Wedding Priorities: The All Important Guest List

When you and your partner decide it's time to "tie the knot" and unite your lives, the first two questions may be: what type of marriage ceremony do you want to have? Who do you want to attend your lifetime event? Although many people think about this in passing, it's important to sit down with your partner and talk about your ideas, then put the details on paper.

This exercise might sound trivial, but when you write your ideas down, it's much easier to see where the common ground can be found between you and your partner’s concepts of your wedding.

Your guest list plays an important role on making the decision on how and where these events will take place. First list all of the people that absolutely must be invited. Now match this list to the ideal places you have listed for your ceremony and reception. If the tally of your essential guests is 75, but one of your ideal places is a country chapel that only seats 60 people, this eliminates the chapel as an option.

Likewise in choosing your reception venue, having your guest list in order again plays a vital role that can save you a lot of frustration. Finalizing it before you sign the contract for your reception festivities can save you from the embarrassment of having too many people but not enough room.

While it's a special day for you and your partner, you have invited family and friends to celebrate with you, beyond the total number of guests, be sure that you keep their comfort and satisfaction in mind when choosing your venue. While outdoor weddings are a big trend, be sure the natural setting you choose will enhance your celebration, not detract from it with an onslaught of insects.

Review your guest list for other details that you may have to consider; for example, accommodations for out-of-town guests, as well as travel directions to the wedding ceremony and reception from where they are staying should be included with the invitations. If any of your guests need special assistance make sure that both locations for the wedding ceremony and reception are accessible to everyone.

Sometimes couples who are deeply in love can have quite opposite viewpoints: planning your wedding is one of the first real tests of how well the two of you can creatively compromise so you both can be happy on your special day. Your careful attention to your list will allow you and your partner to enjoy every moment from sealing your marriage with wedding rings and kisses to your departure to begin your new life together.

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