Georgina Clatworthy

By Georgina Clatworthy

Getting engaged is the sort of news you will want to announce to the entire world, but before you begin adding the whole world to your wedding guest list you need to stop for a moment and consider just who you want to share your wedding day with. Your guest list is a key component in your planning as it will govern the type of wedding you have, the size of budget and your venue.

So when it comes to sorting out your wedding guest list it is an idea to adopt a methodical approach and weigh up the pros and cons of different types of weddings first rather just writing names down on a list.

The Big White Wedding:

Having a wedding day with 200+ guests and a budget to match is a sure fire way to ensure the dancefloor is full all night long and that everyone you know makes your final list. A big wedding also presents the opportunity to go for broke with big on trend gestures such as club areas in your venue which you reveal later on after your daytime reception.

However, a big wedding comes with a big price tag and it also means less time with your guests as a wedding of 200 would require you to spend 7 hours just grabbing 2 minutes with each of them! And once you start going over 200 people on your list then you will be limiting your choice of venues as well as increasing the costs.

The In-Between Wedding:

If it is important to you to balance the budget with the party atmosphere then try to trim your guest list to between 100 and 160 guests. This will increase your venue options and the smaller guest list will mean more money for unique extras such as signature cocktails and luxury wedding favors.

The Less is More Wedding:

Over the last couple of years there has been a big trend towards small and intimate weddings with just 50 or less guests. Having just a few select guests means you can splash out on luxury details like goody bag favors, a multitude of entertainers and a stylish venue with top notch catering. If your budget is very tight then just invite your nearest and dearest and treat them to a decadent meal with wine and flowers.