Check out this guide to find out how to make a wedding guest list planning a breeze.
Creating a Budget-Friendly Guest List
In the US, the average wedding consists of around 167 guests and the cost-per-head can be anywhere between $91 – 365. What’s more, the number of guests you invite to your wedding can affect the cost of many different aspects of the day. As such, weddings with a large guest list can get expensive fast. Culling your guest list is often the most effective way of bringing down costs.
Organizing Your Guest List
It is much easier to manage a guest list that is well-organized. To keep your list neat and tidy, follow the following steps:
- Create a draft guest list on a spreadsheet with your partner
- Assign each name on the list a category to signify their importance. A-list guests will be non-negotiables (e.g. immediate family), B-listers will be quite important (e.g. friends), and those on the C-List will fall into the “nice to have” category.
- Arrange everyone into themed sub-groups. Some examples could include, “friends from school”, “work colleagues”, “distant family”.
- If you have gone over your maximum budgeted allowance, see if you can start the process of cutting guests.
How to Cut Guests
If you need to cut guests, it’s best to start the process by chatting with your partner about setting some firm rules. For example, don’t send an invite to anyone that you have never met nor heard of before. It’s also wise to remove groups as a whole from your list. This will prevent awkward questions like “why them and not me?” Remember, you can take advantage of the after-party to invite anyone who you couldn’t invite to the ceremony.
Common Wedding List Dilemmas
As you put together your guest list, you may be faced with a number of tough decisions. Deciding on these questions at the start of the process may save you a lot of time and hassle down the road. Some common wedding guest list dilemmas include:
- Whether or not you will invite the children of your guests?
- How many (if any) of your workmates will you invite?
- Will all guests get a plus-one or just a limited few?
- How many guests will your parents be allowed to invite?
Finding A Balance Between Savings & Sensitivity
The fact is that many couples can’t afford to invite everyone they know to their special day. Wedding guest list planning can be stressful because you have to be sensible about how much you’re spending while also being mindful of peoples’ feelings. In order to find the right balance, it’s essential to approach the process with diplomacy and tact.
Learn More
If you would like to learn more about how to create a wedding guest list, then you should certainly browse through the infographic below which comes from The Wedding Band Shop. This useful guide includes plenty of helpful information, including:
- Statistics about the average wedding sizes around the world
- Ideas on how to categorize your guest list
- The Etiquette of Inviting work colleagues, friends of parents, children, and plus-ones
- Advice on how to respond to people who can’t make it
- Recommendations on how to cut your guest list
