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Guest list & etiquette: Building the guest list

Write everyone down first, then sort into must invite, would love and nice to have.

The key points

  • Start with addresses for everyone
  • Three tiers
  • Agree family allocations early
  • Check against venue capacity

Read more about building the guest list

Friends clinking glasses together against a blue skyJust engagedEngagement party etiquette: who hosts, who’s invited, what to doRustic long tables set under trees for a garden receptionBudget & who pays27 ways to save money on your wedding that guests won’t noticeGuests chatting with champagne during cocktail hourGuests & invitationsHow to make (and cut) a wedding guest list without dramaA bridal shower table with cake, flowers and a bride headbandShowers, parties & weekendThe bridal shower guide: hosts, guests, games and giftsA long table set in a stone-walled room with a chandelierShowers, parties & weekendThe rehearsal dinner: who pays, who’s invited and what to sayGuests raising their glasses around a long table by a pool at nightShowers, parties & weekendPlanning a wedding weekend: welcome parties, after-parties and brunch

Quick answers

How do we cut down our wedding guest list?

Set rules and apply them evenly: no plus-ones unless in a long relationship, no coworkers, children of close family only, and nobody you haven’t spoken to in a year. Read how to make a guest list.

Guests & invitationsAll questions

How do you cut the guest list without offending people?

Set clear rules and apply them evenly — for example, no coworkers or first cousins only. People understand “we kept it small” far better than exceptions.

Guests & invitationsAll questions

What columns should a wedding guest list spreadsheet have?

At minimum: name, household, side, tier, address, email or phone, RSVP, meal choice and table. Add save-the-date, invitation, gift and thank-you columns so one list covers everything.

Guests & invitationsAll questions

Should I use Google Sheets or Excel for my wedding guest list?

Either works. Google Sheets is easier to share and edit together in real time. Excel works well offline. Choose the one you and your partner already use.

Guests & invitationsAll questions

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