Wedding Guests - To Invite or Not To Invite, That is the Question...

Paring the guest list down to size can be as formidable as predicting the weather for an outdoor spring ceremony. To determine who makes the cut, ask yourself these "To Invite or Not Invite" qualifying questions. If you answer mostly yes's, extend the invite. If nay's have the majority, save the postage - and the meal cost.

1) Guests from Afar:

Some people (siblings, close friends) will make your "A-list" regardless of where they live, but others (second cousins, old sorority pals) fall into a gray area when they reside far from your wedding locale. These long distance guests may be unable to travel to your nuptials, so is an invite merely a gift request in disguise? Decide on a case by case basis.

- Have you seen or spoken to them within the last six months?
- Have you exchanged invites to other milestone events (their wedding, graduations, hallmark birthdays)?
- Are they close with other invited guests?

Rule of Thumb - If your special day would not feel complete without your college roommate who now resides in New Zealand, go ahead and send an invitation. Let your guests decide for themselves whether or not they want to travel.

2) Pint-Sized Partiers

Not inviting children can make for tough planning for some of your guests, but the opposite can make for some interesting moments you hadn't included in your wedding day dreams - like crying babies during the vows.

- Are you planning a relaxed daytime event?
- Does your budget and venue size make inviting all children a possibility?
- Can your caterer provide kid-friendly menu choices at a reduced cost?

Rule of Thumb - Have a blanket no-children policy or make a sweeping cut based on age (no one under 13), as picking and choosing may offend some parents. If you anticipate complaints, schedule a black tie evening affair, which is generally understood to be a kid-free zone.


3) "And Guest"

If space or budget won't allow the extra guests, some single pals may have to come solo.

- Is this person in a committed relationship (living together or engaged)?
- Will s/he be the token bachelor or bachelorette?
- Must s/he travel and plan overnight accommodations?

Rule of Thumb - Sure it's nice to let your unmarried friends bring a date, but unless that date is a long term love (living together or engaged), you don't have to include "and Guest" on the wedding invitations. Just be sure to handle seating arrangements with care - your single friend probably won't appreciate a table of couples sharing stories about how they fell in love.


4) Office Space

Deciding which coworkers to include depends on the size of your office and the nature of your relationships.

- Do you regularly socialize outside of work?
- Is your office or department close-knit and small (fewer than 5 people)?
- Is your work relationship with a few direct supervisors or assistants particularly close?

Rule of Thumb - If you work in a small office, best to follow the all or none policy. In a larger office - you can safely invite your happy hour crew or direct supervisors and assistants without incurring the wrath of the uninvited.

Get even more wedding guest advice, including how to plan the guest list and wedding guest baskets.