Cutting the Guest List

While you are planning your wedding, you will watch your guest list grow exponentially. Each of you has family and friends that you know you want present for your big moment. Then there is the extended family. And then the people your mom wants to invite. You can’t forget your boss and coworkers! And then, and then, and then. Is it truly worth it to have such a large guest list?

That is really a matter of opinion. Sometimes it is also a matter of budget. Here is my opinion

If you were eloping and only had this guest you are considering in the room during your intimate ceremony, would it be completely comfortable or would it feel awkward?

It is a little easier to decide a person’s value at your wedding when you consider your wedding ceremony the intimate union of your lives that it is. If you wouldn’t be comfortable sharing that moment with someone as one of the only witnesses, maybe they shouldn’t be a part of many who see your marriage begin.

Here is another thought. You’ll probably spend at least $100 per person on your wedding - easily much more than that if you’re on par with the average cost of a wedding in the US ($26,645, www.costofwedding.com). Would you be okay with taking this person to a restaurant that cost $100 a person?

If the thought of spending $100 or more on someone on your guest list is unsetling, it may be time to reconsider. That is the reality – the guests you invite and who eventually attend your wedding are people you will be spending a relatively large amount of money in.

If you invite so many guests to your wedding that you cannot possibly greet and have a conversation with everyone invited, then you have probably invited too many people. In my humble opinion (granted, the opinion of someone who has witness, worked, or been a part of over 100 weddings), the guests attending your wedding are deserving of your attention. It is not fun to be a guest of an event only to sit on the sidelines and watch the moments happen. Think about how much time and energy you’ll have to truly interact with all the guests you are thinking of inviting.

In the end, the amount of people you are sharing your wedding day is entirely up to you. If you find yourself needing to cut back on your guest list, or unsure of who and how many to invite, refer to these questions to help you decide who makes the list.

The photos in this blog are by www.somethingminted.com.

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