If you need help narrowing down your wedding guest list, don’t panic; we have some tips.
Putting together your wedding guest list is one of the first jobs on your checklist, usually before booking a venue. You’ll need to know rough numbers to visualize your budget and look for a venue that’s the right size.
It can seem fun at first– what could be bad about inviting everyone you love to celebrate your big day? But soon, you’ll start questioning things like who should sit next to whom and quickly send your planning into chaos. If you need help narrowing down your guest list, don’t panic; we have some tips.
Keep Your Budget in Mind
Unfortunately, guests are expensive. Remember, you must account for food and drinks for your guests—and more guests means more tables, chairs, dinnerware, etc. That’s why you must determine your wedding budget first. This way, you will know exactly how much space you can afford and, in turn, how many guests can fit in that space.
Write Down Everyone You Want to Invite
Yes, we mean everyone. Sometimes, you have to start big and narrow it down. Sit down with your partner and compile a list of everyone you would invite to your wedding if money and space were not a problem.
Start with immediate family and close friends and work outwards, including colleagues, classmates, and distant relatives. Then, narrow down further to acquaintances, their partners, children, and anyone else. This is the master list you will use to narrow down to the actual guest list.
Organize Your List
First, highlight your ‘top-tier’ guests. These people must be at your wedding, no expectations, such as your parents, grandparents, siblings, etc. Section your list into categories, like distant relatives, close friends, distant friends, immediate family, etc.
Make Some Cuts
This is one of the most challenging parts of creating a guest list. Cutting your guest list is okay, especially if it means staying within budget. If you don’t know where to start, here are some questions to ask yourself when editing your list:
- Can you imagine your wedding without this person there?
- Would you go to dinner or drinks with this person outside of your wedding day?
- Will it bring you joy to have this person at your wedding?
- How long has it been since you’ve seen or spoken to this person?
Stagger Your Invites
Your first draft of the final list probably won’t be the final revision. It is tradition to send your wedding invitations at least eight weeks in advance. When the RSVPs start coming in, you will probably get a handful of regretful nos.
Don’t worry; these things happen – and the good news is that you now have space to ask the people you wanted to but couldn’t include the first time around. Consult your original list and fill these spots.
HISTORIC OAKLAND MANOR: THE PERFECT WEDDING VENUE
Nestled in a peaceful wooded area in the heart of downtown Columbia, Historic Oakland Manor stands proudly in natural splendor. Elegant Oakland is the perfect setting for ceremonies, wedding receptions, bridal showers, holiday parties, family celebrations, business meetings, or retreats. Schedule a tour today with our expert venue coordinators! Please call (410-730-4801), email ([email protected]), or visit our chat on our homepage to book a tour appointment.
