Drawing up a guest list is one of the most important and most difficult wedding planning decisions to make. You may find that you just want to invite everyone you know and many people that you do not even know to watch you say your vows to the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. However, you will need to put a limit on things at some stage. Here are a few things that you may want to consider when deciding how big you want your wedding to be.
Firstly, what do you want from your wedding? When you close your eyes and picture your perfect wedding in your head what do you see? Is it a large ceremony with casual friends, distant relatives and co-workers in attendance along with those that you would expect to be there? Or do you see yourself having a smaller event with just a few close friends and family present to support you? Your initial thoughts should always be about what kind of wedding you want; it is your wedding after all.
Your budget will also be a major issue. The larger your guest list the more money you will end up paying for your wedding. A bigger guest list ultimately means a bigger wedding, and you may be surprised at just how much bigger things can get. For starters you may have to hire out a larger venue, which can be quite expensive. Then there are the extra catering costs to think about. Caterers usually charge a per head fee so the more people you invite, the more your caterer will charge you. Not only do you have the venue and food to think about, but you may also need extra decorations. Does that sound ridiculous? You may find that you need extra centrepieces for the extra tables at your reception. Factor in any transportation costs, the cost of extra invitations and more favours and the amount of cash you shell out can soon escalate. Think about your budget when drawing up your guest list. Be sensible, but remember, there are ways to be frugal in various aspects of your wedding so a small budget does not always necessarily mean a small wedding.
The wishes of your parents may also be a factor in determining your wedding guest list. They will no doubt want to participate in your wedding planning, especially if they are helping to pay for it. Remember that weddings are family times and all going well your parents will only see you married the once, so give them a little input in your day.
Your venue may also dictate the size of your wedding guest list. Ultimately if there is a dream venue that you have your heart set on that can only accommodate a certain number of people you will simply have to decide what is most important to you, having the wedding you want in the location that you want, or having a lot of people in attendance.
