Quick guide to guest lists

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Struggling to make your numbers add up? Just follow these easy tips!

Dottie Creations

1 The name game
Start by making a list of everyone you’d like to be at your wedding. Split them into different categories (school friends, family, colleagues etc), so it’s easier to spot anyone you’ve left out.

2 On the money
Decide how much you can spend on your venue and catering, then find out how much venues you like charge per guest for both the wedding breakfast and evening party. Check how many people they hold too – your guests need to fit comfortably in your setting.

3 Break it down
Once you’ve got your list of people, break it down into ‘must-asks’, ‘would like to ask’ and ‘should ask’ (this might include friends of your parents, or distant relatives). Then, look at your list of must-asks, and see how the numbers compare to your venue’s capacity. “Revisit and revise too!” says wedding planner Lisa Baker (just-bespoke.com). “As time goes on and budgets tighten, it’s easier to rule people out.”

4 Balancing act
If your must-ask guest list is too big for the venue you like, look at other options. You don’t have to go elsewhere though – see if they offer a marquee reception for more guests. Alternatively, if you find that you’ve got room to spare, add in people from your secondary lists, prioritising people you see regularly.

5 Plus ones?
You need to factor in plus ones to your headcount, but extending them to all guests can be a quick route to spiraling numbers. “A good rule of thumb is to only invite a partner if you both know them well,” says Lisa.

6 Quick cuts
If you do decide to go child-free or limit plus ones, make these policies clear so people realise they’re cuts that you’ve made across the board rather than letting them feel they’ve been singled out. Be consistent though – making exceptions is bound to cause offence!

7 All in the timing
When your list’s sorted, send out your invites, but keep evening ones back until you’ve heard back from your day guests. If people can’t make it you’ll be able to upgrade others. Don’t feel bad about only giving people evening invites either. “It’s a great way to keep costs down and still involve people in your wedding day,” says Lisa.