6 Guest List Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make for Your Wedding
Nobody warns you that making a wedding guest list feels like drafting a survival roster😅.
One wrong move and suddenly ...you’re budgeting for your mom’s book club, your partner’s entire office, and a plus-one who just started dating your cousin.
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So that's what i'm talking about today.
These are the 7 guest list mistakes you absolutely don’t want to make
1. Letting Guilt Dictate Your Guest List
Ah, guilt
The sneakiest wedding crasher of all time.
Just because someone invited you to their wedding doesn’t mean you must invite them.
Just because your mom thinks her hairdresser should be there doesn’t mean they need a seat at your reception.
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If your like me and you struggle with people pleasing ...you gonna have to overcome it.
This is your wedding, not a charity gala.
2. Not Setting a Hard Guest Cap First
Do not...I repeat, do not start listing names without setting a guest limit first.
That’s like grocery shopping without a budget and wondering why you’re eating ramen for the rest of the month.
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Pick a number first ...(based on your venue capacity + budget), then fill the list.
Not the other way around.
3. Forgetting The Aunt's Linda Rule
How the Aunt linda rule work is;
You invite Aunt Linda only
But nowww you feel obligated to invite her three GROWN children, their spouses, and their newborns.
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Before you know it, you’ve got 12 extra people …and your venue is looking real small.
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So try your best to be as logical as possible.
Not everyone deserves a plus one.
4. Not Having a “B-List” Ready to Go
Alot of brides are always shocked by this...
But, people will drop out (unfortunately sometimes alot of people) and suddenly, you have empty seats that you already paid for.
So always have a B-list of guests who’d love to come if spots open up.
When someone cancels, immediately invite a B-list guest instead.
5. Forgetting That Guests Cost More Than Just a Plate
It’s not just the food.
Every guest adds to the cost of invitations, tables, chairs, centerpieces, favors, and even bar tabs.
More guests = more $$$.
And unless you’re distant cousin of Elon musk, that’s something you've to think about.
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What i usually tell brides is
...Do a Cost-per-Guest breakdown.
If you’re spending $150 per person and have 20 people on the maybe-list… that’s an extra $3,000.
Would you rather spend that on extra guests, or on a honeymoon upgrade?
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...Exactly
6. Forgetting That Your Venue Has a Hard Capacity Limit
Your venue says 150 guests max. Your guest list says 163.
You think,
“Eh, what’s a few extra people?”
Let me tell you what:
A fire code violation, a furious venue coordinator, and a stressed-out you.
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If your venue has a strict limit, stick to it.
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Be ruthless with your list before you book the venue, not when it’s too late.
To wrap it up...
At the end of the day.
Your wedding guest list isn’t just a headcount
It’s the people who will be there for one of the biggest moments of your life.
And you don’t want to look around on your wedding day and think,
"I don't even know half these people"
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Hopefully if you keep these mistakes in mind
You’ll have a guest list that actually feels right.💗
Nowww Brideys
...before you go
If you're planning your wedding without wedding planner
and you've being looking for tools that would help make the process ...alot easier?
I actually created a tool... that i think will help you.
If you want to check it out - the link is below👇
and i'll see you there💕
You’ve GOT to read this next...
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Stuck between keeping your guest list small and avoiding family drama?
Here’s how to create your wedding guest list without offending your mom or your in-laws.