{"id":10051,"date":"2021-08-01T20:16:49","date_gmt":"2021-08-02T01:16:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenvelope.com\/blog\/?p=10051"},"modified":"2021-08-01T20:20:56","modified_gmt":"2021-08-02T01:20:56","slug":"wedding-guest-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenvelope.com\/blog\/wedding-guest-list","title":{"rendered":"A Stress-Free Guide to Creating Your Ultimate Wedding Guest List"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Wedding planning can be a fun experience, but nailing down the guest list is often one of the most stressful parts. There\u2019s pressure to avoid offending parents, friends, and family. Plus, you\u2019re trying to invite people you love while also staying within your budget.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While it can be easy to put off the task to another day, you can\u2019t avoid it forever. Having a solid guest list means you can move forward with catering, choose a wedding venue, and design a seating chart. If you avoid making a guest list, you\u2019ll just be delaying your wedding <\/span>planning process<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 and you may create problems for yourself down the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

If the idea of making a wedding guest list has you stressed out, worry no more. We\u2019ve put together this guide to help you create a wedding guest list without the pressure. You\u2019ll learn how to create your list of invitees and discover tips on how to trim the list when necessary. Plus, you\u2019ll see some <\/span>wedding invitation<\/strong><\/span><\/a> designs to inspire your next step in the planning process. Here we go!<\/span><\/p>\n

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What to Consider Before Making the List<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Creating a wedding guest list isn\u2019t just about putting names on paper. It involves some thought and consideration both for the people you\u2019re inviting and for yourselves. If your parents or in-laws are paying for the wedding, consider involving them in the process. They don’t need to have the final say \u2014 it\u2019s <\/span>your <\/span><\/i>special day, after all \u2014 but it\u2019s courteous to consult them on the final wedding guest list.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A common challenge to drafting your dream guest list is your real-life budget. Before you even think about who you\u2019re inviting, it\u2019s a good idea to come up with a <\/span>wedding budget<\/a><\/strong>. This will dictate how many people you can invite and where you can host the wedding. Once you set your budget, you can figure out the number of people you can invite to the big day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Deduct any non-guest-related costs from your budget. This includes things like your wedding dress, photographer, and officiant. Talk to the wedding venue and get a rough per-person cost. Based on that number, you can get a general idea of how many guests you can afford at your wedding.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not just about how many people you <\/span>can<\/span><\/i> invite \u2014 it\u2019s about how many people you <\/span>want <\/span><\/i>to invite. Even if you can invite 700 people, you may not want that many people to attend. The larger the guest list, the less time you\u2019ll be able to spend with each guest, so keep this in mind when planning too.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also want to consider if you want to allow guests to bring a plus one. Plus ones are a great way to make single guests feel more comfortable at a wedding where they may not know many people. But plus ones can also get out of control easily. If you\u2019re going to allow plus ones, leave a buffer in the number of guests you\u2019re inviting to ensure you don\u2019t go over.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Create a Wedding Guest List<\/b><\/h2>\n

To get a general idea of how many people you\u2019d like to invite, it\u2019s time to put pen to paper. (Or fingers to computer.) Follow these steps to create a wedding guest list without stress.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Choose a Tool to Create a Wedding Guest List<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Design: frau brandt<\/p><\/div>\n

The first step is to draft a preliminary wedding guest list. You can create a list in a tool like Google Sheets or Excel, or you can use a wedding guest list template or wedding guest list manager tool from your wedding website or wedding planner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also write down the list by hand if that\u2019s more your thing. Just keep in mind that electronic guest lists are easier to share with parents and anyone else who will have input about the list. They can make suggestions rather than changes so you always know if someone was cut or added to the list.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Make an A-list<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Design: M. Taylor Design Co.<\/p><\/div>\n

Many couples choose to create an A-list and a B-list (more on the B-list in a moment). The A-list consists of non-negotiable or essential guests \u2014 think both sets of parents, immediate family members, close friends, and the wedding party. Make a list of all your BFFs, immediate family, and close friends who you absolutely want to invite. You can also expand to extended family and friends if you\u2019re hosting an event larger than a <\/span>minimony<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

If someone is paying for your wedding or sharing in hosting duties, make sure to ask if they have any priority guests. Include these guests on the A-list and make sure to include their significant others if you\u2019re inviting them as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Create a B-List<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Design: Jessica Williams<\/p><\/div>\n

The B-list is a secondary list of guests you\u2019d like to attend, but who didn\u2019t make the first cut. Typically, couples will send the first round of <\/span>invitations<\/a><\/strong> to the A-list guests about 10 to 12 weeks before the special day with an early RSVP date. For a <\/span>destination<\/strong> wedding<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, you\u2019ll want to send the first round out at least 6 months before the wedding day to give guests ample time to plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

If guests from the first list cannot attend or decline the RSVP, you can send out invitations to people on the B-list. You don\u2019t want guests to know that they didn\u2019t make the first list, so you don\u2019t want to send these out too late. Send them out a month or two after the A-list. You can start sending them as soon as you receive declined RSVPs from the A-list group, working one by one to avoid exceeding your headcount.<\/span><\/p>\n

The B-list can consist of extended family members as well as coworkers. Remember, you still want to stay within your original guest count so you may not be able to send invites to everyone on your B-list. Try to prioritize the list by putting the most important guests at the top of the list. As you receive declined RSVPs from the A-list, you can work your way down the B-list, sending invites to other potential guests.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Address Plus-Ones<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Design: Robinson Creative House (photo courtesy of Julia Kinnunen Photography)<\/p><\/div>\n

Once you have a general idea of your essential guest list, you can decide if you want to allow plus ones. It doesn\u2019t have to be an either-or proposition. You can choose to let everyone have a plus one or you can allow plus ones only for couples in relationships. This is also a good time to decide if your wedding will be kid-friendly. If you want to limit the number of guests attending, you can make it an adults-only wedding or make exceptions for newborns.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Manage Expectations<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Design: Signature Greenvelope<\/p><\/div>\n

If someone\u2019s helping you pay for the wedding, they may have an opinion on the guest list. This can often make the process tricky since you\u2019re trying to plan your special day while appeasing others who are supporting you financially.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be afraid to set boundaries and manage expectations. If you find that you disagree on the guest list, there are a few ways you can solve the dispute. For starters, present a united front. That means getting on the same page with your future spouse and talking to the other decision-makers together. Be firm yet kind if there\u2019s a disagreement and make sure to express your appreciation for their input and contributions.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Do a Final Number Check<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Design: Shiny Penny Studio<\/p><\/div>\n

Compare the final lists (if you and other decision-makers are making separate lists) and make the final draft of your wedding guest list. Go over the list to make sure no one was left out accidentally. Conduct a final count to ensure you\u2019re within your maximum number of desired guests.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Stick to Your Maximum Number of Guests<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Design: Lissa Anglin<\/p><\/div>\n

It can be tempting to simply invite everyone on the first version of your list \u2014 particularly if other decision-makers are having a hard time trimming it down. But it\u2019s crucial to stay below your maximum number of guests. Doing so will help you stay in control of your budget and the flow of your wedding day. If you find that you\u2019re about to go over your maximum number of guests, go back to the drawing board and see where you can cut the list.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tips for Trimming Your Wedding Guest List<\/b><\/h2>\n

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The fact is, most couples will need to trim their guest list. Budgetary constraints and a desire to have fewer people at the wedding will dictate how many people you will invite. Don\u2019t freak out if you’ve exceeded your number when drafting the lists above.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some ways you can <\/span>trim your guest list<\/a><\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n