How To Put Together A Wedding Guest List

June 3, 2023

Creating a wedding guest list can be a challenging task that often involves conflicting opinions. However, with the right approach, you can streamline the process and ensure everyone feels good about the final choices. In this article, we provide valuable tips and etiquette guidelines to help you navigate the guest list selection process, saving you time and reducing stress during the wedding planning phase.

A Guide to Creating Ae Wedding Guest List Everyone Will Be Happy With

1. Start with Immediate Family

Including your immediate family, aunts, uncles, first cousins, and grandparents is usually a no-brainer. When it comes to more distant relatives, consider grouping them together or excluding them altogether to maintain consistency.

2. Coworkers and Colleagues

When it comes to inviting coworkers, the general rule is to include everyone in your department or none at all. However, if you have a close friendship with a coworker outside of work, it’s appropriate to invite them as a friend rather than solely as a colleague.

3. Inviting Your Boss

Deciding whether to invite your boss depends on your relationship and the office environment. If you collaborate closely or work in a small organization where excluding your boss could have negative implications, it’s considerate to extend an invitation.

4. Handling Plus-Ones

Determining whether to allow attendees to bring a guest can be a dilemma. Consider inviting engaged couples and long-term partners, but be consistent in applying this rule across the board. Keep in mind that some unmarried guests may feel upset if they can’t bring a date, so communicate your decision clearly and seat them thoughtfully during the event.

5. Selective Children’s Invitations

It’s acceptable to exclude children from your wedding guest list, particularly for formal or local dinner events. If you choose to invite some children and not others, establish a clear rule, such as an age threshold or limiting it to immediate family.

6.Teenage Guests

There isn’t a strict guideline for inviting teenagers to your wedding. You can consider using the “old enough to receive their own invitation” rule or use your discretion based on your relationship with them.

7. Reciprocal Invitations

If a friend recently invited you to their wedding, it’s generally expected that you reciprocate the invitation. However, if your friendship has faded or your wedding is smaller in scale, it’s appropriate to leave them off the guest list. Inform mutual friends to avoid any awkward situations.

8. Gift-Giving Guests

Receiving engagement or early wedding presents does not obligate you to invite the sender. Consider these gifts as expressions of support and appreciation rather than an invitation expectation.

9. Estranged Guests

If a falling-out occurs after sending a save-the-date, you have to decide if you want to maintain the relationship or sever ties completely. Inviting estranged guests can be seen as extending an olive branch, while excluding them suggests a more permanent rift. Choose the message you want to convey.

10. Childhood Friends

You are not obligated to include childhood friends on your guest list. When deciding, ask yourself if you can envision spending time with them in the next year. Add them to your A-list if you can, but if your connection has faded over time, consider keeping them on the B-list as a backup option.

By following these guidelines, you can create a wedding guest list that is inclusive and satisfies both personal and social considerations.