Planning A Wedding Guest List: Tips For A Perfect Day

Planning a wedding guest list can be a stressful process for brides, grooms and their families. The size of your guest list will have a big impact on your wedding budget, so it's important to consider how many people you can afford to invite. It's a good idea to start with a rough guest list before you pick your venue, so you know what size of space you need. You can also work out your guest list after you've chosen your venue, by sticking to the venue's capacity. You'll want to include your favourite people, as well as guests your families might want to invite. It's also a good idea to keep a spreadsheet with guests' contact details, food allergies and other important information.

Budgeting: the more guests, the more money you'll spend

Budgeting is a key consideration when planning a wedding guest list. The size of your guest list will likely have the biggest impact on your wedding budget. The more guests you invite, the more money you'll spend. So, if you're on a tight budget, keeping your guest list small will help you save on all aspects of the wedding, from the food and drinks to the stationery and flowers.

It's important to talk to your partner to figure out how many guests your wedding budget will allow you to invite. While crunching the numbers might not be the most glamorous part of wedding planning, it's a crucial step in the process. You can start by drafting a rough guest list, taking into account your favourite people, as well as guests your families might wish to include.

If you haven't picked your wedding ceremony and reception venues yet, it's a good idea to have a rough guest list in mind before visiting potential locations. This will help you narrow down your options and choose a space that can accommodate your party size. Alternatively, you can book your dream venue first and then adjust your guest list size to fit the venue's capacity.

To make budgeting easier, consider using a spreadsheet to organise your guest list. This will allow you to track guests' formal names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and other important details. By grouping guests by party, you can easily count the total number of guests and invitations needed. Having a detailed and organised guest list will make it easier to plan other aspects of your wedding, such as catering for guests with food allergies.

Venue: pick a venue that can accommodate your guest list

When it comes to planning your wedding guest list, it's important to keep in mind that the size of your guest list will likely have the biggest impact on your wedding budget. The more guests you invite, the more money you'll spend, so if you're on a tight budget, it's a good idea to keep your guest list small.

It's a good idea to start with a rough guest list before you pick your venue, so you know how many people you need to accommodate. However, if you've already found your dream venue, you can also work out your guest list size based on the venue's capacity.

When creating your guest list, consider not only your favourite people but also guests your families might wish to include. You can use a spreadsheet to keep track of guests' names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. This can also include a list of food allergies, and it's a good idea to group guests by party so you can easily count the total number of guests and invitations.

Spreadsheets: use a spreadsheet to track guests' names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers

Spreadsheets are a great way to keep track of your guest list. You can use a spreadsheet to track guests' names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers. This will help you keep everything organised and ensure that you don't forget anyone.

Start by listing your guests' names, then add columns for their addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. You can also include other details such as food allergies, as suggested by event planner and designer Kirstine Cooke. Grouping guests by party, for example, 'Mr. & Mrs. John Smith', will make it easier to count the total number of guests and invitations.

Having a detailed and thorough spreadsheet will make it easier when it comes to addressing invites and sending thank-you cards. It will also help you keep track of your budget, as the number of guests will impact the cost of food, drinks, and other aspects of the wedding.

It's a good idea to start your guest list early, so you can use it to inform the rest of your wedding planning. This will help you avoid overspending on things like centrepieces and catering.

Allergies: keep track of guests' food allergies

When planning a wedding guest list, it's important to keep in mind that the number of guests will have a significant impact on your budget. The more guests you invite, the higher the costs will be for food, drinks, stationery, and flowers. Therefore, it's crucial to discuss with your partner how many guests your budget can accommodate.

To make the process smoother, it's recommended to have a rough guest list before choosing your wedding ceremony and reception venues. This will help you narrow down options to spaces that can comfortably accommodate your party size. Alternatively, you can book your dream venue first and then adjust your guest list according to the venue's capacity.

When creating your guest list, consider not only your favourite people but also those your families might wish to include. It's also essential to start this process early, well before finalising most of your vendors, to avoid any unnecessary surplus.

To keep track of guests' food allergies, create a spreadsheet with columns for their formal names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. You can also include a column for food allergies, as suggested by event planner Kirstine Cooke. Group guests by party, such as "Mr. & Mrs. John Smith," to easily count the total number of guests and invitations. This comprehensive approach will be invaluable when addressing invites and sending thank-you cards.

Family: consider guests your families might wish to have there

When planning a wedding guest list, it's important to consider the wishes of your families. This may include close relatives, such as parents, siblings, and grandparents, as well as extended family members like aunts, uncles, and cousins.

To make the process smoother, it's a good idea to start with a rough guest list before finalising your venue. This will help you narrow down your options and choose a space that can accommodate your desired number of guests. It's also essential to keep your budget in mind, as the number of guests you invite will impact your spending.

When considering family members to invite, it's helpful to group them by household or family unit. This will make it easier to keep track of the total number of guests and ensure that everyone is accounted for. It's also a good idea to gather detailed contact information for each family member, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.

If your families have specific guests they would like to invite, it's important to communicate and collaborate with them. By involving your families in the guest list planning, you can ensure that their wishes are considered while also staying within your budget and venue capacity constraints.

Frequently asked questions