The Wedding Guest List

You’ve set the date!

Now, you need to determine the location for the reception, and to do that, you realize you need to know the total number of guests to be sure you select a reception location that fits the size of your wedding.

The realization of the totals from the bride’s list, the groom’s list and the corresponding parents’ lists that you are under or over your expected number of guests can become a task that requires some work to get the list adjusted to your budget and the available locations for your wedding date.

The list dictates: (1) the size of the reception location,(2)the cost of the reception, the number of invitations, favors, etc. and will help you determine the over-all budget if one has NOT been set.

This task alone can become daunting if neither the bride or groom’s parents has had a child be married. Take your time making the list, even if it means setting the wedding date a little later than you planned. This will give you the time to carefully select who you most want to be with you on your special day.

And, if it means you have to wait a few more months, you may be able to choose an early spring month or a later fall month that will actually help you stay within your budget, and/or allow you to invite more people since the costs will be reduced. When making your lists, you may wish to use excel and create a second list as well for your inner envelopes for the person who is going to address your invitations. This will save you some work as well for when your invitations arrive. Look to your parents if you must decide on omitting a few relatives who may be more distant to you, and let them help you with the decisions with your lists. Rest assured that while not the easiest of tasks in preparing for your wedding, once completed, you will have more assurance of the major cost of the wedding and how that fits the over-all plan. For questions about a guest list makeup, please feel free to write us. judy@lilleyprinting.com Judy Laughton Lilley