Five Ways To Trim Your Wedding Guest List

When planning your wedding, know that about 50% of your wedding budget will be spent on your reception venue and catering expenses. With an average per-plate cost of 85.00 to 125.00, by cutting just 10 people off your list can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Imagine if you cut 20 people!

Trimming down your guest list is not an easy task; everyone will want to get involved in who should stay and who should go. The bottom line is, it's your wedding day and ultimately your list takes priority. Here are 5 great tips to trim your list down effortlessly.

1) Pre-wedding planning: once you decide on a total number of guests you can afford, take that number and divide by 4. Each prominent figure in your wedding gets a fourth of your total number of invitees. The bride, the groom, the bride's parents and the groom's parents traditionally each get a fourth of the total guests. So if your inviting 200 guests, each gets 50 guests to invite. Stick by that number to avoid blowing your budget.

2) If you still need to trim down your list, divide your list into groups such as "Aunts and Uncles", Cousins, co-workers, etc. Then decide which group to cut - if you are going to cut the cousins - make sure to cut all of them so you do not disappoint someone.

3) Cut your co-workers from your guest list. It is perfectly acceptable not to invite your colleagues, especially if you explain that only close friends and family will be attending. If you must invite co-workers keep it to those who you are close with only.

4) Avoid arguments with your parents and in-laws. Your wedding isn't the place for them to get payback for the weddings they attended. Tell them firmly only their close friends and relatives can attend.

5) Cut back on distant friends and family. Spare them the expense of traveling, invite only your close relatives and friends who you speak to on a regular basis should be invited. You can send out wedding announcements after the wedding.

© 2008 Erica Tevis, Little Things Favors.

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