It’s natural to want to invite everyone you know, from extended family and friends and coworkers to your wedding. Unfortunately, your budget might make that a bit challenging, so it’s inevitable you’ll need to start limiting the number of guests you can invite. Keep in mind that your future spouse will have their own list of friends and family, which means your guest list has the potential to become fairly exhaustive.
So who do you invite? Who do you cut? Figuring that out early is going to be crucial to having a great wedding that you can also afford.
Here are five ways you can start paring down the list:
1. Identify Those Who Must Have an Invitation
Everyone has a set of wedding invitations that need to go out. Clearly, your parents, grandparents, and siblings will be somewhere on that list. You may want to include your best friend, godparents, mentor, or even your next-door neighbor. Still, tempting as it is to invite everyone you know, both you and your partner need to be disciplined and identify only those on your “must invite” list.
2. Set Aside Some Invitations for Your Parents
Your parents may want to share this special day with some of their close friends. They may have already presented you with a list of their “must invite” guests. If you can accommodate their wishes, terrific. However, if you can’t, it’s important to determine early how many of their guests you can accommodate and to let them know. Then your parents can decide for themselves which ones make the cut.
3. Decide Which of Your Co-workers Are Coming
Inviting co-workers can be a tricky situation. You may have a small set of co-workers you’re close friends with outside the job. They easily make the list. But you don’t have to invite everyone in the office. Ultimately, to keep hurt feelings to a minimum, you can ask those you invite not to discuss your wedding with others in the office.
4. Decide If Kids Are Invited
Only you and your partner can decide whether you want children at your wedding or reception. If you prefer an adults-only reception, you can set an age limit and only invite those above that age. Be prepared to refuse any exceptions if people ask.
5. Focus On People Who Are Relevant in Your Life
If you’re still having problems cutting down your guest list, focus on those people who are relevant to your life today — and who will still be in your life over the next five years. That college roommate you haven’t talked to in 10 years may not need to make the cut.
Cutting people from your guest list can be difficult, even frustrating. However, with some careful planning and loving discussions on the subject, you and your partner can find a way to include the most important people in your lives and ensure they’re the ones sharing the happy moments on your special day.
An Elegant Central Jersey Wedding Venue
Just as important as the guest list is the location for your wedding. Once you’ve determined how many people you want to invite, the next step is finding the ideal place to host your special day.
At Windows on the Water at Frogbridge, we appreciate how the choice for your wedding location is the stage for all to witness one of your most important commitments in life. We want this day to focus solely on the joy and future ahead of your marriage, and to ensure your family and guests feel welcomed. Allow us the opportunity to discuss further the services and property features that will make your wedding day elegant and memorable.
Our years of recognized service and knowledgeable staff will get you through this process with minimal stress. We pride ourselves on the fact that Frogbridge gives you the freedom to use our property and supportive planning team to create a truly elegant ceremony.
If you’re ready to start planning your wedding day, then contact us today at (609) 208-9475 to receive our Windows Wedding Packet that contains menus, pricing, photos and additional amenities and services that are available.