7 Tips for Choosing Your Guestlist
Establishing the guestlist is one of the hardest parts of wedding planning. It’s also one of the places where bitterness between the families can start and spread. Don’t let that happen! Follow these guestlist tips.
Tip 1: Establish Numbers First
If you don’t know how many people you want to invite, it’s easy to have a surprising amount of creep in your guest list. Your parents will likely say, “If you invite so-and-so, then you have to invite so-and-so, too.” And then that means you have to invite someone else, too. It can get ridiculous. Set an upper bound before you start making the list. This also helps you stay on budget. This means you should prioritize finding a wedding venue above making the guestlist.
Tip 2: Establish That It’s the Bride and Groom’s Choice
Although you certainly want to get your family’s input, make sure that the families understand that this is your party, and you want to make sure that the people there are ones you think will help make for the best celebration. If your parents make determining the guestlist a condition of paying, maybe they shouldn’t pay.
Tip 3: Make Decisions Together
It’s best to bring your families together in making these decisions. That way no one feels left out of the process, and no one will be able to blame someone else if a particular person has their feelings hurt by not being invited.
Tip 4: Pick Even Numbers
Although you can’t guarantee who will show up, invite even numbers from both the bride’s and groom’s side. This not only helps the ceremony to look nice and balanced, it makes sure everyone feels the process is fair for all.
Tip 5: Don’t Invite People Just for Gifts
Some couples invite people they know can’t come just to try to get gifts. This is rude and should never be done.
Tip 6: Don’t Invite People Who Might Feel Obligated, but Burdened
An invitation should make people feel happy. If you know someone will feel like they have to come because they were invited, but will be burdened by the expense of travel or trying to fit it into their schedule, don’t send an invitation.