One of the most difficult decisions to make when planning a wedding is figuring out the guest list. You don’t want to leave anyone out, but you also can’t invite everyone you’ve ever met. Here are some tips to help.
Let’s start with family: begin by listing your closest family members, then add those who, even if you don’t see them often, should be invited out of courtesy—especially if they’re in close contact with your parents.
After that, stop. Don’t feel obligated to include estranged relatives or distant cousins you haven’t heard from in years. Keep the list manageable and meaningful.
Now let’s talk about friends: this part can be even trickier. You may want to invite everyone: childhood friends, new friends, coworkers, longtime acquaintances… But to keep it simple, ask yourself three key questions:
- How long has it been since I last saw this person?
- What kind of relationship do we have? Is it truly meaningful or more superficial?
- Would my partner be happy to have them at our wedding?
Answer honestly, and it’ll become much clearer who truly belongs on the list.
Remember, there are alternative solutions. You can invite some people just for the cake cutting or organize a casual dinner a few weeks before the wedding with those who didn’t make the final list.
The most important thing? Follow your heart. If you do, you won’t go wrong.