Who to Invite to the wedding?

Question

We can only invite between 200 & 250 people to our wedding because of the place we are getting married. I know that I need to invite immediate family and close friends but who shoud get invitations that are not included in this category? I don't want to leave anyone out just because we have a limit on people we can invite.

Answer 1

Unfortunately that's going to happen despite your best intentions. When planning my reception, we married out of the country and had a reception at home a week later, I had to put a stop to the number of people being included because my then fiance was wanting to invite everyone and their brother!

We finally settled on immediate family, close relatives (these are the ones you see/talk to more often than at funerals, weddings & family reunions), friends (talk to/see weekly or a couple times a month), parents friends who have known you your entire life, co-workers (that you see socially, not just in the office). And even those we went over and over. We too didn't want to leave anyone out but sometimes, it just can't be helped.

And a big oversight to watch out for when doing your guest list is partners. When you invite your friend Jill, don't forget to include her friend Jack as her guest, married couples and significant others also count as 2 guests not just 1. You didn't mention if you're including children. (We didn't because I know several children who are finicky eaters and I wasn't catering to their picky appetites.) So you could find that by iinviting your Aunt Mary and Uncle John and family you've included 5 people to your total guest list.

I just saw someone else mention the wedding party count as guests too...but don't forget to count their partners, spouses, significant others, etc.

Answer 2

The people you're not super-close with, like co-workers and neighbors who aren't really friends, will totally understand being left off the guest list. After all, everyone knows that a wedding can be a very costly affair, and the building requirements of many structures that host weddings make the list limited. Aside from family and close friends, you shouldn't invite anyone except the people you truly want to see there. After your limit has been met, if there are still people that you feel bad about not inviting because they're not really close to you or your fiance, you could host a wedding brunch a couple days before your wedding, like a little pre-game party at a nice restaurant, where you pay for everyone's meal and have a little toast to your marriage and stuff like that. Lots of times, people are just happy to be included somehow.

Answer 3

Inviten the people you truly want there. Since there is a limit try to pick the really special people in your life. Just because the hall holds 200-250 people doesn't mean you have to pack the place. One thing to remember is when you start inviting a bunch of people, then you risk the chance of not being able to invite EVERYONE then people end up getting hurt at you.... so stick with the close friend, family and loved ones and your wedding will be perfect.

Answer 4

I would first invite immediate family and close friends. Don't forget to include you, your fiance, and your wedding party into your total because you are part of that tally. Find out how many people you have with this amount of people. Next think of family members that are not immediate but you still would like to come. Figure out your tally from this point. Next you could invite coworkers if you choose or other friends and family members.

Answer 5

First you should invite close family members and friends. Then when you have a list for that group of people and you still have room invite other family members and friends that you aren't that necessarily close to. The only people that are going to truly feel left out are the people that you are close to so you start with that group first.

Answer 6

you don't have to invite 200-250 people that is just how many people are allowed in the space. Invite who you want, start with family and close friends once you've invited them then see how many people you have left, coworkers are always good people to invite

Answer 7

Other then family, here are the people who should be invited:

Spouse or Fiance of wedding party members
Parents of child attendants
the pastor/officant and spouse
Spouse or Fiance of invited guests (meaning, if you invite your boss, you have to invite his wife to)

Of course, immediatly family (parents, siblings and their spouses, grandparents) should be invited. Next would be extended family and close friends.

Then you have co-workers, older friends, parents' friends, etc - who can be added if space allows but are optional.

Answer 8

hiya hun.
im having the exact same problem. im getting married in may and only have 100 invites.
what i had to do is yes invite my nearest and dearest, but also had a hard job on not offending people i couldnt invite.. so what i did is i invited the people i see the most often to the wedding, because hun you cant please everyone. BUT so not to offend ppl i explained to them i couldnt invite them to the wedding due to numbers and costs and invited everyone who couldnt come to the wedding round for almost like a wedding shower. there was wine and loads of food and music. it was great! yes i felt bad because i couldnt invite them all. but you cant please everyone all at the same time.
just remember that and youl be fine :)

Answer 9

I don't know why you said "only" that's a fairly large guest list to make.
Use letters or numbers to designate each circle of people.You should include, in addition to close family and friends, extended family, friends of the family (like a long time neighbor) work friends, bosses, and some friends of your parents.
This is a good example of that way of picking people, plus a description of who belongs in each circle.
http://www.vowsforlife.com/bridal_party/bride_groom/both/other_checklists/wedding%20guest%20list.htm

Answer 10

My friends invited the closest friend first- the people that they just couldn't fit were sent invites to the party/reception to show up right before the cake was cut, but after dinner. They were happy- they got to show up for the most fun part.