One of the most difficult tasks, one of the first tasks in wedding planning is preparing your guest list. Much conflict can arise over not knowing how to accomplish this task. I have a simple formula that may make your life a bit easier when it comes to a wedding guest list.
Break your hosting committee into four categories: bride's list, groom's list, bride's family list, and finally, groom's family list. Each category can invite 25% of the guests. That would mean for a wedding of 200 people, each category gets 50 names. Remember, each name constitutes a couple (Mr. & Mrs. Important Guest) so that really breaks down to 25 names.
Note, there will always be people declining the invite, so 200 invites should garner about 170 guests at the wedding. Later you can send out a "B" list and invite more guests...just make sure you print enough invites. It is suggested that you print about 30% more invites then you think you will need for your master list. (Invites to mail, invites to save, invites for backup, invites for guests you know can't come but must be invited)
This may seem like an impossible task....how do you break your entire world of friends down to only 25 names? The only way I think you can accomplish this is by taking a reality check when it comes to finances. Know that each individual guest breaks down to between $250 and $550, which means $500 to $1,100 per couple! You can easily realize you must keep your guest count down if your budget is important to stick to.
One of my rules of thumbs is: how many times have I been to Guest "A's" or Guest "B's" house lately for dinner? How many times have they taken me out to eat? If a guest has not been in your home in the past year, it may be they don't need to be at an expensive event you are hosting. (It may be a bit like cleaning out your closet, if you have not worn it in a year, get rid of it.)
What do you tell the people you can't invite? It seems the only answer for their not being on the list is you are having a wedding for family only, or the hall won't hold guests as you would like it too, etc. Honesty is the best policy, you just have to be honest and let those who will not be invited that you will share photos with them and let them know everything that happened, etc. Good luck!
Here is how I figure how many people each segment of the hosting committee can invite.
Break your hosting committee into four categories: bride's list, groom's list, bride's family list, and finally, groom's family list. Each category can invite 25% of the guests. That would mean for a wedding of 200 people, each category gets 50 names. Remember, each name constitutes a couple (Mr. & Mrs. Important Guest) so that really breaks down to 25 names.
Note, there will always be people declining the invite, so 200 invites should garner about 170 guests at the wedding. Later you can send out a "B" list and invite more guests...just make sure you print enough invites. It is suggested that you print about 30% more invites then you think you will need for your master list. (Invites to mail, invites to save, invites for backup, invites for guests you know can't come but must be invited)
This may seem like an impossible task....how do you break your entire world of friends down to only 25 names? The only way I think you can accomplish this is by taking a reality check when it comes to finances. Know that each individual guest breaks down to between $250 and $550, which means $500 to $1,100 per couple! You can easily realize you must keep your guest count down if your budget is important to stick to.
One of my rules of thumbs is: how many times have I been to Guest "A's" or Guest "B's" house lately for dinner? How many times have they taken me out to eat? If a guest has not been in your home in the past year, it may be they don't need to be at an expensive event you are hosting. (It may be a bit like cleaning out your closet, if you have not worn it in a year, get rid of it.)
What do you tell the people you can't invite? It seems the only answer for their not being on the list is you are having a wedding for family only, or the hall won't hold guests as you would like it too, etc. Honesty is the best policy, you just have to be honest and let those who will not be invited that you will share photos with them and let them know everything that happened, etc. Good luck!
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