How Many People Should I Invite to My Wedding on a Budget?6 min read

The question on every budget-conscious bride and groom’s lips: “How many people should I invite to my wedding?”.

Ah, the age-old question of wedding planning: “How many people should I invite to my wedding?“.

Well, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are a few things to consider when deciding on your guest list. Since the guestlist influences almost every other part of planning a wedding you should take this part of your wedding planning seriously, especially if you’re planning a wedding on a budget.

First and foremost, think about your budget, and remember to be realistic. Weddings can get expensive, especially if you’re inviting a lot of people. If you’re working with a smaller budget, it might be wise to keep the guest list on the smaller side. On the other hand, if you have a more flexible budget, you might be able to invite a few more people.

Next, think about the size of your venue. You don’t want to overcrowd the space, so it’s important to consider how many people you can comfortably fit in the venue you’ve chosen. Keep in mind that you’ll also need to consider things like seating arrangements, tables, and dance floor space.

Finally, think about who you really want to be there on your special day. This is your wedding, after all, and you should invite the people who are most important to you. This might include close family members, friends, and perhaps a few colleagues or extended family members. Just remember to keep the guest list manageable and within your budget.

A few more tips to help you successfully create your guestlist.

It’s important to set boundaries and guidelines when creating a guest list. Something that helps is asking one of your strong-willed wedding party members to help you stick to the boundaries you set when you started creating the guest list.

Remember to take your time and consider every detail, such as venue size, available overnight accommodation, travel requirements, plus-ones, and any restrictions that are in place.

Make sure that you include the people who are most important to you and your partner. Don’t let your friends or family members influence you unless they are contributing to the wedding. Make sure to prioritize those who are closest to you.

Now, let’s look at some stats and quantities to consider.

What is considered a small, medium, and large wedding based on guestlist size?

According to Martha Stewart Weddings, a small wedding has a guest list size of 50 people or less, a medium wedding has a guest list size of 50 to 150, and a large wedding’s guest list is over 150 people.

These numbers aren’t exact, but they are a good guide to follow when looking at venues and budget guides for your wedding.

What is the average wedding size?

According to research done by The Knot, the average size of weddings in America was 105 guests in 2021, which was much higher than the small COVID weddings of 2020, coming in at only 66 guests on average. And slightly lower than the 131 average guest count of pre-COVID 2019.

Average wedding guestlist sizes are expected to increase in the years following the pandemic. Wedding trends are returning to normal as we come out of the pandemic. This is great news for those who dream of having huge weddings and can afford to have them.

Many people took their chance and had a small wedding during COVID and saved a lot of money thanks to the restrictions on event sizes that were put in place. Talk about making the most of a bad situation.

Unfortunately, that excuse is no longer valid, and you’ll need to think of what to tell the people that you’re not inviting to your wedding in 2022, 2023, and beyond. Here are some tips on how to break the news to the people you aren’t inviting to your wedding.

How to tell people that you’re not inviting them to your wedding?

It can be difficult to tell people that they are not invited to your wedding, especially if you have a close relationship with them. Here are a few tips for how to handle this situation in a kind and respectful way:

1. Be honest and direct: It’s important to be honest and direct when explaining the situation to the person you are not inviting. Be clear that the decision was not personal and that it was simply a matter of space constraints on the guest list.
2. Use “I” statements: When explaining the situation, use “I” statements to take responsibility for the decision. For example, instead of saying “you’re not invited because we don’t have enough space,” say “I’m sorry, but we had to make some tough decisions about the guest list due to space constraints and unfortunately we weren’t able to include everyone we would have liked to.”
3. Offer an alternative: If possible, consider offering the person an alternative way to be involved in the wedding, such as attending the rehearsal dinner or being a part of the wedding party. This can help to soften the blow and show that you value their presence and contribution.
4. Thank them for their understanding: Express your gratitude for their understanding and let them know that you value their friendship. This can help to maintain the relationship and show that the decision was not personal.

It’s also a good idea to be as understanding and empathetic as possible. Remember that the person you are not inviting may be disappointed or hurt, and it’s important to be sensitive to their feelings.

Conclusion

So, to sum it up, the number of people you should invite to your wedding depends on a variety of factors, including your budget, venue size, and the people you want to celebrate with. In the end, it’s all up to you, your partner, and your budget, but we hope this guide helped you determine how many people you should invite to your wedding. We hope this article helped you answer the question, “How many people should I invite to my wedding?”. Just make sure to keep it manageable and enjoyable for everyone, and you’re sure to have a wonderful wedding day!