KAYLA LEE PHOTOGRAPHY + DESIGN

KAYLA LEE PHOTOGRAPHY + DESIGN

Education

3 TIPS TO STARTING YOUR GUEST LIST

August 10, 2020

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Before you can pick your beautiful invitation suite, you must determine to whom you will send it! This post contains three tips to forming your guest list. Invitation by Minted; photo by Kayla Lee.

“Gosh, I really just cannot WAIT to create my wedding guest list,” said absolutely no bride or groom ever.

Deciding who’s in or who’s out it not the sexiest part of wedding planning. It’s not picking a venue and it is definitely not dress shopping. But it is an internal part of knowing your budget, so it is something that should be done relatively early in the process. Know who and how many will answer many questions as you plan and pay for other parts of your day.

So how do you even being this process? By forming three lists:

1.) FAMILY FIRST

The best way to start any quest list is to begin together and list out all family that you want to invite. These should be the non-negotiable names, so it is important to start with these folks to be sure no kinsman (or woman) gets left behind. Be sure to account for those that are in the wedding party as well—and don’t forget their spouses and minor children if you aren’t having an adults-only reception.

2.) INDIVIDUAL FRIENDS LIST

The family list should be considered set—these are the individuals that there is no negotiation about. The number generated from that first list should be considered set. Now that you have an idea on how many family members you can expect, it is time to generate the friends list. Individually, write down the names of all the friends that you know you want there for your big day. Don’t feel as if you have to limit yourself, but if you find the name of your second grade BFF that you haven’t seen since middle school…maybe you have done too far.

3.) COMPARE AND CREATE A MUTUAL FRIENDS LIST

After you each have written your respective friends list, the time has come to compare! Depending on how long you two have been an item, there might be a few duplicates on there. Take those names and begin a third list of the friends you share. This list should tank right up there with the family list, as these are clearly people who are important to both of you; these are the ones you will want to bear witness to your love. 

After compiling these three lists, you should find yourselves in a great position to really understand who you want there with you on your wedding day. This is not where the work ends; this is just the beginning—but it should be easier now that you know this much.

Do you have a tip for forming guest lists? Leave it in the comments below! 

On Mondays we educate! Check out the blog every Monday for a new post to help you plan your wedding your way! Find past posts here!

Kayla Lee is a Minnesota-based wedding and elopement photographer. She provides services to elegant, authentic, sentimental couples who not only choose their own adventures, but also live them to the fullestSee more about the KLP Wedding Experience!

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BEHIND THE LENS

ABOUT KAYLA

At home on the road. Forever-focused on authenticity and the thrilling art of creation; always found in the moments that leave me breathless and in awe. 

After fourteen years as a high school educator, I stepped back through a door I thought was closed. Journalism came back into my life. Armed with a Masters of Arts in Communication, I was again challenged and prepared to tell the stories that would become history, but with a twist: It is now your legacy of love that I document. The tension I seek is that from every tear, smile, laugh, and moment of love on your wedding day. 

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