Wedding Guest List: Invitations And Number Of Guests

When it comes to wedding invitations, it's important to clearly communicate who is invited to the wedding. This can be done in several ways, including the envelope, invitation card, and RSVP card. On the envelope, it is important to include the names of the individuals who are invited. If you are inviting the entire family, you can print Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Family. If you are inviting adults only, you can print Mr. and Mrs. Smith. On the invitation card, you can indicate who is invited by wording it at the bottom of the card. Finally, on the RSVP card, you can include a line such as We have reserved ___ seats in your honor or ____ of _____ attending, where you can fill in the number of guests you are inviting.

Clearly communicate who is invited

Clearly communicating who is invited to your wedding is essential to avoid any confusion and ensure your guests feel welcomed and valued. Here are some tips to achieve this:

Envelope Addressing:

When addressing the envelopes for your wedding invitations, be sure to include the names of all invited individuals. If you are inviting a family, you can address it as "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith and Family". If you are only inviting the adults, specify by writing "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith". This ensures that your guests know exactly who is invited.

Invitation Card Wording:

The invitation card is another opportunity to clarify who is invited. If children are welcome, there is no need to mention it specifically. However, if you are having an adults-only wedding, it is important to word this at the bottom of the invitation card sensitively. For example, you could say, "We kindly request that this be an adult-only celebration."

RSVP Card:

The RSVP card is crucial for managing your guest list and clearly communicating who is invited. Instead of leaving an open line for the "number of guests attending," indicate the number of seats you have reserved for them. For example, you can write, "We have reserved ___ seats in your honor." This ensures that your guests understand how many people are invited and prevents any misunderstandings.

Be Proactive:

If you are concerned about guests bringing additional people, you can add a line on the RSVP card for them to list the names of those attending. This way, you can confirm their guests' identities and manage your guest list effectively.

Phone Call Clarification:

If a guest writes in a plus-one on their RSVP card, it is best to respond diplomatically and inform them over the phone that their guest is not welcome. Provide a polite justification, such as budget or space constraints, and emphasise that this applies to everyone.

By following these tips, you can effectively communicate who is invited to your wedding and ensure that your guests feel valued and understood.

Indicate if children are invited

Deciding whether or not to invite children to your wedding can be a tricky task. Here are some tips and suggestions to help you indicate whether children are invited in a polite and clear manner:

Wording and Etiquette

The way a wedding invitation is addressed indicates exactly who is invited, and by omission, who is not. If the envelope is addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Hayward," it should be clear that their children are not included. On the other hand, addressing it to "The Hayward Family" or including the children's names implies that everyone mentioned is invited.

If you have decided not to invite children, avoid printing "no children" or "adults only" on the invitation. This can be considered rude and may offend some guests. Instead, use subtle phrases on the RSVP card or an information card to convey your request for a child-free wedding:

• "Adults-only affair"
• "We kindly request this be an adult-only wedding"
• "Please note that this is an adults-only celebration"
• "We respectfully request no children under the age of 16"
• "Although we love your children, we regretfully cannot accommodate them due to limited seating"

Addressing Invitations

To ensure clarity, address each invitation with the names of those invited, including their names on the envelope. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith" does not include the Smith children, whereas "The Smith Family" implies that children are also invited.

If you are only inviting certain children, such as those in the bridal party or immediate family, you can address the invitation to "Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Jane Doe" (Jane Doe being the child). This way, it is clear who is invited, and guests will understand if their children's names are not mentioned.

RSVP Cards

You can also use the RSVP card to indicate the number of guests invited and whether children are included. Here are some suggestions for wording:

• "We have reserved ___ seats in your honor."
• "___ of ___ guests attending."
• "We respectfully advise this is an adult occasion (18+) however, infants under 12 months are welcome."

By filling in the number of seats or guests, you can avoid any confusion and prevent guests from adding extra people, including children, to the RSVP.

Other Communication Channels

If you are worried about guests misunderstanding your invitations, you can utilize other communication channels to clarify your preferences:

• Wedding Website: If you have a wedding website, mention your child-free request there. Websites are a great tool for providing additional information to your guests.
• Personal Conversations: Consider calling guests with children to explain your preferences over the phone. This can help avoid any potential misunderstandings and allow for a more personal conversation.
• Word of Mouth: Ask close friends and relatives to help spread the word about your preference for an adult-only event.

