5 Ways To Reduce Your Wedding Guest List

If you want to discover your family tree, there is no need to study genealogy – just get married. Relatives will pop up out of the woodwork  – even if you’ve never heard of them. Depending on your family and cultural traditions reducing your guest list may not be an easy task, but you can try adopting these tips to help keep your guest list in check.

Prioritise –  First things first is prioritising those who you consider to be the most important and closest to you and your fiancé. This list may include parents, siblings, best friends, close aunties, cousins and uncles.  In the case of second cousins, third aunties removed, distant friends who call you once every three years, ask yourself if you really need to invite them.

This part is difficult, as family means different things to different people. Some have small families, others have larger extended families who they are close to. If you do have a tight budget and a small guest list, make sure you prioritise those who you keep in touch with regularly and who have played a significant role in your life.

Limit the plus ones –  Keep the plus ones as longer term partners or children only (if you are allowing children). If somebody asks to bring a friend along, say no. Don’t start something you can’t finish when three more of your girlfriends break up with people and want to bring dates.

Don’t invite co-workers – Unless your co-workers are truly those you consider your friends, don’t invite them. Don’t invite any of them. If you invite one co-worker, everyone else will expect an invite.

Don’t allow yourself to be emotionally blackmailed – Most brides have the odd person who contacts them out of the blue asking where their wedding invite is? Don’t be pushed into inviting them because you feel backed into a corner. If they were not on your list in the first place, stick to your guns. Politely inform them that your guest list is set and this cannot be changed.

Have a Destination Wedding – A sure fire way to reduce your guest list is to get married abroad. For most of you reading this, as an expat you already have this advantage, it’s very likely that many people will not be able to attend your wedding. This can be heartbreaking for some engaged couples and can actually help reduce numbers for others. If you want a small intimate wedding, having your big day abroad is always an option.

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