Ah, the wedding guest list – possibly the most stressful part of wedding planning, and that’s even before you start on the seating plan! Between friends, family, family friends, co-workers and unexpected plus ones, your guest list can very easily spiral out of control. If you think your guest list is on the verge of driving you crazy we’ve come up with five ways to keep it in check, and keep your blood pressure down!
Image via weddingbee.com
With two families wanting their fair share of input, the guest list can be a real source of tension, so it’s time to take control and dampen any fires that could potentially break out.
1. Consider your budget and dream venue.
If you have found your dream venue and it can only cater for, let’s say 150 guests, right there you have your magic number. Take away the number in your bridal party and that will give you a clear number of guests you can invite. Also, if you are planning on being the perfect bride who sets and sticks to a budget, do these sums work out? If not, it’s time to get the red pen out and really be brutal with your potential guest list.
2. Put guests in categories.
Divide your potential guests into different categories, such as immediate family, extended family, family friends, kids, workmates etc. Armed with both your lists you could cut entire categories if they are way down the list! Would it be easier to invite all co-workers to the afters? Do you want a kids free zone?
3. Split your guest list allocation fairly.
With two families each wanting their fair share and remembering you have to include mutual friends of both you and your other half working out a ratio for each set of families and your own mutual friends will keep it fair.
4. The plus-one option.
Usually couples choose to give plus-ones to anyone who is married, engaged, in a long term relationship, and anyone in your bridal party. You should decide if you want the plus one option to extend out further to that.
5. Are they in your ‘now’?
If you haven’t seen or spoken to your cousin since you were both little nippers, do they really need to be at your wedding? Set a time frame, e.g. if you haven’t had any contact within the past year or 2 consider them off your list.
Here’s a straight forward flow chart we came across to help you decide who to invite.
Helpful? It can be hard to cut your guest list but try to not think of it personally, you’ve a budget to stick to / dream venue to fill! Did you have a rather large list to cut? Let us know in the comment section below…
