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How to cut your wedding guest list in half
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Your guests will cost you money you could spend on your home, your honeymoon, your new life, your future. Get ruthless and put those dollars in the bank instead. Here's how...
1. Commit to the cut. It's your wedding, but for some reason everyone else feels they should have a say about those invited, right? Sure, you want to be a nice person and avoid hurting anyone's feelings. But the truth is, "nice" can be very expensive. Sit down with your sweetie and the list of names that needs to be trimmed. Hold hands. Agree that you both really love the people on the list, but that some people are simply not going to receive an invitation. Hard knocks, but that's the reality of having a wedding budget. Agree that you will walk away from this process with a guest list that works for you — and you won't look back.
2. Family first. With your unedited list of potential guest names in hand, highlight immediate family in your favorite highlighter color — parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents, and anyone who grew up in your household or who you consider immediate family for one reason or another.
3. Nearly kin is next. Use a second highlighter to go over names of people who: Are aunts, uncles or very close cousins or who you refer to as "aunt" or "uncle" even if they are not an actual relative. You have been friends with nearly your whole life and imagine you always will be. You talk with at least weekly (coworkers not included). Have ongoing enormous emotional impact on your life. You consider an imperative part of your wedding day.
4. Make the first cut. Use a black Sharpie (even if you have already highlighted them) to cross out names of people who: You would feel strange or awkward giving a hug to. You are inviting ONLY because they invited you to their wedding. You are inviting ONLY because they are friends with another person you are inviting and you feel obligated. Your parents said you had to. You would not be able to hold a 10-minute conversation without getting bored, annoyed, or angered for some reason. If tables were turned, you're not sure you'd attend their wedding. You probably wouldn't invite if you were getting married five years from now.
5. Still not enough? If you still need to trim more names, return to those second tier highlighted names and discuss one by one. Every name on the list should be someone you can honestly say you love, cherish, and will stick with for better or worse through good times and bad for the rest of your life. Be honest.
6. Break the news. If you feel inclined, send a heartfelt card or email to those who do not make the cut explaining that you are having a small wedding and had to make some heartbreaking decisions in order to keep it that way. You are hoping they will understand. If they don't, they must not be good friends anyway, right?
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