Creating a wedding guest list is part of the wedding planning process. Deciding between your second cousin twice removed and your partner’s ex stepbrother from another marriage with a limited budget can create some challenges. These tips for creating a wedding guest list will help you make some important decisions.
The Wedding Party
The wedding party should come first. They must attend the wedding and they have heads to count. You will need to include them on the list for seating and catering. The wedding party is central to your ceremony. Before you start creating a wedding guest list, make sure that you have accounted for this essential category that will ultimately reduce your total guest count. You might also need to add their partners and children to the list.
Family on the Wedding Guest List
Family is also at the very top of the wedding guest list. Always begin with your innermost circle, and then work your way towards distant family members and friends. The wedding guest list usually begins with parents, followed by siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. If there is room in your budget, you can expand your list to include distant family.
Close Friends
As you can imagine, close friends are next to family when it comes to a wedding guest list. This list can be a little easier to create, considering they must be in your life on the regular to make the list. If you go months without hearing from them, they are not in this category.
Professional Friends
We acquire close friends in the workplace. Coworkers, mentors and close connections from your professional life might find a place on the wedding guest list. If your budget is small, you might consider only inviting very close friends from work, instead of the entire office. This list usually includes important people in your life that are closely related to projects that you work with.
Challenges of Creating a Wedding Guest List
One of the most challenging parts of creating a wedding guest list is understanding that the guest count must be divided by two, the groom’s side and the bride’s side. The general rule is to try and allot the same number of guests for the groom as for the bride. Also, each guest that you invite will naturally bring a date. That doubles your guest count. If you are allowing children at your wedding, you will need to add space for the children. This can create an unequal count when thinking in terms of adults. The wedding guest count can grow quickly. To keep within budget, begin with your inner circle.
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