Figuring out whom to invite to your wedding can be one of the hardest parts of planning your wedding. You’ll have to pay attention to your budget, the venue you want to have your wedding at, and lots more. Everyone will have their input where your guest list is concerned for sure.  Some names will be very simple to include in the list, but you might have a bit of a decision to make when it comes to others.

We know you want to throw a good party at your wedding, and the best parties happen when you have the right people in attendance. There is also the fact that the pandemic has necessitated a reduction in guest numbers. Many couples are left wondering who to cut out and who to leave. The simple steps we’ve put down here will help you a lot with that, so read on to find out.

• What Family Members Should You Invite?

Here, we’re talking about not just your family, but you and your partner’s families. If you both have a large extended family, will you really be able to invite and host every single person? The best way to plow through this is to talk it out with your partner and both sets of parents involved.

• Which of Your Friends Should Make the List?

Friends are a great addition to your guest list. If you have a small number of family members available for your wedding, it opens up the opportunity for more friends to attend. It is usually best to invite friends that you and your partner have in common.

But if you have a best friend that lives far away and hasn’t yet met your partner, you can still invite her or him for your wedding! Also, try to make sure that the friends who come are those you keep in touch with regularly. If you’ve not spoken to them once in the past four months, they have no business being on your guest list!

• How About Kids?

It’s not bad etiquette to ask for kids not to be present at your wedding. But with this rule, you have to make sure there are no passes. You could also do something like putting an age cap if you do not want to exclude the young ones completely. Something like: Age 14 and above allowed. Just make sure that you include this information clearly on your invitations so that parents have plenty of time to get a babysitter.

• What to Do About Plus-Ones?

Apply a blanket rule when it comes to plus-ones. You could say that every guest who’s been with their partner for more than six months can come along with them. However, this rule isn’t set in stone, so just do whatever makes you and your partner comfortable here. When you do finally decide on the time frame to apply, stick to it.

• What Number of People Did You Arrive At?

If, after applying all of the above, you arrived with a number that is more than you’ve budgeted, then it’s times to do the hard work of downsizing. You may feel bad, but try to remember that you want to keep everyone safe at this time. You can cut from any of the following three groups of people.

• Coworkers

If you don’t talk to them outside of work, what will they be doing at your wedding? Have they met your partner, or have you met theirs? If you just happened to bond because you both think your boss is stressful, you aren’t really obliged to invite them. Cut!

• The Extra Friends of Your Parents

If your parents and your in-laws are contributing towards the expenses of your wedding, there’s a good chance they’ll be holding the guest list over your head too. Don’t fall for that blackmail. Ask them how important those extra guests are to them.

You can also nicely suggest that they could throw their own parties and invite said guests to them. Hit a compromise by promising that you’ll send over a lovely card with your wedding photos to acknowledge those guests if it is really that important. Cut!

• Strangers Who Are Partners to Your Friends

If you haven’t met their partner, why are you inviting them? If the dream you have for your wedding is a small intimate one, then feel free to offer one-person only invites to friends whose partners are new and whom you’ve never met. Cut!

When it’s all said and done, have exactly there who makes you happy and makes your heart smile!

xx,

Your Wedding Journey BFF