Guest list help!

Excel has become my best friend. Don't waste your time writing it up because eventually you'll end up typing it. It's also MUCH easier to edit and revise, etc. Regarding guests, we wanted to keep the guest list as condensed as possible so we included family and close friends (friends you've seen within the past year for sure). Good Luck!

Started out with pencil and paper (I carry it around with me). Migrated over to Excel and have started entering in WW (the immediate family names). We will be making cuts soon but wanted to get everyone listed and we'll take it from there. We have a 2021 date so this list is sure to change a few more times. Don't be overwhelmed once you start the names will all flow out. Good luck!

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This is how we are doing ours, too.

We used excel and broke it down by myself and FH.

When we first got engaged we made a list that was a mile long of people we would like to invite.

When we had our budget for catering solidified, we chipped away at the list by asking ourselves "would it make us sad if this person wasn't there to celebrate with us?" if we answered yes, they stayed on the list. If we answered "we'd love for them to come but it's not a necessity" then they were added to the B List (we agreed that after STDs went out we would delete this list. The B list at the time was created so if we ran into some extra money and could afford to invite some more people before STDs went out, we could quick add them to the list. Now that STDs have went out that list is long gone haha)

We waited a few months and then revisited the list and, with the natural changing of relationships, some couples were removed because at the time we were close but we no longer are.

Then about a month before sending out STDs we revisited the list once more and deleted some more individuals and added a few more in place of them.

It was cumbersome but now we have a guest list comprised of people who we genuinely want at our wedding and would be so upset if we couldn't celebrate with them!

I downloaded an excel template from the internet . It has helped ! I made a grooms list and a brides list . Shower list , etc

Make an excel spreadsheet. It’s easy! Literally start adding names can keeping count of heads. Also, you can enter address info when the time comes.

I started with me family, I then went to my moms side. After that I did my dads. Then went to my FH his moms side, then his dads. I then did my friend and then his.

I am really OCD about my spreadsheets, so I have one huge spreadsheet for the guest list, addresses, number invited, number of children, meal choice, RSVPs, Thank you notes, gifts etc. It's intense!

I found that to be the easiest way to keep everything straight.

SPREADSHEETS! I have the google sheets app and it has SAVED MY LIFE. I did family and friends of bride and then family and friends of groom and then blended the two, cutting the doubles out. All of that is in one tab, the next tab is the names with addresses and if they RSVPd and if so, how many in them at group are coming. I also have a guesstimate budget, actual expense, and then the remainder (whether + or -) on another tab to keep track.
i honestly would make your list and share it with your FS and your parents and Fiuture in laws to make sure you didn’t forget anyone

I started with a piece of paper and pen. Family (I.e. sister +3) close friends and everyone’s wedding I’ve attended in the last 10 years. Lol. Asked my honey to do same. Then when he realized to invite his nephews who he doesn’t really hear from would cost $100+ per person ($400 for family) he decided maybe not. We want cost under $10,000 for reception. So our number is around 80-90 people. I have a list of people we will invite, of those for sure, and maybes. I have started adding my peeps in WW. I also have a small spiral notebook I keep notes, vendor numbers, etc. I use it for research and notes after I talk to the vendor. There are some services out there that will add addresses to invites for small fee when printing.