Guest List Tips

The guest list.  It drives so many parts of the wedding – including the venue choice and budget.  But it can also be VERY stressful.  We’ve got 5 tips that will help you create a guest list for your North Georgia wedding.

1. Make a plan on how you are dividing up the list

You will quickly find out in wedding planning there are a lot of people involved!  Your parents and your fiancé’s parents have also been looking forward to this day and celebrating you with people important to them.  One way to divide up the list is 50% of the guests chosen by you and your fiancé, 25% chosen by your parents and 25% chosen by your fiancé’s parents.  This can shift and often will – especially if you or your fiancé have a big family.  Talk through this early on so everyone is on the same page.

2. Dream big and then narrow it down

Start off listing everyone you would love to invite – don’t worry about budget or Georgia wedding venue size now.  This gives you a master list if you decide to add on guests later.  From there, determine what you can realistically fit based on budget and your favorite Georgia wedding venue.  Narrow down your official list to this size and start sending invitations.

3. Create guest list rules

Determine a few guidelines for guests who don’t make the list.  Haven’t talked to them in more than 3 years?  Probably not. 

Neither of you have ever met them or heard of them? Nope 

Don’t think you will still be talking to them in a year (or after you leave your current school/job/etc)?  Uh uh. 

Figure out what makes sense for you and your families and use these rules.

4. Make and A-list and a B-list

This helps you make the most of your guest count.  Send out the A-list invites and ask for RSVPs early.  If you have several that can’t make it, then you can send out your B-list invites. 

5. Fill out names on the RSVP cards

If you want to make sure your guests don’t add to your list on their own, go ahead and prefill the names on the RSVP cards.  This will cut down on adding children, plus one’s, etc. and help you stick to your guest count.