Money Monday: Cutting The Guest List

For this week’s Money Monday, it’s all about the guest list! Worried about inviting everyone you’ve ever met to your wedding? We feel you there, but no matter the obligation you may feel, you don’t have to invite your second cousin once removed to your wedding or your college friend you haven’t spoken to in 8 years. The truth is, your guest list can make a huge difference to your budget. The average cost per head for catering is $70, not to mention the larger costs of big venues and table set-ups. Cutting your guest list is the easiest way to minimize costs, so here are a few tips on how to create a guest list that includes all your must-haves and saves you some money!

Focus on Your Core Group

When you’re just starting to put together your guest list, decide on a target number and then write down all of your must-have guests first. That means immediate family, the bridal party, and any other close friends. Once you have that list settled, you can then figure out how many more people you can invite. Start with extended family and go from there, working through any colleagues and additional friends.

Photography by Marcela Plosker Photography

Limit or Eliminate Plus Ones

This can be a tricky situation if you have a lot of single friends, but it’s one of the easiest ways to cut your guest list in half. Either make plus ones exclusive to the bridal party and immediate family or create a no plus one rule for everyone. Just make sure to communicate your decision politely either on your invitation, wedding website, or in a personal call to the guests that would be expecting to receive a plus one.

Photography by All The Little Stories Photography

Cut Those You Don’t Talk to on a Regular Basis

If you prefer to create a full guest list first and then start making cuts, you can do that as well. But, whether you begin with a list or make cuts from the start when you’re evaluating guests, make sure to determine who are the people you talk to regularly. Chances are if you haven’t talked to them in the last few years, it’s not necessary you have them at your wedding.