When you begin to sit down and discuss who you want to witness you saying “I do” to your happily ever after, there are a few things you might want to consider. In a perfect scenario, you wouldn’t even have to think twice about having the entire world be in viewing space. But because every single detail adds to the bottom line of your budget, there may be some things you will want to take into consideration when it comes to the names that make the guest list.
The first thing to think about is that your budget tells you how much you can truly do.
If you start with the number of people who can attend instead of the number of dollars you can actually spend, you are starting backwards. Once you have decided that absolutely nothing should supersede your budget, you will have to stick to your guns. Your budget lets you know how far into the deep end you can actually go. It is your constant, and if not much about what you can afford will change between the date you begin to plan and the date your get married, then that is what you have to determine what you yourself as well as your guest can experience. Once you figure out your budget, you can move a little further into the process of knowing who to place on your guest list.
The next thing you will have to do is ask yourself how many people you can truly invite.
Now, I know what you are thinking. “How will I know how many people I can invite without knowing how much things can cost?” You are absolutely right. There is no true way to know what things will cost you. But if you at least think in terms of feeding people, then multiply that by the number of people you want to attend you can get a nice start. Allow me to explain a little more. Think of how much it costs you at a great restaurant for a really delicious meal. Then add two beverages. Water is free from a water fountain, but not from your caterer. Add the cost of a really yummy dessert. Oh, and don’t forget the general costs of plates, utensils, glasses, the napkins, and the seat. Now, add it all up, plus tip. Remember, this is just a start and can give you some type of idea as to how this can possibly triple per person when you consider the other areas of your wedding day.
Another thing you may have to ask yourself is how long has it been since you spoke with them.
If you are still having trouble narrowing the list of people you have on your guest list after that, you can chop it down pretty easily with a few questions to yourself. Ask yourself how long it has been since you last spoke with this person. If it has been longer than 2 years, they may not need an invitation. If you look at your list and you see you still have too many people listed, consider removing those you haven’t spoken with in more than a year. Think of it this way. Each guest will cost no less than $150, because each person is an invitation, a wedding favor, a slice of cake, a seat at the table, and the meal we discussed earlier along with a list of so many other things. Are you willing to spend that much money on a person you haven’t spoken with in a little over a year? If you hesitated, that’s a no. Strike them off and move on to the next name.
We understand loyalty. We even understand the desire to share your happiness with everyone you have ever known. The relationships you have with people at the time of your wedding will dictate quite a bit of what you should do in the planning of your wedding. Times change and people change. You cannot speak to the future, but your current status is where you are. As long as you base your decisions on what is, and not what was or what may come, we believe you will be fine.
Until next time…
be sweet & happy planning!
Tish
(photo credit: Smash Studios Photography)
Premier Wedding Planning and Event Studio Owned by Husband and Wife Planner and Event Designer Team Darius and Tish Clay. Simone Elise Events offers Wedding Day Event Management Services, Full Service Wedding Planning Services, and Wedding and Event Design Services for all your Wedding, Social, and Corporate Events. Simone Elise Events caters to Weddings and Events in Memphis Tennessee and surrounding Tennessee areas.
For more about us, visit: https://www.simoneeliseevents.com/about-us
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