Cutting your guest list? Advice?

I would also prefer to use the money saved to put towards moving out to our own place.

Any advice about moving forward or did anyone go through the same thing?

I chose to invite all of my aunts and uncle (my dad is 1 of 11 and my mom is 1 of 7) and only invite two families of cousins, one from my moms side and one from my moms. I felt this kept it "fair" between the sides and help kept the guest count down. Definitely don't invite more people than your venue can hold!

We chose the Sunday night, of a 3-day summer holiday weekend, and only 10% declined. We also didn't invite anyone under our legal drinking age of 21, except my honorary little sister, who was a bridesmaid.

If you rarely talk to them, I don't see why you feel obligated to invite them. I wouldn't travel a 4-hour round trip, for a wedding of someone I don't have much contact with. We used the rule, with only a few exceptions, that if we or our parents didn't have the guests' address, we didn't invite them. This cut out people like some of our parents relatives, who they occasionally e-mail, see at a family funeral every 5 years, etc., but don't even exchange Christmas cards with.

So long as you didn't send save-the-dates, just limit it to your immediate family and maybe cousins and best friends.

Thank you all for your advice and experience! The original 154 isn't anywhere close to what the venue can hold, although now I'm kinda wishing there was a smaller limit so this would be easier lol. There are family members that I know would never let me forget that I didn't invite them on both my parents side, which is what is making it difficult to decide. Our wedding is also on a Sunday, but it's not of a three day weekend ( I know, a hard choice we made). It was the only date available in our time range with the venue that I really, really love and wanted.

If you feel obligated to invite someone, they just may feel obligated to come.

We're wedding twins!!!

Hola! I did the same thing. Went from 150 down to 15. We just decided that we didn't want the big wedding and went with grandparents, parents and siblings only. Start there and see if you want to add more.

We have families and first cousins (about 60 in total for the both of us) plus close friends and their families. We are at 197 right now.

Hey, ShortStack-- chances are, only *you* know your venue's seating limit, so use that as your excuse-- cut out a bunch of cousins (really, I wouldn't be hurt to not be invited to travel 4 hours for the wedding of a cousin I never see), and have the wedding you want. FWIW, we had about 60 and I thought it was perfect-- we had time to stop and chat with everyone who was there, although I don't think you can ever really get enough time with loved ones (of course, those people who rent a chouse for all the family might disagree....).

@FutureMrsLove you have no idea how happy I am to see someone that is a date twin! I've been on WW for a long time and I have never seen another June 11th wedding

Thank you everyone! My mind is much more at ease now.

No such thing as obligation to invite someone to share your wedding day.