Pop the champagne! You’re engaged 🎉 This is easily one of the most exciting times of your life and it deserves to be enjoyed! However, with wedding planning in full swing, it is easy to get overwhelmed. And as a DFW wedding photographer, my job goes beyond delivering authentic and dynamic photography. I also want to help you have the best experience possible! So, here is how to form a wedding guest list made simply, so that you can get back to enjoying wedding planning.

Bridal Party

The first decision to make when you form a wedding guest list is to decide on your wedding party. These will generally be the friends and family who are closest to you. Your bridesmaids and groomsmen will likely be the people you hang out with on a regular basis (or your oldest or most dear friends), as well as siblings and cousins. Your parents can also be included in your wedding party, as they are typically the ones walking down the aisle with you!

Close Family & Friends

Next, consider the rest of the people you can’t imagine your wedding day without. Family and friends who have been there for you through the years. This may be cousins, grandparents, a close aunt or uncle, as well as lifelong friendships. You may even reserve seats for these loved ones in the front rows of your ceremony!

Friends & Associates

If you are planning an intimate wedding, your wedding list may stop at close friends and family. However, for a more traditional and large wedding, you may also choose to invite additional friends, close co-workers or family friends. As well as any associates within your school or work that you are looking to form more of a relationship with. Since these guests are not as close to you, don’t hesitate to only invite them to your reception. Keeping your ceremony to just your inner circle.

Or vice versa! If you’d like to invite more people, but budgeting is a consideration; invite everyone to partake in your ceremony, but only invite a select few to stay for your reception to keep costs down.

Downsize Your Wedding Guest List

If you have formed a wedding guest list and decide that you need to downsize, don’t worry! This is very common. I recommend going through your list again and asking yourself “when was the last time I talked to this person?” or “would I be devastated if this person wasn’t there?”… and begin eliminating guests based on these answers – or just starting with the most distant people. Then work your way up. You deserve to have all of your favorite people at your wedding – try not to invite too many people out of “guilt” or “necessity”. It is YOUR wedding day after all.

Looking for more tips and wedding advice? Reach out! I would love to get to know your wedding plans and help as best I can!