12 Guidelines to Creating Your Wedding Guest List

If you're a Jamaican or know anything about Jamaican culture, then you'll know that preparing your wedding guest list will be one of the most difficult task you will have to do when planning your wedding. You may have to grapple with new or old friends, budgets, mom's and dad's opinion, just to mention a few. This is not unique as the problem seems to be a dilemma for all couples across the globe.

Everyone expect to be on the guest list for your wedding, but you know that it would be virtually impossible, down right impractical and not to mention a budget buster! Unless ofcourse you have a mountain of money to spend and really don't care who gets to share your special day with you. Aaaah....we didn't think so either.

Truthfully, your guest list is a really a snapshot of all the special people in your life and great care and effort should be taken when creating this list.

So, the big question is... who and how many guests do you invite?

Use this guide to help you when building your guest list:

• Have a target number and work towards it.

• Look at your budget - if you have a limited amount of money to spend then you will have to plan for a small number of guests. You will realize pretty early that your budget and the size of your guest list are closely related.

• Look at the size of your ceremony and reception venues. Are they adequate for the number of quests? It may not make sense to invite 200 guests when your ideal venue can only seat 75!

• How intimate do you want your wedding to be? Just family or family and close friends? Your guest list should correspond with this consideration. 

• Work together with your respective parents to allot a portion of the guest count. For example, reserving half the list for you and your fiance, with the other half divided equally between parents or any other combination that suits your situation.

• Prioritize your list and use logical guidelines. Many couples agree that only persons they have met should be on their guest list (except in cases as mentioned in the next bullet point). It may mean that the first cousin who you've only heard about may not make the list. 

• There are some guest who MUST be added to your list out of courtesy.
• The spouse, fiance or live-in partner of an invited guest
• The  marriage officiant and his/her spouse or significant other
• The parents of ring bearers, flower girls, junior bridesmaids or any young participant who would not be able to attend on their own

• If your budget and venue allows, you can decide whether single guests can bring a date. However, leave this decision for last after you have a better feel of your list.

• Engagement party guests, shower guests and rehearsal dinner guests are also wedding guests. This doesn't include informal showers, example, one hosted by your coworkers.

• What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Persons invited to your ceremony are expected to attend your reception. This can't be said any other way. It is insulting to formally invite all and sundry to your ceremony and and then favor a few for your reception. If it's a budget constraint, then stick to a small guest list.

• Inviting children (besides those in the bridal party) is one of the situations couples have to grapple with. It's quite acceptable to not invite them especially if you're planning a formal dinner. However, it's up to you to take that decision based on your own family situation. Whatever you do, try to avoid any exceptions.

• Check your list against your target number and tweak where needed.

Click the link below to use this awesome guest list manager from The Knot. Just sign up for membership and it's yours for FREE.

http://www.theknot.com/gs/guest-list-manager

Need more etiquette information on creating your guest list? Email us and we will only be too happy to assist - alwaysandforeverja@gmail.com

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