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It is a fact of life that you can not invite all your relatives, friends, and acquaintances to your wedding. Money, time, and other resources are all limited so you will have to pay close attention to drawing up the guest list at your wedding.

Before you start planning anything else, it may be a good idea to sit down with your partner and clarify who should be in and out of your guest list. The guest list can be a source of arguments as you do your wedding preparations if you, as a couple do not agree on certain things right from the start.

What are some of the things that you have to bear in mind regarding your guest list preparation?

1. Agree on a number.

Knowing your budget and how much you would like to spend on your wedding party or reception will allow you to set the targeted number of guests. This can range from say, 50 for a small, intimate wedding to 1,000 for a real grand celebration.

Typically, the bride and the groom will not split the total number of guests, 50:50. From a number of weddings that I have witnessed, it is usually the bride who accounts for more of the guests as a wedding, most people say, is really the bride's day.

The couple must also allot a number of guests for their parents as generally, the couple's parents will want to invite some friends and relatives who may not be on the couple's original list. The couple to be wed can just agree with their parents regarding who will shoulder the bill for these guests.

2. Classify your guests.

Not all guests are created equal. Some will be of greater importance to the couple while some will not be as important. Classifying your guests outright will allow you to plan other things in the future like seating arrangements or cuts in the number of guests should there be a need to do such a thing at some time. You may classify your guests, for example, according to the following categories (and which may also be in descending order of importance:

• Immediate family of bride and groom
• Bride and groom's common friends
• First degree relatives of both bride and groom
• Other relatives
• Other friends
• Officemates and business partners

3. Count and recount.

When you book with your caterer or with the venue for the wedding party or reception, you will need to guarantee a minimum number of guests. In quoting your number of guests, choose a number which appears most realistic, give or take 10%.

As you get closer to the date of your wedding, it is important to do a continuous update of your guest count. Do not rely on your RSVPs. Some people may not respond. If you have the chance to see your guests or even if you need to call each of them, ask each guest wherever they are coming or not. Delegate this duty to a close friend or relative if you can not handle this personally.

As a rule of thumb, 80% of the people you invite to your wedding, will most likely show up. Still another rule of thumb, 90% of those who say they will come, will actually come. Better than using rules of thumb, though, is to do an actual count so that you do not end up having too much or too little food or space.

There you go. Good luck with your guest list preparation. It can spell the difference between a great and a so-so wedding.

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Source by Alicia Barcelon