Top 10 Rules to Invite Wedding Guests Photographer: Tara Winstead
Begin With A Master List
A master list is essentially a list of all the people you would consider inviting to your wedding. Master lists are like a brain dump; you note down every name that comes into your mind, regardless of what the final outcome of the guest list will be.
Master lists allow for complete freedom; you can list everyone on them, from your high school friends to the colleagues you rarely speak with. Don’t forget to note down the names of your distant relatives and anyone who was close to you in the past, too.
Before cutting down on numbers, have a serious conversation with your partner about how many people you would like to invite, and what their take on the matter is. If either party’s parents are paying for the wedding, they should be consulted, too. Even if finances are not an issue, it’s always a good move to consult each other’s families about the matter.
If you have shortlisted a few potential venues, decide on your guest list quantity accordingly; different venues can cater to a different number of guests, and it’s important to know the exact number beforehand.
Once you have an idea of how many people your wedding venue can cater to, shorten your master list accordingly.
Guest lists can get out of hand if not handled with care. A smart way to distribute the guest allotment is by splitting the maximum guest capacity three ways: 25% for your parents, 25% for your partner’s parents, and 50% for your fiancé and you.
For example, if your guest list consists of 200 people, allow your partner and yourself 100 seats, and allot 50 each to either parental party.
Once you know how many people you can afford to invite, start preparing a shortlist of all your guests. After further consideration, take down extra names from your guest list and finalize the names.
A Couple of Newlyweds Celebrating Wedding Day Photographer: Tara Winstead
Know Your Staples
We all have a group of individuals who we can’t imagine not having at our wedding. This includes close friends, family, and others we care deeply about. Be sure to include all of them on your final guest list!
All the Relatives Photographer: Nicole Michalou
Discuss Guests with your Fiancé
Is there someone who your partner knows and wants at the wedding, but said person makes you uncomfortable? Part of being married is respecting each other’s boundaries and being able to openly discuss such matters. So, if you feel like you need to discuss something of the sort with your partner, go right ahead!
Discuss Guests with your Fiancé Photographer: Flora Westbrook
Consider an Adults-Only Wedding
If your budget is tight, why not cut back on kids? There is no shame in having an adult-only wedding, especially if you’re tight on seating. If you feel like this is the way to go, discuss it with your partner, and see how they feel about it.
It may sound mean at first, but B-lists are the heroes you never knew you needed. B-list guests are all those who you’d like to see at your wedding but can’t invite due to a lack of resources.
Before creating a B-list, send out your regular invites to all those who made it to your official “final” list, better known as the A-list. Request your guests to confirm their attendance in advance; for every dropout, you can add on a person from your B-list.
You may be pressured by someone, like your parents, to invite people they want to the wedding, but your budget simply won’t allow for it. Such scenarios are hard to avoid and are bound to come up. The best way to deal with them is by talking to your parents, or whoever is pressuring you, about it. Remember, you are not obligated to invite people you simply cannot cater to don’t break your budget to accommodate extra guests!
