30/10/2018
Without a doubt, one of the trickiest tasks for a bride is creating her wedding guest list. Some couples may be able to (and want to) invite every single family member, friend, colleague, former-coworker-of-the-father-in-law, next-door neighbor, and Spin instructor to their wedding, but if you and your partner want to have a smaller, more intimate affair, cutting down on your guest list becomes a tough—and often argumentative—process.
Here are a few things to think about in cutting down on guest:
Set Cutting Rules (and Stick to Them) - If neither you nor your spouse has ever spoken to, met or heard a person’s name before, don't invite them. You shouldn’t feel like you “owe” anyone an invite to your wedding—it’s your day, and you should be surrounded by friends and family that you really want to be there.
Go Adults Only - Don't feel bad about having an adults-only wedding—so many couples decide to go that route, whether it’s a budget and spacial issue or more a matter of atmosphere. It's also perfectly okay to have children in your wedding party and still have an adults-only wedding. Just be careful to not make exceptions and let other family members or close friends bring their kids to the reception.
Exclude Coworkers - The easiest way to avoid a headache is not to invite any coworkers at all, you're certainly not required to ask them to attend.
Be Firm About Plus-Ones - When it comes to plus-ones, sometimes things can get a little tricky. You should offer plus-ones to anyone who’s married, engaged, or committed relationship (if they’ve been together for at least one year). Ultimately the decision on how to include a plus one is between you and your partner.
Try the "One Year" Test – It’s all in the name, have you seen them in the past year? If it weren't for the wedding, would you expect to see them in the upcoming year? If the answer is no, you have your answer.
