Decide on a Budget...
...and stick to it! A large guest list always means a bigger price tag for a wedding. Many people will understand the need for a small guest list if you make it clear that you are trying to stick to a budget. It's really none of their business how much you are spending, but if it quiets their complaints, it may be worth mentioning.
Start with 4 Lists
The following people should make a list of people that they feel should be invited to the wedding: the bride, the groom, the bride's parents, and the groom's parents. It will help the process to let your parents know the number of guests you are aiming for. Each list should highlight the people that absolutely must be invited to the wedding, and the rest of the names should be listed in order of importance. These lists then go to the bride & groom for approval. (It's your wedding, so you get the final say!)
The first step is easy. Mark off any duplicate names between lists. Next, write down everyone's "must have" guests, then evaluate how much space you are left with. To begin narrowing down the rest of the names, ask yourself a few questions. The following are a great place to start.
- How often do you see them?
- When was the last time that you saw them? If over a year, they can be marked off.
- Do you see them socially outside of work or are they just office acquaintances?
- Are they your parent's friends? Long time family friends are a possible maybe, but if you don't know them, they don't have to come.
Drop the Plus One's
If you are trying to keep your guest list small, a great place to cut your numbers down is the "plus one" option. You should invite spouses and the significant other of anyone that is in a long-term relationship. If they are only casually dating, you don't have to allow them to bring a guest. If they are worried, assure them that there will be other single guests at the wedding too. There is no reason that one of your real friends should be cut from the guest list to invite someone that may not be around next week.
Have an "Adults Only" Wedding
This can be a touchy subject for some, but this wedding is your party and it is perfectly acceptable for you to not allow guests to bring their children. The key is to give them enough advance notice so that they have plenty of time to make alternate plans for their kids on the day of your wedding. If you have a lot of people with small children, hiring a sitter to keep all of the kids during the wedding might be a wonderful option for everyone.
Hold the Wedding on a Weekday
This can be a big money-saver. Many wedding venues offer a discounted rate if you have your wedding on a non-traditional day. Weekends are a lot more convenient for people, so having your wedding on a Monday-Friday could make many unable to attend, keeping your guest list down.
Have a Destination Wedding
This is a perfect way to keep the guest list to a minimum and not feel guilty about not inviting some people. After all, you wouldn't want them to have to pay extra to make the trip. Country Jewell is an excellent spot for a destination wedding. We are conveniently located less than ten minutes off of I-75, putting us very close to Knoxville, Norris Lake, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg. There are plenty of places for your guests to stay while they are in the area.
Don't let yourself feel guilty about leaving people off of your guest list. We completely understand the benefits of hosting a small wedding, and most reasonable people will understand too. If leaving some people out is really bothering you, maybe you could arrange a gathering for the ones that didn't make the cut to celebrate with you after the honeymoon. It's your special day, so in the end, make sure that you do what makes you the happiest.
A delightfully quaint Knoxville wedding
& event venue.
6550 Hickory Valley Road
Heiskell, TN 37754
865-494-0552
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