How to Choose Your Guest List (And Keep Everyone Happy)

Wedding planning is stressful. Between choosing the venue, the cake and who is going to be in your wedding party, it’s no wonder so many couples choose to elope. One of the biggest pressures is putting together a guest list that keeps everyone from trying to tear out each other’s throats.

Here are some tips that might help you keep the peace on your big day.

Family First

Unless you come from a situation where you’re not speaking to your blood relatives, you’re going to have to include them in the festivities to avoid any bitterness down the road. That doesn’t mean you can’t set limits on who comes. However, if you’re going to invite your favorite cousin that means you invite all the others too.

No Exes

Just don’t do it. You might have remained good friends with your ex, but that doesn’t mean your significant other is interested in becoming best buddies with them too. This is your future hubby or wife’s big day too, so put their best interests first for just a few hours. You can fill your ex in later.

No Coworkers

Playing favorites at the office is a bad idea and can lead to hurt feelings and awkward meetings at the water cooler. Unless you’ve known someone there for awhile and spend time together outside of the workplace, there’s no need to invite them to the wedding.

Same Rules Apply

The same rules when it comes to inviting plus ones or kids should apply to everyone, no exceptions. If you allow one child into the fray, it’s not going to go over well if you try to block another from coming. To keep everyone happy, maybe just don’t allow kids outside the wedding party or immediate family in at all.

Keep it Small

The most tried and true method for avoiding guest list drama on your wedding day is to keep the list small. The less people there are, the less chances people might butt heads. Set a limit, let that limit be known to everyone and stick to it.