Weddings are exciting and momentous occasions, so naturally you would want to share your joy and love with everyone you know! But unfortunately, inviting everyone you know is not always a feasible option.
If you find yourself stuck with too many guests and do not know where to begin making cuts, it is best to start again from scratch.
Then, simply follow the steps below.
First, list yourselves, your entire wedding party, the officiant and his/her spouse, and the wedding party's guests (usually, wedding etiquette states that the wedding party should be invited to bring their significant others, so they should be included here).
Next list your immediate families (including parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, stepparents (where applicable), close aunts and uncles, close first cousins and godparents (where applicable).
After family, you should list your close friends.
These are the people whose names you can list without a moments hesitation, and are people who you would be disappointed to have your wedding without.
People not included in these three lists would be a good place to consider making cuts.
This includes work colleagues.
You may want to consider cutting out all work colleagues from the guest list.
This will reduce numbers, and it will avoid tension amongst coworkers.
If you have a few friends from work you would like to invite, you must do so in a very discreet manor to avoid uncomfortable situations, and to avoid coworkers inviting themselves! Other people who may be cut from the guest list are guests significant others.
This should not apply to married or common-law guests, because it would be considered rude to leave these people out.
However this could apply to single guests.
You could choose not to include "and guest" on the invitation.
This should be done in an all-or-none fashion to avoid hurt feelings; either all single guests should be allowed to bring a date, or no single guests should be allowed to bring a date.
This can drastically reduce the guest list if a bunch of the guests are single.
Another recommendation to keep the guest list down is to put a cut-off age on the invitation.
For example all guests must be over the age of 18 to attend.
This is again is another all-or-nothing option because you cannot say 18+ and then allow a few people to bring children.
If you opt to cut out children, it can reduce guest list numbers effectively.
All in all, if the guest list must be cut, it should be done so in a uniform way.
This will produce lower numbers while sparing the feelings of those uninvited.
If you find yourself stuck with too many guests and do not know where to begin making cuts, it is best to start again from scratch.
Then, simply follow the steps below.
First, list yourselves, your entire wedding party, the officiant and his/her spouse, and the wedding party's guests (usually, wedding etiquette states that the wedding party should be invited to bring their significant others, so they should be included here).
Next list your immediate families (including parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, stepparents (where applicable), close aunts and uncles, close first cousins and godparents (where applicable).
After family, you should list your close friends.
These are the people whose names you can list without a moments hesitation, and are people who you would be disappointed to have your wedding without.
People not included in these three lists would be a good place to consider making cuts.
This includes work colleagues.
You may want to consider cutting out all work colleagues from the guest list.
This will reduce numbers, and it will avoid tension amongst coworkers.
If you have a few friends from work you would like to invite, you must do so in a very discreet manor to avoid uncomfortable situations, and to avoid coworkers inviting themselves! Other people who may be cut from the guest list are guests significant others.
This should not apply to married or common-law guests, because it would be considered rude to leave these people out.
However this could apply to single guests.
You could choose not to include "and guest" on the invitation.
This should be done in an all-or-none fashion to avoid hurt feelings; either all single guests should be allowed to bring a date, or no single guests should be allowed to bring a date.
This can drastically reduce the guest list if a bunch of the guests are single.
Another recommendation to keep the guest list down is to put a cut-off age on the invitation.
For example all guests must be over the age of 18 to attend.
This is again is another all-or-nothing option because you cannot say 18+ and then allow a few people to bring children.
If you opt to cut out children, it can reduce guest list numbers effectively.
All in all, if the guest list must be cut, it should be done so in a uniform way.
This will produce lower numbers while sparing the feelings of those uninvited.
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