It is always difficult to make out a guest list for a wedding. It can be a very emotionally draining task and you always worry whether or not you forgot someone. Deciding who to invite to your wedding and who to strike from the list is easier if you break the list down into manageable sections. Next, set clear goals and guidelines to make the work of deciding who to keep and who to cut easier. Follow the tips we have assembled here to help you achieve your goal amicably.

The first thing you need to do to get started is make a master list of anyone and everyone you would like to invite to share the most important day of your life with you. Begin with people that absolutely must be invited like the immediate families on both sides, close friends, and friends from the past whom you stay in touch with regularly. You should also include co-workers if they are close to you. The next step is to list people that were good friends but haven't been in contact lately. Put the lists together and count what you have so far. Another thing I would suggest as a way to keep the peace and as a show of respect is to have your parents and future in-laws make a list of people they would like to be at the wedding.

Now you have a good idea of the total possible guests which can be a bit overwhelming when you first look at it. Now unless you are getting married outdoors and there is no limit to how many people you can have you are going to probably have to reduce the list. You also have to consider the economics of a large list, the more people that attend the wedding the more expensive it will be.

Now comes the step that you have been dreading, cutting the list down to a manageable size. As soon as you start looking over the list you will undoubtedly see names of people you do not recognize at all. More than likely these are the ones that were wanted by the parents and in-laws. Double check with them and unless they say that they definitely want that person there, cut them. Next, take out distant relatives that you more than likely don't even remember as well as friends you haven't seen in a long time. If you have coworkers that you have no association with away from work then remove them as well.

All of this trimming of the fat should be done with the help of your fiance'. You don't want to hurt their feelings or the feelings of anyone close to them. Don't feel like you have to invite someone just because you attended their wedding. The paring of the guest list isn't the most fun thing to do but if you follow these tips it should be easier.