Master your wedding guest list
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How to keep it manageable and practical
Weddings are such momentous occasions that it ’ s no wonder couples want to share their big days with as many people as possible . Though a wedding where all friends , family members and acquaintances are in attendance may be a dream scenario , reality often calls for a more carefully curated guest list .
Data from The Wedding Report indicates that the average cost of a wedding is slightly more than $ 20,000 , though that figure could be substantially higher , or even lower , depending on where couples tie the knot . Both The Wedding Report and The Knot report that a wedding venue and catering make up a significant percentage of the overall cost of a wedding , with some figures indicating that these expenses account for around 65 percent of the final price tag . The number of guests couples will host on their wedding day will affect which venue they book and how much food and beverages they ’ ll need to satisfy guests . Couples who hope to stay within budget can consider these tips as they try to build a guest list that won ’ t break the bank .
Accept input Parents may no longer foot the entire bill for their children ’ s weddings , but couples who are accepting some financial help from parents must also accept Mom ’ s and Dad ’ s input regarding the guest list . Even if parents ’ desired guests do not ultimately make the cut , it ’ s best to respect their
Jenny Harnish , www . greenbrierimages . com
The bride and groom are sent off with sparklers after their wedding celebration on their family ’ s farm near Alderson .
wishes and consider who they want to invite . Couples who are financing their own weddings without outside help need not feel beholden to invite anyone who does not meet their invitation criteria .
Make a preliminary list without regard to budget Couples can have fun making preliminary guest lists without considering their budgets . A preliminary list can serve as a solid starting point , and couples may even realize that their list is within budget . Once the preliminary lists have been created , couples can categorize guests ( i . e ., distant cousins , coworkers , etc .) and then work together to determine if any categories can be eliminated from the invitation list . For example , couples who may be going over budget with their guest lists can each agree to remove distant cousins from their prospective invitees .
Seek advice Many couples face difficult decisions regarding their wedding day guest lists , so it can be helpful to speak to a recently married friend or relative to see how they handled paring down their guest lists . Some might have done it by category , while others might have limited guest lists to local friends and family . When taking this approach , couples can speak to friends about how they approached handling people who were surprised that they were not on the final list of invitees .
Throw a less formal party down the road A less expensive backyard barbecue within weeks of tying the knot can serve as a less costly alternative to a large wedding reception . Couples who take this approach can keep their wedding day guest lists to a minimum , but invite everyone they hope to see to a post-wedding day backyard barbecue or pot luck picnic so they can celebrate with everyone they love .
Curating a wedding day guest list is no small task . However , couples can try various approaches to keep a guest list more manageable and less expensive .
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