Remember, it is ultimately your decision whether to invite children to your wedding. Be empathetic and realistic, as some guests may not be able to attend if they cannot bring their children. Offer alternatives, such as helping with babysitting arrangements or setting up a "children's room" at the reception with babysitters and activities.

RSVP card should include We have reserved ____ seats in your honour

When it comes to wedding invitations, it's important to be clear about the number of guests invited to avoid confusion and last-minute surprises. A common way to indicate the number of guests is to address the invitation to the specific individuals who are invited. For example, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" or "Mr. Smith and Guest". This way, it is clear that only those named are invited.

Another approach is to include a line on the RSVP card that states the number of reserved seats. For instance, "We have reserved ___ seats in your honour". This allows guests to understand exactly how many seats have been allocated to them. It is recommended to fill in the number of reserved seats to avoid any ambiguity. This method also helps to prevent guests from adding additional names or crossing out the pre-filled number.

Some couples choose to add an additional line on the RSVP card for guests to indicate the number of people attending, such as "___ of ___ attending". This can be useful to confirm the number of guests who will be present, especially if there is a possibility that not all invited guests will attend.

• "We have reserved ___ seats in your honour." "___ of ___ attending."
• "We have reserved ___ seat(s) in your honour." "___ will attend, ___ will not."
• "We have reserved ___ seats in the honour of: M____________________________. ___ Number Attending."
• "We have reserved ___ seats in your honour." Please list the names of those attending: ___.

By including the number of reserved seats on the RSVP card, you can effectively communicate the number of guests invited while also providing space for guests to confirm their attendance and the number of people in their party. This helps to ensure that your wedding plans, including seating arrangements and catering, can be managed smoothly.

Address the invitation specifically to those invited

When sending out wedding invitations, it's important to be clear about who is and isn't invited. Here are some tips to ensure your invitations are specific and avoid any confusion:

Envelope Addressing

When addressing the envelopes for your wedding invitations, be sure to include the names of all individuals who are invited. If you're inviting a family with children, you can address the envelope to "Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Family". If you're only inviting the adults, address it to "Mr. and Mrs. Smith". This ensures that your guests know exactly who is invited and avoids any misunderstandings.

Invitation Card Wording

The invitation card is another opportunity to clarify who is invited. If children are included, there is no need to mention it specifically. However, if you are not inviting children, it is important to word this at the bottom of the invitation card sensitively. Be clear and concise, but also choose a phrase that reflects your personality and won't hurt anyone's feelings.

RSVP Card

The RSVP card is a crucial component to indicating the number of guests invited. Instead of leaving an open line for the number of guests attending, consider using phrases like "We have reserved ___ seats in your honour" or "____ of _____ attending". By filling in the number of seats, you make it clear how many people are invited. This helps to manage expectations and prevents guests from assuming they can bring additional people.

Additionally, you can include a line for each guest who is invited, with their name and a checkbox for their response. This ensures that your guests understand exactly who is invited and makes it easier to manage your guest list and seating arrangements.

Include a line for each guest who is invited on the RSVP card

When sending out wedding invitations, it's important to make clear how many people are invited per invitation. This can be done by addressing the invitation to those invited, for example, "Mr and Mrs John Smith, Mr John Smith and Miss Jane Doe".

However, if you are sending a single invitation to a family, it can be a little more complicated. For example, if you are inviting a family consisting of a mother, father, two children, and one child's partner, you could address the envelope as "The Smith Family" and indicate on the RSVP card how many seats have been reserved for them. It is also possible to address the inner envelope to specify who the fifth seat is for, for example, "The Smith Family and John Doe".

On the RSVP card, you can add a line such as "We have reserved ___ seats in your honour" and fill in the number of seats. This makes it clear how many people are invited and avoids any misunderstandings. You can also request that guests write their names on the RSVP card so that you know exactly who will be attending.

It is important to be specific about the number of guests invited to avoid any confusion or unexpected additions. By clearly indicating the number of seats reserved, you can prevent guests from adding extra people to their RSVP. This is especially important if you have limited space or are working with a specific budget.

Frequently asked questions