel awkward or lonely, organize a singles table for them to mingle and stay occupied.
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7. Be Open And Honest
It is completely okay to be honest and explain that while you want to celebrate with everybody, you’re limited to the number of guests you can invite. You want to make sure you’re sending the right signals and while you don’t want to hurt any feelings, you want your point of view to be heard and understood.
Ensure that your guest list includes everyone that needs to be on it. Then, make sure your review it before you send out any invites so that you don’t miss out anybody important. Good luck!
