5 ways to cut your guest list

weddingwedding planning
Written By Charlotte Thackeray

Hello! 

Charlotte here! 

Budget numbers and the guest list do directly correlate: the more guests you have, the more stationary, hire items and (most importantly!) food you will need! Having a large guest list can be great, you can really pack out the dance floor and constantly have people to talk to. You might well have a big family and have lots of friends that you couldn’t bear to not have there.

There is no doubt COVID has had an impact on the number of people you can have at a wedding (I know a number of couples who have worked this to their advantage!) On occasion you may want to cut down the number of people to have at your wedding.


Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

So below are 5 ways to cut your guest list… if you need to:

  1. Pick a venue that restricts your numbers. This links to tip 2 as well, but if you start early and pick a venue that limits to 100 guests, you can only have 100 guests or even fewer! You can blame any limits on the number of guests invited entirely on the venue. 

  2. Start early, some are easier than others! Sounds harsh, but if you go through the list and discuss as a couple, there will be a number of people who will naturally fall off the list. By starting early you can also cut over time, if there is anyone you realise you no longer speak to or fall out with you never invited in them and so don’t feel obliged! 

  3. When was the last time you spoke to them? You often hear the ‘one year rule’ applied: have you spoken to them in the last year? The reality is that you are paying for that person to be at your wedding, would you take that person out for a meal where you pay £90ish for them to eat? If the answer is no, they shouldn’t be on your guest list! This was the most important thing I held onto when I was cutting my guest list.

  4. Do you actually need plus ones? Or at least could you be selective about who gets a plus one? For example, if you have a friend and they have a brand new partner and you have never met them, they are an example of someone who could be withdrawn from the list. It requires tact and diplomacy to explain why there might be some plus ones there and not others, but often if you go with those who have newer partners they often understand. Make sure you also write only the intended person’s name on the invitation (don’t leave it to chance that someone might assume that they get a plus one).

You could go child free. Again it could be controversial, or perhaps not, some people might want to leave their children at home for a night away. Again it is wise to invite only the people you actually want to invite so don’t write ‘Smith & Family’ on the invitation. On the invitation you could clarify that 'We are unable to invite children to our wedding. We hope that the advance notice means you are still able to attend.' It is a nice and clean way to clarify your position.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure you stick to your rules when you compile your guest list and whilst it is difficult, try not to feel guilty, it is your wedding day! 

Have you got any other ideas for how to cut your guest list? Did you have to do it for your own wedding?

Speak soon! 

Charlotte

Some other useful resources:

Charlotte Thackeray
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