Tips for Creating the Guest List

Weddings can turn seemingly normal people into rabid, irrational people. Although your wedding is your day to shine, it is common knowledge that wedding planning can cause a ripple effect of crazy to hit everyone. Take the guest list for example, you may very well step on some toes if you don’t invite your cousin Mary’s, babysitter’s best friend from college if you decide to leave out someone a bit closer in the family tree. Yet, there are ways to limit the guest list without becoming persona non grata during family functions for the rest of your lives.

Before you make the guest list, or even start shopping for THE dress to end all dresses, know what kind of wedding you want (venue, number of guests, budget, etc.). Knowing the kind of wedding you want will be a big help when you start deciding the guest list. You may have the funds to have a big blowout with 50 people or a more sedate affair with 150 people, it is all up to what you and your fiancé want. Otherwise, you may end up with a list of 200 guests when you have a venue that can only hold 75.

Next, make a list of your family and friends that should be at the wedding, at all costs. This is the time for the people who have been there with you from the beginning to see you completely happy and fulfilled. The rules generally state bride, groom and parents’ family and friends. If possible try to make it an even number from those groups in order to make everyone comfortable.

Once the master guest list is assembled, select the number of guests that absolutely must be at the wedding. These guests will be Group A and the other guests will be Group B. Then, fill any additional seats with the guests from Group B and voila, you’re done!

Quick Recap

1. Decide what kind of wedding you want before you make the guest list.

2. Have your groom and parents make a list of people that they want at the wedding along with your list.

3. Start selecting the Group A guests and then add Group B’s guests to round out the list.

4. Send out invitations!

See, once you figure out the general framework of your wedding you will be good to go. Follow this system and you will breeze through with minimum stress and discomfort. Save your energy though because you will need to carb load and increase strength training for the event known as the arranging of the seating. Don’t worry though as it is all worth it in the end.

Posted by Anna K.