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The Ultimate List
By Michelle Madden Smith
Dream Big So you’re engaged! The date for the day you’ve dreamed about your whole life is set, and now you get to plan the most fun party you can imagine. Deciding whom to invite can be one of the easiest or one of the most challenging parts of your wedding planning. But by keeping a fun attitude, you can figure out how to find just the right mix of people that will keep you and your families happy while satisfying your budget.
May I Cut In? Knowing budgetary and space constraints gives you a target number to shoot for. Begin by editing your wish list into an A and B list. The A list are those that must attend, and the B list are those that you would enjoy having at your wedding, but are not necessarily must-haves. These guests can be moved to the A list as space allows or as invitees RSVP that they will not be able to attend. Keep in mind that 10-20% of those invited to a wedding decline.
Parental Control Another important factor in determining the wish list is who is footing the bill. Traditionally, the bride’s parents finance the wedding and therefore are inclined to feel comfortable inviting more people. Or perhaps the groom’s family is quite large and is taking up a large portion of your A list. Keeping an open and honest dialogue with your families can help to avoid any pitfalls and can help pave the way for generous compromises. If you’re paying for the wedding yourselves, you ultimately have the final say on your guest list. A nice solution in this case is allowing more parental invitees as space allows, if your parents would be willing to chip in and cover the costs for the additional guests.
You Must Be This Tall to Attend This Wedding Deciding whether or not to allow children is one thing you should take time to consider. Hiring a babysitter to be on-hand for the day or evening is a great way to walk the line by allowing the children and also giving the parents some time to enjoy and be present with you. Be aware that this is often an all or nothing decision, and some guests may feel offended and choose not to come without their children. Take a deep breath and let your heart lead you here.
Best Friends Forever As you are making your tough final decisions about your guest list, one way to help decide is asking yourself how relevant these people are in your life. Rather than just obligatory invitations (you attended their wedding years ago), consider whether or not these potential guests will be in your life a few years from now. Fill your guest list with those you will continue to share your life with for years to come.
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