Hey ladies! We  know in the midst of all of the planning and festivities, there is always several tasks that need to be dealt with before the big day. One of the most stressful and off-putting tasks is the dreaded guest list that leaves you with questions like, “Who do I invite?”, “Should I allow a plus one and hope people don’t bring 5 friends with them?” And our personal favorite “ We were friends in middle school but I haven’t talked to her in years, should I invite her anyways!?”

You are not the only bride on the planet asking yourself these questions! We have put together a list of the dos and don’ts of creating that stress free guest list.

1.Do consider your venue size: If you and your fiancé must invite a certain number of guests, make sure your venue of choice can accommodate them comfortably. This includes accommodations for both the ceremony and reception. 

2.Don’t start a list without deciding on a budget first. This will help you determine how much you have set aside and how many guests you can invite. Intimate weddings aren’t always budget friendlier the more elaborate weddings, so calculate all of your expenses and compare the costs.

3. Do write down all of your guests and divide the names into the following groups: Family, Friends, Coworkers, Other Social Groups. Once you have jotted down all of your potential guests, now you can start considering additional guests like children, significant others, and unexpected guests. Yes, you read that correctly. Like it or not, uninvited guests is wedding day mishap that your amazing wedding planner will make sure to prepare for. Discuss this situation with your wedding planner and have a plan such as a few empty seats and extra food just in case!

4. Don’t let others guilt you into adding guests to your list. This is YOUR day and it should be celebrated with the ones you and your fiancé hold dearest!

5. Do HAVE FUN! This is such a fun season and should not be filled with stress and worry. Make sure to prioritize and set aside time to work on the guest list. Don’t try to do it all in one sitting. If your feel overwhelmed or unsure of what to do, ask your wedding planner and let them take the stress off of you! 

We hope that if you are in the midst of planning your BIG DAY that you take our tips on how to create a stress free guest list to heart! We truly believe that these tips will ensure a stress FREE guest list creating experience!

xoxo,

Kendal