DECIDING ON YOUR WEDDING GUEST LIST

Basic rules before you send out the invitations

DECIDING on a guest list for a wedding can be a daunting experience.

Do you invite that second cousin you last saw when you were 10 years old? What about your best friend’s sister’s boyfriend?

Whether you are inviting 30 people to your big day or 300, deciding on who to invite can be hard.

Before you begin sending out invitations, sit down with your partner and discuss some basic rules about the guest list.

Certain rules could include people you have not seen or had constant contact with in more than three years or no family friends you have not seen or spoken to in more than five years.

Here are some tips on coming up with your guest list: Set a rough limit: How many people would you like to have at your wedding?

Would you like it to be a small, intimate ceremony with about 20 people or a much larger event with 200 guests? Starting with a rough number, which can change, is good for both budgeting purposes and deciding who to invite. Setting a limit can also help with pressure from parents and family members wanting to invite other guests.

Write down a list of everyone you must have.

Decide whether guests can bring a guest.

What about children? Just like people bringing a guest, should you allow children at your wedding? And if it is a child-friendly event, how do you decide which ones?

What about co-workers? Your team has probably been subjected to conversations about your wedding for some time. In this case, it’s probably best to invite your entire team.