Guest lists. Aren’t they a toughie? I know that I’m having trouble with them. I’ve touched on this in previous WPW posts but both myself & Steve have large families. Add to this equation living in a tiny little village where everyone knows everyone else’s business and expects an invite to EVERY social event, even if it was the opening of an envelope.
I spent some time discussing the topic of guest lists when I saw Lisa and Louise the other day. The people I could have sworn would have been coming to my wedding a couple of years ago, perhaps even been in my wedding party? I’m not even too sure if I want them there now. There is only a handful of friends (outside of blogging) that I can truly say that I want at my wedding. I’m not including work colleagues even though, of course, some of those are my friends. I barely speak to anyone from school anymore – these people have been my friends for over a decade yet I’m unsure how many, if any, I want at my wedding.
It’s strange to think that I am now closer to people I’ve met over the internet (through blogging) than I am to those who were my ‘BFFs’ 4 or 5 years ago. My friendship circles have changed – most of my friendships were formed either at school or from working in the Co-Op/pub/where I work now. I barely see anybody that I used to work at the Co-Op with – we’re all doing different things, I understand that. I barely see anyone from the pub unless I make a conscious effort to go down there because I don’t have the time, the money nor the want to go down there anymore – especially with a 16 month old child.
I find it strange how quickly such ‘strong’ friendships can dissolve into nothingness. I really will have to take some time over my guest list as I really do think I will be cutting it down to the bare essentials. I want this day to be about me and Steve and the people we care about most – I just don’t think a fleeting friendship from 5 years ago is going to make the cut.
Have you had/did you have trouble with your guest list? Let me know 🙂
I can really associate with this, it is so hard, I have the problem too that my mum seems to think we need to invite friends of theirs who's childrens weddings they have been to, and I got told "i'll give you a list of people" what??! It's a nightmare, I am going to have my closest friends at the wedding and friends who aren't as close but I would like there at the evening reception, it's so hard though, I thought doing the list for my 40th was hard but this is a nightmare! Also I've been meaning to ask, are you considering having wine with your meal/buffet etc after the wedding? My cousin did and people took advantage really badly and it put me off, we went to the bar anyway because neither of us drink wine but some people really took advantage and even asked for extra bottles and then took them to their table for the evening to drink! I just wondered what your thoughts were on it? does it look mean if we don't do it? I really enjoy you WPW series, I look forward to each one 🙂 lots of love xxxxx
Glad to hear it, I love writing them! Guest lists are such a nightmare. Agh x
guest list *shudders* caused so much trouble, and I totally regret who I did and did not invite. I suggest starting with family and very close friends. Next list all the people you want to come who are friends and acquaintances. Go down the list and put a star next to the people you would be upset if they had to miss the wedding (invite them) and then with the rest work out how many more you can afford to invite and go from there. It is horrid to do and in a few years you will be in the same situation you are now with school friends. I haven't spoken to many of the people who came to my wedding in years. xxx
Thanks for the advice hun, taken it on board x
xxx
I can totally relate! I find creating the guestlist a problem. It is just so hard to come up with a guestlist when both families also have a list of their own. Great advice by the way.
– DeluxeCelebration.com
Guest lists are hard work! My family is so big that I could invite hardly any of my friends so I had to be real tough and only invite those that have been friends for years and still remain close to this day. All others old & new were invited to the evening. x