Wedding Invitations: Determining the Guest List
Planning your wedding is a stressful yet happy time. It is also a very expensive time. Although you would like everyone that you have ever met in your lifetime, from your parents to the teller who is always friendly at the bank, to celebrate with you on this special day, you must remember that unless you have an unlimited budget, you cannot have an unlimited guest list. To determine how many guests that you will be able to accommodate, think of the space that you will have and then think of the amount of money that you can afford to spend on each guest. If you are having an outdoor wedding you will have more space to accommodate guests than if your wedding is taking place in a church. Also, you are planning to have a full meal provided for your guests, you will be more limited than if your reception is to include cake and finger foods. Once you have decided about how many guests you can accommodate, use these methods to create your list.
1. Brainstorm. Think of everyone that you could invite if your budget and space were unlimited. Ask your parents as they will definitely know of people that you will forget.
2. Cross off friends first. If you haven't talked with this person in year or more, cross them off. If they have not met your groom cross them off.
3. Cousins are the next to go. Just because you are close to one cousin and feel she should be invited, doesn't obligate you to invite all of your cousins. Again, if you haven't spoken to the person in a year or more, cross them off the list.
4. Choosing to invite "adults only" can shorten the list tremendously.
5. Don't invite co-workers unless you are friends outside work.
You should remember that on average about twenty-five or more guests that were invited, even if they RSVP'ed will not show up. It is a good idea to send out invitations at least six weeks in advance and once the RSVPs begin to arrive and you have a good idea of who is going to come, you can send out wedding invitations to those who you crossed off the list that you really wanted to invite. This is a special day and even though you may not think so, it is really not a requirement that you invite everyone you know, you might even choose to invite only immediate family for a small private wedding.
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