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Dealing with the Guest List

The guest list may very well be the most stressful challenges of your wedding. What is intended to be a happy event can be hampered by the thorns of the wedding guest list. Perhaps you and your fiancé both have very large families but a very small venue. Or your parents have begun insisting you invite your third cousin twice removed on your uncle's side who you had met once, at the age of six months. Up until yesterday, you didn't even know that she existed! Dealing with the guest list can be quite a challenge, which is why it is so very important to keep a level head during this particular facet of wedding planning.

In many cases, the guest list poses the biggest problem when there are budget or space constraints, for obvious reasons. When you cannot afford to pay for a lot of people at the event, the guest list must remain small. When the venue cannot hold a large amount of people, the guest list must be shaved a little more. If the issue is simply a budget-related issue, as in your parents have their own guest list; be upfront and honest about it. Let them know that they may invite whomever they choose, but at their own expense. If it is a matter of space, let them know that any extra people simply cannot fit.

If you are simply not sure who to invite to your wedding, it is a good idea to start compiling the guest list very early on. Think about whom you would want to share this special day with and who you wouldn't miss at all. From there, you can prioritize the list even further by separating guests into different groups, based on priority. For example, the first priority list should include the bride and groom's immediate family, grandparents, best friends, and bridal party. The next category should include aunts, uncles, cousins, and other extended family. Good friends and friendly coworkers could fit in here.

After the top two lists are compiled, make room for two or three more categories. The next should include obligatory invites, like your grandfather's sister, your boss, or friends from work that you occasionally lunch with. The last groups should include your parents' guest lists, friends you talk to rarely, and common acquaintances.

Establishing the wedding guest list is the first hurdle you need to jump. After that, it isn't exactly smooth sailing, but it does get a little easier especially when you have prioritized the lists. This way, if you become strapped for cash or space, you can quickly adjust the guest list before the invitations go out.