Wedding Guests: How to Choose Who to Invite

Decide on a guest list size

Before you start making a list of wedding guests to invite, it's important to determine the size of your guest list. Consider the size of your venue, the size of your budget, and the amount of time and energy you’ll have to devote to hosting your wedding guests. Once you’ve determined a size for your guest list, you can start making a list of the people you definitely want to invite.

When deciding on your guest list size, keep in mind that it’s impossible to please everyone. It’s important to consider who you really want to be at your wedding, and make sure they are on your list.

You should also consider who you don’t want to invite – exes, distant relatives, or wedding guests that might cause drama or discomfort on your special day. It’s also important to remember that if your list is too long, it can be hard to keep track of everyone, which could lead to some guests feeling neglected or unimportant. Take all these factors into consideration when determining your guest list size.

Consider who you absolutely must invite

When it comes to planning a wedding, it can be difficult to decide who to invite. There are certain people who must be invited – family members, close friends, and anyone else with a special relationship to the couple getting married. These people should be at the top of your list, as leaving them out of your wedding could cause hurt feelings and tension in the family.

Once you have taken care of the people that absolutely must be invited, you can move on to deciding who else you want to invite. Start by making a list of those people that you want to invite, but that don’t fall into the “must invite” category. Think of distant family members, co-workers, acquaintances and others that you want to share your wedding with. Be sure to take into consideration the wedding budget when making this list, as having too many wedding guests you don’t want to invite can easily exceed the budget.

By considering who you absolutely must invite, as well as taking into account your budget, you will have a better idea of how large your guest list can be. This will make the process of inviting the right people to your wedding much easier.

Make a list of people you would like to invite

When deciding who to invite to your wedding, you may have a lot of people in mind. Create a list of all the people you would like to invite to your wedding. This should include family members, friends, co-workers, and other important people in your life. As you’re compiling this list, try not to let yourself get overwhelmed or allow yourself to be pressured by anyone else’s opinion. This is YOUR wedding, so make sure to include only the people that you truly want to be there on your special day.

At the same time, make sure to keep an eye out for wedding guests you don’t want to invite. If there are any people in your life that you would prefer not to have at your wedding, make sure to leave them off your list. It’s important to remember that your wedding day should be a happy and stress-free day for you and your partner, so if there are any guests who may cause unnecessary drama, it may be best to avoid inviting them.

Determine how many people from each category you can invite

Once you have the list of people you would like to invite, it is time to determine how many people from each category you can realistically invite. While it can be tempting to try and invite everyone you know, this can often lead to overwhelming guest lists. Start by deciding on a number that is appropriate for your budget and venue space.

Next, it is important to be honest with yourself about the wedding guests you don’t want to invite. This can include anyone from distant family members to old coworkers. It is okay to draw a line somewhere and not feel obligated to invite everyone you know.

Once you have the necessary numbers in mind, start creating subcategories of the people you want to invite. For example, list all of your closest friends, extended family members, coworkers, or other acquaintances. Estimate how many people from each group will be attending and then adjust your numbers as needed. This will help you keep track of your overall guest list size and make sure that you don’t go over your budget or venue limits.

Trim your list down to a manageable size

When deciding who to invite to your wedding, you may find yourself with more names than you can comfortably accommodate. If this is the case, it's time to trim your list down to a more manageable size.

Start by looking over your list and removing any names that you don't really need to invite. This could be an old coworker you haven't spoken to in years, or a distant relative you're not particularly close to. Depending on your budget, you may also want to consider eliminating guests who live far away or whom you would have to cover for travel expenses.

Next, consider which of your wedding guests you don't want to invite. This could include ex-partners, old flames, or anyone else whose presence at the wedding might make you or your partner uncomfortable. Once you’ve removed these people from your list, you can begin to trim down the rest of your guest list to something more manageable.

Finally, if there are still too many people on your list, try considering ways to reduce it further. You could remove guests who don't know anyone else in the wedding party, or ask your families to come up with alternative ways to celebrate.

By taking the time to trim down your list of wedding guests, you can ensure that your big day is filled with only the people who matter most to you.

Send out invitations

Once you have your final guest list in place, it's time to send out the invitations. Make sure to include the location, date, and time of the wedding on all of the invitations. You'll also want to include information about any events that will be taking place leading up to or after the wedding.

When it comes to sending out your invitations, think carefully about which wedding guests you don't want to invite. Although it may be tempting to invite everyone, be aware that some guests may cause problems or take away from the overall atmosphere of your wedding.

When you're sending out your invitations, make sure to check off each person's name from your master list as you go. This way, you won't accidentally double-invite someone or forget anyone. Be sure to give your guests plenty of time to RSVP so you can make any necessary arrangements for their attendance.