Ways To Curate Your Wedding Guest List
Ohhh the guest list, how intimidating it can be to begin one. Let me give you my honest opinion, it’s not all that bad when you have your vision, expectations, and budget set. It’s a big part of planning your wedding!
While crafting your guest list, just remember that it’s your wedding. You need to do what makes youhappy!
WHAT TO CONSIDER
The Wedding Location : Before you craft your guest list, decide on where you’ll be getting married. Are you wanting a venue that’s local or are you wanting to do a fun destination wedding? What is your vision? Is it small and cozy or large and elegant?
Read more on ‘Booking Your DREAM Wedding Venue‘.
HOW TO BEGIN
1. HAVE FUN WITH IT
Curating a guest list is a big task but when you make it fun, it isn’t that hard! Plan a date night at your favorite coffee shop, restaurant, or hang-out spot. Bring a notepad and pen and begin your list together.
2. ARE KIDS ALLOWED?
If you decide on an ‘Adults-Only’ wedding, you will need to address it as soon as possible. There’s nothing wrong with this decision either! At the end of the day, it’s your wedding ⏤ don’t feel like you need to justify your decision. 🙂
Read all about wedding invitation suites here!
3. QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
- Have we talked to this guest within the last year?
- Would we buy them dinner right now?
- Would we feel disappointed if we did not invite them?
If you thought ‘no’ to any of these, scratch ’em off.
4. CATEGORIES
When Matt and I were crafting our guest list, this is how we started.
Wedding Party
Her Immediate Family / His Immediate Family
Her Distant Family / His Distant Family
Her Close Friends / His Close Friends
Her Friends / His Friends
Vendors who need a meal
Plus ones / kids
5. THE ABC METHOD
Give each guest a rating of A, B, or C.
A: Someone who is a must (wedding party, immediate family, grandparents, best friends)
B: Someone you’d enjoy having there (friends, cousins, aunts/uncles)
C: Someone you’d like to be there if budget allows (Co-workers, highschool friends)
COMMON QUESTIONS
Q: How do I accommodate everyone for dinner?
A: Some guests may have dietary restrictions which will make it a little tough when it comes to the catering side of things. The first thing I suggest is getting a list together of all guests that have restrictions and letting your caterer know. Most of the time, it’s not a big deal and they can help you out!
Q: How do I announce an Unplugged Ceremony?
A: Program : Include your request in your program.
Signs : Have a sign at your ceremony entrance that guests can see before they are seated.
Spoken : Have your officiant politely announce that you prefer no cell phones during the ceremony.
Q: Can we disinvite guests?
A: One hard question. Sometimes friendships can get rocky and it can feel awkward when you’ve already invited them to your wedding. If you feel like it’s a temporary disagreement, I would say keep them on your list. However, if you don’t feel comfortable around them / friendship is unrepairable, it’s time to have a talk.
Conquering your guest list is just one little beast on it’s own, here are 12 other things you may forget when planning!
I know how difficult it may feel but you can do it! It may take awhile to complete and you may hit some roadblocks along the way, but you will get through it together.
Interested in working with me, head on over to my contact page and fill out the form. I cannot wait to hear from you! 🙂
READ NEXT:
Ways To Make Your Wedding Day UNFORGETTABLE
Love this! Such great tips! I like the one…have you talked to this person within the past year?? Would you buy them dinner? If no, scratch them off. Perfect!
Such a great info!!! Thanks for sharing!!
I love this advice! Definitely going to have to share this and keep this in mind for my wedding some day ????
I wish I had come across this article when I was planning my own wedding! Nice and very helpful post for the brides- and grooms-to-be. 🙂
Vivian, Aww I’m so happy that it’s helpful though!
Catie, thank you so much!! Definitely keep it in mind, the guest list is a beast!
Sunny, thank you for your kind words!
Maria, thank you! I’m so happy that you enjoyed this post!
Guest lists can be so overwhelming. This article has some great advice to help the bride and groom with their guest list.
Great tips! This is super helpful for couples planning their big day!
These are GREAT tips! So helpful for couples!
Great tips! This is super helpful 🙂
Great info! So smart blogging tips right now while 2021 couples are quarantined and planning!
Love this! What a great resource for your brides 🙂
Jordyn, thank you so much, you’re so sweet! I want to help out couples because boy is wedding planning crazy!
Stacie, blogging is so much fun!! Thank you!
Jennifer, thank you for your kind words! 🙂
Karen, you’re so sweet, thank you!!
Mattea, thank you! I hope it helps out couples!
Lydia, thank you! That was the goal, whoot whoot! 🙂
Ah Hayley these are seriously some great tips when it comes down to curating your guest list!! I love how you told us how you narrowed it down for your wedding. This is one part that I will be a little nervous about when it comes to planning my wedding.. whenever that day comes, haha!
Lexi, thank you so much!! Gotta give all the tips I can since I did the whole wedding thing haha I hope these help you in the future! Your day will come girl. 🙂
This information is so helpful! It’s so hard to cut out all the noise and really think about who is most important. I like the idea of “would you buy them dinner now”!
Samantha, thank you for your sweet words!