CONGRATULATIONS!
If your guest list is complete (aka has been okayed by your fiancé, your family and their family), you have achieved something pretty exciting. Take a moment to pat yourself on the back and sip champagne.
You’re probably wondering what the heck to do with this list now that it’s finally done. The list of names are important for sending out save the dates, but mostly you’ll need the number of people you’re inviting. That is a crucial number until you get the number of people who have officially RSVP-ed.
1. Figure out the minimum amount of people you think will actually attend.
When creating a guest list you probably have some ideas of people you’re pretty sure won’t attend. There may be people who can’t afford to travel, are too sick/elderly to travel, already told you they have plans, etc. You’ll want to guesstimate a range for the attendees. It should look something like this:
minimum # of people that’d attend – total # of people you invited
I think it’s helpful to have both numbers in mind when you’re doing the following steps. Most likely, you’ll just use the number of invited (because most vendors assume some won’t attend), but it’s helpful if the range is spread out to get multiple quotes.
2. Share this list and number with your wedding planner.
Whether you have a full wedding planner or a day-of wedding planner, they’ll want to know this info. If it’s a full-time wedding planner they may take care of some of the next steps, but if not….
3. Purchases the right amount of save the dates and/or share the list with a save the date calligrapher.
If you’re ready for save the dates, you can use this list to order the right amount. I recommend adding 5 to the number in case you want some keepsakes or any get lost in the mail. The list also serves a purpose for purchasing stamps and addressing invitations in general.
Make sure you include the titles on the guest list (especially if you plan to hand it off to a calligrapher). Sometimes those can be tricky to figure out, so if you need extra help addressing invites, check out this post.
4. Use this number when getting quotes from potential vendors.
Total number of invited is probably the first or second question potential vendors, venues, etc. will ask you. That’s because guest number largely affects the quotes you’ll get and the space you’ll need. If your range is super wide, I’d ask for two quotes so you know a better idea of what the price will be between.
Another way you might want to splice up your guest list is by children and adults. If there are lots of babies sitting in laps or children that might get a special meal, you’ll want to know that too.
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