{"id":49255,"date":"2018-01-24T23:53:58","date_gmt":"2018-01-25T07:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/withjoy.com\/blog\/?p=49255"},"modified":"2023-10-16T13:23:52","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T20:23:52","slug":"getting-started-wedding-guest-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/withjoy.com\/blog\/getting-started-wedding-guest-list\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create the Perfect Wedding Guest List"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Let\u2019s face it \u2014 building your wedding guest list can be a stressful part of the wedding planning process. But without a doubt, it is one of the most crucial aspects to making your dream wedding come to life. The friends and family on your wedding guest list will shape the memories of your special day. Not sure where to start? We\u2019ve got you covered with a step-by-step tactical guide for creating the perfect wedding guest list<\/strong>. Follow this checklist <\/span>to get organized, be fair and stay on budget as you make your big day one to remember.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Make Lists<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n
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The best place to start when creating a wedding guest list is \u2026 with a list. Or several, to be exact. Making lists will help you tackle this seemingly daunting task<\/span>. You’ll gain clarity while calming those feelings of being overwhelmed. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To begin, start by writing down everyone you\u2019d like to invite \u2014 no holds barred. You might consider making two lists between you and your partner. Divide and conquer, then see where they overlap. Getting your parents\u2019 input may also be helpful if they\u2019re in the picture. They may be able to jog your memory about family members you need to include but may have forgotten. Plus, it never hurts to have an extra set of eyes this early on in the process<\/span>. And remember, this isn\u2019t the final wedding guest list. You can always make cuts. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, categorize your lists as a strategy to get organized. Consider placing potential guests into different buckets. For example, group them into categories such as immediate family, closest friends, colleagues, casual friends and distant relatives. By moving names into different categories, it will give you a better visual of how many prospective guests you\u2019re working with. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Prioritize Your Guests<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While prioritizing your loved ones can be difficult, it<\/span>‘s an absolutely vital step toward finalizing your wedding guest list. This is the time for you and your partner to sit down and have a candid discussion. Your goal is to get a crystal clear picture of who you must have at your wedding \u2014 and who you\u2019re still not entirely sure should be on the list.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Focus more on who you cannot imagine your wedding day without. These are the people who will be on the final list, no matter how many cuts need to be made. Think parents, siblings, best friends and your wedding party, for starters. Expand from there, as needed. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organizing your non-negotiable loved ones this way will provide a starting point for shaping your final wedding guest list. It\u2019s also important knowledge for making other decisions throughout the planning process. For example, you may be aiming for an intimate gathering but realize your list of non-negotiable guests is already 100 people long. In that case, you may need to shift gears toward a larger celebration. Creating this list of y<\/span>our nearest and dearest can give you a clearer picture of how big of a wedding venue you\u2019ll need and, ultimately, how many open spots are available for others.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this process, here\u2019s a tip for what <\/span>not <\/span><\/i>to do<\/span>: <\/span><\/i>Don\u2019t refer to them as your \u201cA-List.\u201d Trust us. While sometimes couples will extend last-minute invitations after the first round of regrets come in, creating any kind of secondary \u201cB-List\u201d could lead to unnecessary hurt feelings. At the end of the day, your goal is to create one list of people who will all receive invites to your wedding. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Account for Extras, Like Plus-Ones and Kids<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n
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With any wedding, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll need to account for extra people you didn\u2019t anticipate in your initial guest count. Close family members and friends often come as package deals, for example, so you\u2019ll need to remain a bit flexible on your seating chart. Whether that means your best friend\u2019s significant other or your Aunt Susan\u2019s kids, be prepared to add a few people to your final headcount. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Keep Etiquette in Mind<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After your group of must-include loved ones is set, you and your partner need to discuss the rest of the potential guests you wrote down in step one. Before you start cutting second and third cousins, however, it may help to get a refresher on wedding guest list best practices. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most importantly, be respectful as you craft your invite list. Remembering to be fair and kind when inviting certain people will go a long way toward avoiding hurt feelings. For example, if you invite one of your first cousins, typically all first cousins should be invited on that side of the family. That doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the other side of the family\u2019s cousins need to be invited, or even that your partner\u2019s cousins need to be included on the list. Also be mindful of any tension or family dynamics you need to navigate. Are any family members divorced or is anyone estranged? Make sure you\u2019re being sensitive and look to mitigate this with a strategic seating chart.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key to etiquette is to be consistent. That applies with everything from inviting kids to your plus-one policy. Speaking of kids, if you choose to have a child-free wedding, make this clear when extending the invitation. If etiquette is a concern, you can consider providing childcare options at your venue for those with young kids. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To avoid committing a wedding guest list faux pas, read our <\/span>extended guide<\/span><\/a> that features 10 dos and don\u2019ts for etiquette best practices. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 5: Establish Your Own Rules<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n
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While you should be fair and respectful of who to include (while keeping proper etiquette in mind), it\u2019s ultimately your special day. This is where establishing your own set of unique rules could prove to be very helpful. Create guidelines that work for your day and apply them across the board to your guests. You may not be able to make everyone happy, but as long as you\u2019re fair there\u2019s nothing to feel bad about. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every couple is different, but here are some examples of rules that address common scenarios in the process of creating a wedding guest list. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n