How many people should you invite to your wedding?

Planning a wedding involves countless decisions, and one of the most impactful is deciding how many people to invite to your celebration. The size of your guest list affects your budget, choice of venue, food options, entertainment and the overall experience of your wedding. Before you begin planning your wedding, take some time to consider the vision you have in your heart for your day.

Do you picture a grand, busy event, with all of your loved ones and extended family coming together? Or perhaps you’d rather host a smaller, more intimate affair with only your most beloved surrounding you and your partner? Either way, here is how to decide how many people to invite to your wedding.

*Photo by* *Lauren Marchant Photography*

Consider your budget

It's an unfortunate truth that most of us are bound by our financial limitations, so it’s crucial to establish your wedding budget before getting carried away with your guest list. Venues typically charge a set fee for a maximum number of guests, and then individually for each person over that limit. More guests equal higher costs not only for the venue but also for catering, invitations and favours.

Determine how much you are willing, and able, to spend per guest and multiply by the number of people you’d like to invite – this will give you a realistic idea of how big of a celebration your budget can allow for. Remember to think about plus-ones and children, and how allowing additional guests will impact your budget and day.

visit multiple venues

Each venue has its own capacity, and you may find that you fall in love with a style of venue that you had never before considered once you view. When visiting potential venues, be sure to ask about guest capacity for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies. Ideally, you don't want your space filled to maximum capacity, so opting for a larger space with fewer people may be more comfortable and avoid anyone feeling overcrowded.

Remember that most couples choose to split their wedding celebrations by inviting only their closest friends and immediate family to the first half of the day (the ceremony) and then enjoying a larger party with their extended family in the evening (the reception). This can help you accommodate your dream wedding by giving you the option to split your day across two venues or places.

establish your priorities

First and foremost, you need to establish which guests you simply wouldn't want to get married without. Naturally, immediate family and close friends usually top the lists, followed by more distant relatives, friends and colleagues. But aside from the number of people, it’s worth thinking about the other elements of your wedding, too.

Do you want to hire a crowd-rustling live band? If so, you’ll need a bigger venue – a smaller number of guests may not be able to create the atmosphere you’re looking for and leave the space feeling rather empty. On the other hand, if you’d rather hold back on entertainment and enjoy a quieter evening spent mingling with your guests, you may look to spend more of your budget on higher-quality food and drinks than on a bigger venue.

*Photo by* *Claire Bemister Photography*

Deciding how many people to invite to your wedding is a delicate balancing act between your budget, vision, venue capacity and personal preferences. By considering these factors carefully, you can create a guest list that ensures the perfect celebration of your wedding.