How to Create your Wedding Guest List

Planning a wedding comes with a million little details, but one of the most important (and sometimes trickiest) tasks is learning how to create your wedding guest list. Your guest list matters more than you think! It isn’t just a collection of names—it’s the foundation for so many moving parts of your big day and directly impacts total budget, venue location, catering, number of centerpieces needed, and, of course, your save the dates, invitations, and even wedding day paper. While you might be eager to begin wedding planning, creating a preliminary guest list first can be beneficial for so many reasons. A well-thought-out guest list also ensures you’re inviting the people who mean the most to you, making your celebration feel more intimate and intentional, while also alleviating stress and unexpected surprises along your wedding planning journey. Continue reading for how to create your wedding guest list with ease.

1. Start with a preliminary list

Begin by creating a spreadsheet of everyone you’d love to invite, without worrying about limitations. This helps you visualize your ideal guest count before making any tough decisions. It’s helpful to organize guests by the following categories:

• Immediate family
• Extended family
• Close friends
• Family friends
• Coworkers
• Don’t forget plus-ones and children

To ensure your list is formatted correctly for when you’re ready to send it to your stationer, use these suggested headers for your spreadsheet:

• Column A- Guest Name(s) exactly how you’d like them to appear on the envelopes
• Column B- Street Address
• Column C- Apartment Number (if applicable)
• Column D- City, State Zip

2. Create an A and B List

Be realistic about how many guests your total budget allows and book tours at venues that fit that price point and capacity. If you already selected a venue and if your ideal budget exceeds the venue capacity, you’re unfortunately going to have to make some cuts. If you’re struggling to narrow it down, make an “A list” (must-invite guests) and a “B list” (guests you’d like to invite if space allows). As you receive no RSVP’s, you can then extend invitations from that secondary list. Pro tip: Order extra invitations up front to accommodate your “B” list, as needed.

3. Triple check all details

Review and triple check before finalizing! Some of the finer details to consider:

• Are all names spelled correctly?
• Have you included formal titles where needed? While not always necessary, using formal titles (Mr., Mrs. Dr., etc) can help communicate the formality of your wedding.
• Are couples (even plus ones) and families living in the same household grouped together?
• Any last minute changes or guest debates still lingering?
• Are all addresses complete and updated? Double check addresses of those you know who recently moved. Remember, a missing apartment number or outdated address can cause invitations to be returned!
• Have you accounted for plus ones and children? Make sure it’s clear who is invited to avoid any confusion. If children are not included, wording on the envelope and invitation should reflect that.

RSVP Card Photo Styling & Photography by Peterson Design and Photography

4. Keep track of RSVPs

Keep your spreadsheet updated as you receive responses, noting if guests be attending/not attending, meal selections (if required), and any special dietary restrictions that may be noted. This will help with finalizing wedding day of details including final guests count, meals, seating arrangements, menu cards, programs, and favors to name a few. If guests are responding online, your wedding website will keep track of all of these finer details for you as guests respond.

Creating your wedding guest list doesn’t have to be stressful! By starting early, staying organized, and keeping communication open with your fiancé, you’ll make the process much smoother. Plus, finalizing your guest list early means you can move on to more exciting parts of wedding planning—like choosing your dream invitations! Still have questions about guest list etiquette or logistics? Let’s chat! As a Lace and Belle couple I’ll be here to guide you every step of the way.