You are newly engaged and as yous start spreading the word that you are getting married, the question you’ll hear most often is, “Have you set your date?” Being newly engaged, you are looking ahead with excitement about your guest list, what gown you’ll wear and where you want to be married.
Brandon Scott Photography, Windsor/Essex County- will travel
All three of the questions above are incredibly important, however your guest list is vital as it is the first step of wedding planning. Now is a good time to start making phone calls to the key people who you want to be in your wedding party. It gives them lead time and puts your day on their calendar, well in advance.
Your guest count is directly related to your budget and the number of guests influences everything, from where and when your ceremony takes place to the mood of your reception, your menu and all the special touches that you want to put on your special occasion.
Did you know that anyone you invite to your engagement party should also be invited to the wedding? Should your engagement party be large, but your wedding celebration plans small, your guests should understand that they are “special” in your life and that they are not being excluded as they have already shared your excitement at the onset. This would apply to a destination wedding that is smaller in scope.
Setting a guest list is your first step in planning your day. Develop a master list and divide it into groups; those people that have to be invited and those you want to invite. Colour-coding the list will show you which guests are yours, your fiancés, your parents and his. Once you have that list put together, call, email or text the out-of-town guests to get a feel of who will be coming and who won’t be.
Many couples have inquired about their obligation to include ” plus guest” on their invitations. Certainly if a guest has a spouse or significant other, then they should be included.
It’s definitely your call to include children. It is your special day and you certainly want all those people that are important to be there sharing it with you.
You’ll find The Wedding Guide’s interactive budget calculator a great tool to help you organize your spending. It will take your entire budget and appropriate dollars to each wedding category. Once the numbers are keyed in, you’ll see how you can move around those dollars and put them into a category that has a higher value to you and your fiancé. Find this in the “Wedding Planning” section online on this website. It will keep your finances in line for you.
