Wedding Planning

Wedding Guest List Etiquette, How To and Who To Invite Guide

If you are wondering about how to build your wedding guest list, pay attention to these tips. This task is rife with potential problems that are quite difficult to ignore or avoid.

Who would you miss the most if they were not present at your wedding?

So, before finding out how to build your wedding guest list, let’s go over a few fundamental questions. Keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers but they will help you define the kind of event that will make you the happiest and the size of your wedding guest list.

First, what is the most important goal of your wedding? Sharing with the people closest and most dear to you or celebrating with everybody that has ever grazed your life?

Second, have you decided on the wedding style? Are you planning a tiny and intimate event or a large one where everybody will be invited? How small is small and how big is big?

Third, and now be realistic, how many people do you have to invite? Will your parents also invite people, and if so, how many?

Fourth, know your guests. Will you have to invite a lot of plus ones for your single guests? Will children be allowed and if so, at what age will you make the cut? How many will be honorary guests (those that you will send an invite to but will not attend)? Are most of your guests local or will you have some coming from afar? How many do you really think will attend?

Finally, what’s you budget limit and have you decided how you want to spend it? Think if you’d rather have a wedding just like you dreamt about or if you are willing to sacrifice some things to feed a few more guests and add to the fun?

A must-have wedding photo you will want share with your wedding guest list, amiright?

How To Build Your Wedding Guest List The Traditional Way

Start by adding everybody that you know and would like to attend or feel an obligation to invite, be it family, friends, mentors, or any other acquaintances.
List all your family all the way down to your second cousins. Yes, even the ones who may not even attend. You may end up making them honorary guests and receive an invitation anyway. And you’ll need that count as well.
Next, start adding your closest friends. People you see often and they mean a lot to you.
Add your close colleagues, co-workers, clients and business associates to your wedding guest list. They will appreciate seeing you get married as they may have gotten to know you before you even met your spouse.
Think of other people who are a significant relationship in your life and add them to your wedding guest list.

Combine your list with your future spouse’s and your parent’s, if they get to invite people to the wedding as well. Now it’s time to trim your list down based on your budget and venue capacity.

Related Reading: Why you Should Consider Hiring a Day-Of Wedding Coordinator

What is the most important goal of your wedding? Sharing with the people closest and most dear to you? Or celebrating with everybody that has ever grazed your life?

Are you planning on printing fan programs? How many will you need?

Romantic vintage style bride and groom chairs. Unless you are throwing a super big bash and budget is no object, those plus ones that you have never met do not have to make it into your wedding guest list.