If you’re like most couples, finalizing your wedding guest list is probably one of the most stressful parts of wedding planning.
“Finalizing a guest list may be the most stressful part of wedding planning. You, your fiancé, and both sets of parents often have opinions about who should (and shouldn’t!) be invited on the big day. Cutting a guest can feel painful, but it’s unrealistic to think that your budget and venue can accommodate everyone” (marthastewart.com).
First, communication is ESSENTIAL! Sit with both sets of parents and your fiancé, and determine your budget and venue.
- Consider your venue capacity: Take into account how many people your venue can comfortably accommodate.
- Stick to a budget. Determining your budget, and sticking to it, is probably the most crucial factor in deciding who to invite and who to cut. Decide how much you’re willing to spend per person, and stick to it!
After determining how many guests you can accommodate, you can start making your guest list. Here are tips on how to begin:
- Start with immediate family members: This includes your parents, siblings, and grandparents. You may want to limit it to first cousins and up if you have a large extended family.
- Next, add close friends who are like family to you. These people have been there for you through thick and thin – they deserve a spot on your guest list!
- Now, take a look at your acquaintances list. Think about who you see regularly and who you would miss if they weren’t at your wedding. You may not be as close to these people, but you still want to invite them to your wedding.
- Finally, review your plus-ones. If you have any single friends or couples who always attend events together, make sure to include them on your guest list.
After you’ve gone through all of these categories, you should have a pretty good idea of who you want to invite to your wedding.
B-List Guests
You may also realize that you won’t be able to invite everyone you want to your wedding. That’s where your B-list comes in! These are the people who you want to invite but didn’t quite make the cut for your A-list. If any of your A-list guests decline your invitation or if you have any last-minute cancellations, you can always invite your B-list guests to take their place. Personally, we have been on the B-List and invited last minute, and it’s completely understandable. You shouldn’t feel guilty about this, as many couples do this.
Don’t forget to send out your invitations promptly! Giving yourself and your guests enough time to plan is essential for you to invite the B-List guests.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to invite everyone you know to your wedding. It’s perfectly acceptable to have a smaller, more intimate wedding. The most important thing is that you’re surrounded by the people who mean the most to you on your big day!
At Molto Bella Weddings and Events, let our experienced and knowledgeable staff take the stress out of decisions by offering you unique solutions to potential challenging circumstances.