Arguably one of the hardest parts of planning your big day is creating your wedding guest list. Who should you invite? Who can you skip? Are you inviting kids , or no? There’s a lot to think about—let these steps guide you in crafting the perfect guest list for your celebration.
Step One: Start Big
The best place to begin your wedding guest list is writing down every single person that comes to mind—and having your partner do the same. Seriously, we mean everyone you’d even consider inviting to your wedding. If that includes the mail carrier, put them on the list! These lists will serve as your foundation and can be lengthened and shortened as needed.
Step Two: Determine Your VIPs
The next step to creating your perfect wedding guest list is to determine your must-haves. These are the people (outside of your wedding party, of course) that you absolutely cannot fathom getting married without! This can include immediate family, close cousins, and your childhood besties. Highlight them to ensure their spot—on this and every version of your list to come!
To take this a step further, you can categorize your mega-lists into three categories:
- Must-Haves/VIPs/Can’t-Get-Married-Withouts
- Would-Love-to-Haves
- Nice-to-Haves/Maybes
The first two are the main priorities, and the third is exactly as it sounds—these guests would be nice to have at your wedding, but if space or budget doesn’t allow, they’ll be the first to go. (Not that you don’t still love them, of course!)
Step Three: Follow the Golden Rule
Next, look at the people on your Maybe list and ask yourself one thing: How would you feel if you were left off their wedding guest list? If the answer is “pretty bad,” put them on the list! Or conversely if you’d understand not being invited, we’re sure they will too.
Step Four: Consider Your Budget
As mentioned before, your budget may limit the number of invites you send. Take time to think about how many guests you can realistically afford. Determining your budget, creating your guest list, and booking your venue all go hand in hand. Your budget will factor in your venue, and your venue will need an estimated head count to see what accommodations you’ll need—then you’ll most likely pay by head for catering and bar services. (Which is why keeping track of those RSVPs is so important!).
If your budget is on the lower end or you’re trying to keep it intimate, maybe it’s just the Tier One guests that get a save the date, or you limit plus-ones to include more of your people. Or perhaps you have a higher cap and can afford a few additional plates—then go for the full three tiers.
Time to Craft Your Perfect Wedding Guest List
Creating your wedding guest list is no small feat (been there, done that!), but it’s an important step in shaping the celebration of your dreams. Remember, your wedding day is ultimately about celebrating your love and having a memorable day surrounded by the people who make you and your partner’s lives truly special.
Plus, once you have your list finalized, you can move on to the fun part—planning the rest of your dream wedding! Sign up for Pearl by David’s today to get more tips, tricks, and inspo for your big day.
