Top Tips to Create Your Guest List With Less Stress

When planning a wedding, one of the things that can get stressful is creating your wedding guest list. Even if you’re a destination couple planning a destination wedding in Hawaii, creating your guest list can still be a challenging task. We want to help you to craft your guest list with less stress and confusion. Here are our top tips for creating your wedding guest list!

Creating a wedding guest list can be both exciting and overwhelming, as it is an essential aspect of planning a wedding. While it may seem daunting at first, with some organization and patience, creating a wedding guest list can be a straightforward process. In this article, we'll guide you through the steps to create a wedding guest list.

Determine the type of wedding you both want

Do you want a large or a small Hawaii wedding? Would you prefer to make things a bit more intimate? The type of wedding you want will help you find out what kind of guest count you will most likely have. When you and your partner have agreed on your type of wedding, you can consider yourself to be in the starting point of working on your Hawaii wedding guest list.

Consider financial contributions from family members

It’s not uncommon for family members to contribute to the wedding, and it’s also not uncommon for parents to ask if they can invite some guests of their own when they are making a financial contribution to the big day. Sometimes, parents or siblings make contributions to the wedding by paying for their Hawaii wedding photography, or other vendors. When divvying up the guest list, it would be wise to take these into consideration and allot a number of guests for family members contributing to the wedding.

Start with those closest to you

A rule of thumb is to start with those closest to you such as immediate family and close friends, those you absolutely want in your wedding party. You can establish your A-list including people you would want to have at your wedding, and then make another list of other people you’d like to invite but still need to decide on. Doing this can help you manage your guest count easily and ensure that no one important to both of you is forgotten.

Create a criteria to help trim down your list

Once you’ve created your A and B-Lists, you can begin to trim them down. You and your spouse-to-be can agree on some rules to trim down your guest list. Some couples trim down based on if they have spoken or spent time with the person within the last 6 months, or if you would rather not have kids around during the wedding day. When inviting co-workers, some couples agree to not invite anyone from work if they are unable to accommodate everyone in the workplace, as this might cause others who are not invited to feel left out. Talk about it and agree on the rules and stick with them for consistency.

Make several drafts of your guest list

Try to create several drafts of your guest list. It may feel time consuming, but reviewing your list several times will help remind you if you have overlooked someone or placed someone in the wrong list. This helps minimize regrets after inviting your guests or accidentally not giving an invitation to someone you should have. Drafting the guest list several times can be tedious but it pays off in the end.

Invite your A-list and keep your B-list handy

When you have your A-list and B-list ready, you can start to invite the people in your A-list. Chances are, especially if you are having a destination wedding, not everyone in your A-list will be able to make it to your wedding. You can then invite someone in your B-list when the RSVPs from your A-list start coming in.

Agree beforehand on how to handle plus-one requests

Plus-one requests are bound to come in once you start handing out your invitations, which is why being prepared for these requests would be great. You and your spouse-to-be can decide if you would be willing to let people bring plus-ones, or if you plan to limit it to family members only. Some couples allow plus-ones for guests who have been with their partner for a long time, while deciding against providing plus-ones for guests who have relationships that are relatively new. Others also only invite significant others who they are friends with as well. You can agree on the rules which feel fair to you, and discuss ways to be able to explain it gently and kindly without hurting anyone’s feelings.

Avoid last minute add-ons

Last minute guest list add-ons can be a source of wedding planning stress. Your guest count has a great influence on your Hawaii wedding costs, so having last minute add-ons to your guest list, especially beyond your original guest count can have a significant effect on your wedding expenses.

Remember to set your priorities, create a rough draft list, determine the final list size, prioritize your guests, address any complications, and keep track of RSVPs. With these steps, you will be able to create a guest list that will make your wedding day unforgettable.

Are you looking for a Hawaii wedding photographer and videography for your special day? See how HNL Studios can give you peace of mind knowing your important memories with guests and loved ones will not be forgotten.