May 21, 2018
Your parents, his parents, your grandparents, his grandparents, your children,
his children the wedding party and the spouses of the wedding party.
If you have reached your max budgeted guest count at this point, that’s it.
(See “How much should a wedding cost?”. 38% of your total budget is to support this guest list. Once you know the cost per person, this will determine your budgeted guest count)
If you still have room, you both ask this question: who will be there for us when times are rough?
Who will encourage and support us when it gets real? This may add about four more people.
If you still have room, you both ask yourself this question: who have we stayed in in touch with on a consistent basis, and if we haven’t heard from them, we get concerned? Maybe three – four more people.
If you still have not maxed out your budgeted guest count,
you can ask your parents
if they would like to add a specific number of people.
Now here is the hard part:
IF ANYONE ELSE IS TO BE ADDED BEYOND THE BUDGETED NUMBER OF GUESTS
THERE MUST BE FUNDS WITH THE NAME!!!
The actual cost per person must be added to the budget to fund their meal.
You cannot add people based on the feelings of others,
“it just wouldn’t be right”,
“I can’t believe you are not inviting…”.
This day is about you and your fiance.
This is not about anyone else.
Now, once you have held your ground on this one, CONGRATULATIONS! But it’s not over.
Say to each other, “The guest list is finalized. Any additions would take us over budget”.
Get used to saying it. You will have to repeat this several times.
When you give your potential guest count to the venue, only guarantee 75-80% of your total.
You pay for what you guarantee.
EX: If your guest list is 100 people, guarantee 75. If 85 people RSVP yes, you can always add the additional ten people two weeks before the wedding. However, if you guarantee 90, and you only get 85 yes RSVPs, you pay for 90 regardless.
Guarantee low and prepare for your max count.
The extra money can be used on your honeymoon.
