Creating your guest list is one of the more
time-consuming and challenging parts of planning your wedding. You can’t forget
any of your immediate family members or closest friends and have to know what
the budget will cover. Consider the tips below to stay on track and not get
overwhelmed when making the guest list.
Know
Your Venue
Begin by laying out a set budget for your
wedding. This figure is going to directly impact how many people you can invite
to your special day. The budget goes hand in hand with having your venue booked
as well. The site you choose will articulate the maximum capacity that it will
hold. From this information, you will know precisely how many people you can
invite and how much money it will cost. The venue cannot add space, and there
are things to consider such as fire regulations. This will be an excellent
place to start knowing the exact number you cannot exceed.
Wedding
Style
Once you know the venue, you will be able to
dive deep into how the atmosphere of your wedding will be. Is it mainly
outside? Is there limited space? Is it more elegant or casual? Answering these
questions will set you up to better understand the lengths of your guest list. One thing that can
influence the style you’re aiming for is whether or not you choose to have an
adult-only wedding. This is a tough decision to make. However, let your
invitation break the news about excluding children. This can also help cut down
on costs!
Immediate
Family
If you have a big family, choosing who to
include and who to leave out is a difficult task. Depending on the size of the
venue and your budget, you might be able to invite everyone. If you can’t,
consider who is the closest to you and your significant other. Each of your
parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, great grandparents, and first cousins
should be the bulk of your list. If it’s adult-only, some first cousins might
be cut out here. This will make more room for a second or third cousin you’re
close to. Family is a hard category to exclude people from, discussing this
with your parents might help.
Friends
The category of friends can be a tricky area,
too. It is all too common to feel compelled to invite a friend who invited you
to their wedding. This does not have to be the case. Really think about when the last time you
spoke with them was. If it has been over a year, don’t feel obligated to invite
them. Life changes and relationships do, too. That is OK! Pick friends that you
are the closest with right now and can’t imagine your special day without.
Plus
Ones
Do you have to give everyone a plus one? No.
When looking at your guest list, you should have a good idea of who has a
significant other in their life. If it is unclear or they are in a new
relationship, it is alright to extend only a single invitation. You can even
decide to only give a plus one to couples who are married, engaged, or living
with their significant other.
Seating
Chart
Once you have gone through all of the tough
decisions, you should be left with a final polished guest list. From here,
invitations should be sent about two to three months before the wedding. If you
send them any sooner, people will forget. You want there to be enough time for people
to get the invitations, make a decision, and then RSVP in a timely manner. Once
you have the final list, creating the seating chart is next. Seating charts add
a decorative element to the wedding reception. One idea that goes with any
theme is using mini picture frames to direct guests to their
table. Get paper that goes with the theme and either type or handwrite the
names of each guest and their designated table number. Each guest will retrieve
their individual frame in order to find their seat.
Favors
When you have your final headcount, you now
know how many favors you need, too. There are many different directions you can
go with favors. The options are endless and can coincide with any theme. Think
about using succulents. Not only are they a great favor, but they can also
double as a seating guide! There could be one for each guest with a label
attached that states their name and table number. If you want a separate favor,
some ideas include DIY candles, s’ mores kits, or little jars of honey.
Start thinking about the guest list as soon as
possible. It will inevitably take some time to complete and weigh your options.
You want the people who are closest to you and your significant other to attend
your wedding. It is a day to celebrate the love you share for each other, and
having your closest friends and family there to share it with you will make it
all the more special. Planning a wedding isn’t easy, start early to make everything
exactly how you wish it to be. Find more on the top tips for planning your
wedding here.
