How To Make A Wedding Guest List

Aug092023
How To Make A Wedding Guest List

If you're planning your wedding, you know how overwhelming it can be to settle on the size of your celebration. To help you navigate this decision, we've compiled ideas exploring different perspectives on wedding size.

Settling on the size of your wedding

How many people and who exactly to invite to your wedding day is one of the biggest challenges you will face during the planning process. Making the guest list takes time and effort. You may compromise due to parental, budgetary, reception site size, location, and other forces.

Who should you be inviting to your wedding?

First, you must decide if your wedding will be a once-in-a-lifetime huge party or a smaller, more intimate event. Your budget will most certainly limit the number of guests. Once you set your budget for the reception, you can quickly do the maths and decide the maximum number of guests. Your reception will probably account for the most significant part of your wedding budget. In some cases, nearly half the wedding budget is spent on the reception.

If you're working with a tight budget, you might be worried that you won't be able to create the wedding of your dreams. There are so many advantages to keeping things small and personal. From being able to focus on the love between you and your partner to having more time to spend with your guests, there are many reasons why an intimate wedding might be the perfect choice for you. 

Of course, being able to include more friends and family to having the opportunity to go all out with the decor and entertainment, there are plenty of reasons why a big wedding might be the right choice for you. 

Traditionally, each couple will invite half of the total number of guests. There's no strict wedding guest list etiquette. However, you'll need to consider immediate family, distant relatives, close friends, co-workers, friends of the family, plus one's and children. 

Making the wedding guest list

Remember that your big day is all about you and your partner - not everyone else. Which means that whatever vision you hold should be your number one priority. Try to work your wedding guest list around that vision, as opposed to working tirelessly and getting stressed over who to invite.

  • Create a preliminary guest list. Put them into a yes or maybe column. If you have to reduce the numbers, the maybes will help you whittle it down.
  • Set some rules. Consider if your partner has met the person and when was the last time you saw them. Are you going to accommodate children or plus ones?
  • Be firm but fair. You should not feel or be made to feel like you have to invite someone. If you can justify it to yourself, politely explain that you can only work according to your budget or the venue's space. 

Regardless of the wedding size you choose, remember that the most important thing is that you and your partner are happy and in love. At the end of the day, it's all about the experience you've created, so plan your big day so that it will create memories that you value with the people you love. Happy planning!


Weddings at Future Inns

Get married at Future Inns

Weddings at Future Inn Bristol

From an intimate feel to a grander affair, the wedding suites are on the hotel's top floor with fantastic views over Bristol city centre. There is even a small terrace balcony to take in some air and enjoy the scenery. Please speak with our wedding planners, Lorena or Seyran, who can advise you on post-lockdown weddings in Bristol on 0117 304 1010 or meetings.bristol@futureinns.co.uk.

WEDDINGS IN BRISTOL

Weddings at Future Inn Cardiff

Our wedding venue in Cardiff Bay has various suites to choose from, all of which are on the ground floor. Choose from an all-day wedding celebration, wedding breakfasts, or evening-only events. Appointments must be booked with Martin or Adam in advance. They can be contacted on 02920 487111 or meetings.cardiff@futureinns.co.uk.

WEDDINGS IN CARDIFF

Weddings at Future Inn Plymouth

You are welcome to speak with our highly experienced Wedding Coordinators, Ellie or Andy, on 01752 701000 or meetings.plymouth@futureinns.co.uk. Our wedding venue in Plymouth has been nominated for several wedding awards over the last few years, so you are in knowledgeable, safe hands. The wedding suites are all on the ground floor, and guests love the outdoor space for photographs in the summer months.

WEDDINGS IN PLYMOUTH


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