How To Trim Your Wedding Guest List Without Losing Any Friends
A bit of a difficult one to write this week, but itâs something that is very common within the wedding planning world â how do I cut down my wedding guest list without annoying anybody?
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Many couples, particularly in Scotland, have high numbers of family members and friends, and we love a good party with our loved ones! However, what happens when your venue has a certain capacity, and your expected number of guests is double that? Weâve put together some tips to cut down your guest list without losing any friends.
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- Start early
Like any other blog weâve featured about wedding planning â start early! If youâve picked your venue(s), youâll know the capacity for both ceremony and at night, so aim for these numbers. You donât want to invite so many people that youâre stressing every time you receive an RSVP. In Scotland, weâve got a vast array of wedding venues of varying sizes but make dure to pick what will be best for you.
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- Be selective about plus ones
This sounds harsh, we know, but youâve got to be picky sometimes to keep the numbers low! Those friends in new relationships will be more understanding for not inviting their partner than those who have been together for years, so this might help you decide who not to invite.
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- Be selective with your work colleagues
Do you really need to invite everyone from the office? Didnât think so. Invite those who you are close with, but donât feel obliged to invite everyone just because you see them all day every day.
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- Expect some people to not come
Statistics show that around 75-85% of invited guests will show up on the day. Whilst the method of hoping some people donât come is quite risky, you can almost guarantee that not everybody will be free to come to your wedding. You can never plan for who will be free and who wonât be but allow a little wiggle room and expect some people to not come.
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- Do you really want children at the wedding?
It can be a tricky situation to find yourself in, but do you want your friends who just had a baby to assume they can bring their child? Be clear about your decision because venues will more than likely count children in their capacity. See point 6 for this too, be honest with your friends who are parents, whether they can bring their children or not.
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- Be honest
Be honest with those who you arenât able (or donât want) to invite. Ultimately, the bigger the venue, the bigger the price, and your family and friends who you canât invite should be understanding of this and whichever venue you choose to celebrate in. Planning your wedding can be stressful, but you should try to enjoy the process. It is your day after all!    Â
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