One major decision a couple has to make is to determine who they want to celebrate their wedding day with. It’s not as easy as family, friends, and coworkers and you’re done. There are a lot of factors to consider to finally come up with the list of special people that you want to take part in this special celebration of love and union:
Your wedding budget plays a huge part on how big or small the number of guests you can have on your wedding. Also, the couple’s personality or preference should be taken into consideration. Couples who like intimate celebrations would opt for a smaller number of guests and those who want a grand celebration can invite guests as many as they like.
The first question that couples usually ask each other is “Who should we add to our wedding guest list?”
We’ve listed down a general list of people that are usually invited to weddings for you to have an idea if you want them to be a part of your wedding:
- Immediate Family
They are your parents, siblings, their partners and their children and grandparents. Second would be your uncles, aunt, and cousins that you are close with and/or constantly seeing.
- Distant Relatives
They are the rest of the family members that you do not have constant communication with. This is the best time to invite them, especially those that you really like or felt a strong connection with. Weddings also serve as a reunion of families and it would be a good feeling to reconnect with relatives that you haven’t seen for a very long time.
Friends
No wedding is complete without the closest friends. They should always be on your list. Then move to your friends from those you have constant contact with from your neighborhood and school, to those friends that you rarely connect with but you think is a great addition to the list.
- Coworkers
If you have been with the company for long, you may want to invite your boss and your colleagues to your wedding. It is your choice if you want to invite them or not, but a good rule is to invite only those you have good connections with,
- Extra Persons
If you invited a married person, chances are they will bring their spouses with them. It is best to ask all the guests if they would bring an extra person with them so you can keep your numbers accurate. If you are on a budget, do not feel bad in asking your single friends or relatives not to bring any extra people to the event. Trust me, they will understand, you just need to say it.
- Family Friends
Your Mom’s best friends, your Dad’s long-time business partners, those people who are close to the family should also be considered. You can discuss this with your parents if you want these people to be a part of your wedding day or not.
- Children
Children play a role in weddings, but more of them could change the dynamics of the event itself. This really depends on the couple if they want to limit the number of children invited as guests.
A good rule of thumb in inviting guests is to invite approximately 10 percent more than your target number as this is the margin of those that might decline.
Tips on Creating a Good Wedding Guest List
1. Do not invite verbally if the person is not on your list – you would want to avoid conflicts, disappointments, and embarrassment.
2. Keep it fair – Share half of the guest list with your spouse.
3. Don’t forget to count the children – to prevent surprise overage on the big day that will cause stress.
4. Count yourselves as guests – add it to your final list.
5. Check the Wedding Venue Capacity – If there is a minimum number of guests for your chosen package, always keep it in mind while creating your list.
Remember that your wedding day is your day as a couple, and you both have the freedom to choose the special people in your lives that will make this once-in-a-lifetime event worth sharing and celebrating with. And as we have shot and closely witnessed countless of weddings, we have an ultimate tip for you. What we think makes a magical and truly wonderful wedding is not the number of VIPs on your big day, but the number of the happiest and wonderful people in your life that you have invited and came. Now you know. :)
If you want lasting memories captured on your wedding day, you can check out FR Studios. We provide wedding photography, wedding cinematography and photobooth services, using top-of-the-line equipment and with our undeniable expertise, we aim to capture the happiness and beautiful story of your wonderful celebration of union and love.