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Rebecca
Just Said Yes October 2021

Guest list help!

Rebecca, on October 27, 2019 at 10:09 PM

Posted in Planning 50

How did everyone start making their guest list? What did they use whether writing it down, typing it up, etc.?! Also, how do you keep it organized?! I’m so overwhelmed!
How did everyone start making their guest list? What did they use whether writing it down, typing it up, etc.?!
Also, how do you keep it organized?! I’m so overwhelmed!

50 Comments

  • Kimberly
    Expert October 2019
    Kimberly ·
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    Use the guest list on here. It's super helpful and when you send your invites out, it's the most convenient way to keep track of your RSVPs. They also have a seating chart section. It's by far the easiest and most organized way to do it.
    So the guest list section you can add guests by category. I.E. brides family, grooms family, brides friends, grooms friends, co workers, etc...
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  • Andrea
    Master January 2021
    Andrea ·
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    We initially wrote it down on paper, but then we transferred all of our guests details on an excel spreadsheet, since it's far easier to keep track off and edit or omit details. I love Excel!!

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  • M
    Legend June 2019
    Melle ·
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    We did it on a Google drive sheet so we could both access it
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  • Destiera
    Devoted March 2020
    Destiera ·
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    I typed it up here but i had my FMIL gather the list for my FHs side and i gathered my side. we figure out who is who and what their addresses are! it really helped me put everything together especially on here so i was able to design my seating chart later.
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  • Haley
    Expert October 2020
    Haley ·
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    I'm using Zola for mine. I have my website and registry there as well. I typed it on Zola and you can add couples or +1 or whatever. And filter them by relationship (my family, his family, my friends, our friends, etc).

    I also have them typed into an excel spreadsheet (zola will create the spreadsheet for you but I didn't love their layout).

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  • Katelyn
    Devoted October 2020
    Katelyn ·
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    We are using a google drive excel/sheets spreadsheet. With google drive we were able to share it with our parents so they can add any family/friends they think of that I/we might not have thought of.

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  • C
    Devoted September 2019
    Caitlyn ·
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    We used Excel to create our guest list. I organized it by both sides. We wrote down everyone we wanted to invite (by individual names even though many are in the same family) and had to make some tough calls about excluding people because the guest count was too high. Have a column for Name, Address, City, State, Zip, STD sent, Invitation Sent, RSVP Received (Y/N), Gifts, Thank You Sent. If needed you can add in Table Numbers but that doesn't need to happen until later (and if you need to create a seating chart or use escort cards for the reception).

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  • Cristy
    Master May 2021
    Cristy ·
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    We started out with pen and paper. I wrote my list, and FH wrote his, then we compared and combined.

    I started with immediate family, and worked outward. After parents, grandparents and siblings, I listed aunts, uncles and cousins, then went to the next level of 2nd cousins, then listed friends and coworkers.

    Once FH and I had combined our list and counted, we had more than we wanted to invite. For cost savings, we agreed we would invite no more than 100 people. So, we started making cuts. Coworkers were the first to go. It wasn't that hard, as we both started new jobs just a year ago, so we're not really that close to any of our coworkers yet.

    At first I thought that's all we would have to cut. But then FH started remembering various friends he wanted to invite, so we had to make more cuts. Distant relatives (2nd cousins) were cut next. They are family, but we decided if we haven't seen them for a year or more, they could be cut. We obviously aren't that close. Also, I heard through the family grapevine that one of my 2nd cousins got married recently. I wasn't invited, nor did I know anything about it. It's ok, I'm not upset. I know how much weddings cost now, so I don't blame her for not inviting every distant member of the family. I'm happy for her, and it actually makes me feel better about cutting some of my distant family.

    So, it's a process. Do whatever works best for you and FH.

    I will have to get these names and addresses onto some kind of spreadsheet or table eventually. But I hate Excel, and always struggle with it. So, for now, the list exists on plain old paper.

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  • Tara
    VIP November 2016
    Tara ·
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    I started with good ole' fashioned pen and paper and later put it in an excel spreadsheet. Start by writing down each of your families and work out from there. I made lists of my family, his family, friends, and then co-workers. i put them each in different columns so I could see it all broken down. It might help to scroll through your friends list on Facebook too, you may find friends, colleagues, cousins or relatives you think you want to invite but forget initially. Also, ask both your parents for lists or who they think you should invite. You're not obligated to invite anyone, it's your day and you get to decide!

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  • Hannah
    Dedicated October 2020
    Hannah ·
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    I started by writing all of the guests in a notebook broken out by groups (my fam, my friends, his fam, his friends, etc) then once I "though" I had everyone I started adding them to the guest list here (I love that you can link couples!) as well as adding the addresses that I know.
    I'm hoping this will make it easier to figure out seating since WW has the seating chart too!

    Good Luck!

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  • Future Mrs. B
    Devoted August 2020
    Future Mrs. B ·
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    Excel has been my best friend. I have a his and hers column and I list possible children in a subsequent column. Copy and paste into a new sheet and you append the addresses. Good luck!
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  • Crystal
    Beginner September 2020
    Crystal ·
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    We first went and put EVERYONE we would ever think of inviting on line paper, then I color coded them to A-List B-List and now they are in Wedding Wire's Guest List which exports nicely to excel.

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  • Tammy
    Dedicated September 2021
    Tammy ·
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    Writing it down always helps me. I'm considering buying an Erin Condren wedding planner to keep track of everything, including the guest list.

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  • Stefanie
    Devoted December 2019
    Stefanie ·
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    Paper and pencil haha, for me it was easier because that way I could accommodate everything until it was ready, then I just used wedding wire honestly
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  • Blair
    Super June 2021
    Blair ·
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    I used wedding wire to do mine. This app literally has everything so I just keep everything together on here.

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  • D
    Dedicated December 2019
    DIY Bride ·
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    I have an excel spreadsheet for everything.

    We started putting together the names of the people that we wanted to invite and then we added in their addresses as we got them. I bought labels at target and used mail merge to print out all of the address labels so I could just stick them on envelopes.

    Our list changed as we were planning the wedding. We were originally going to invite about 125 adults and 60 children, so we sent out Save the Dates to those people. When my mom wanted my list for my bridal shower I was able to do a mail merge with just the people that I wanted to invite. We decided to not have kids at the wedding, so we could add more adults. I eventually just created a new list of everyone that we sent invites to and that's the list that I'm using right now.

    I also have excel spreadsheets for things that were paid and need to be paid, things to do, things to buy/order, songs for DJ to play, etc.

    I also make lists (with a pen and paper) while I'm at work and eventually add that into my excel spreadsheets.

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  • Janiya
    Super June 2020
    Janiya ·
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    I'm doing this same thing! It helps keep everything so organized!

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  • Melissa
    Savvy October 2020
    Melissa ·
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    I have also used the Guest list feature here on Weddingwire- it is super organized!

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  • Stephanie
    Super July 2020
    Stephanie ·
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    I started out with pen and paper and then transferred that to the wedding wire feature for the guest list.

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  • Nicole
    Dedicated June 2020
    Nicole ·
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    I created an excel spreadsheet with: name, address, phone number, save the date sent, formal invite sent, number invited and number actually attending. I also created a separate spreadsheet to track gifts and thank yous.
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