Plan Your Big Day Like a Pro with Our Wedding Guest List Template

• Don't Rush the Process
• Carefully Prepare Your B-list
• Decide on Your Plus-one Policy
• Craft a C-list of Guests You'd Like to See on the Big Day
• Find Out Dietary Restrictions Ahead of Time
• Send Out Tailored Guest List Spreadsheets
• Start Planning Like a Pro Today with our Free Wedding Guest List Builder

Don't Rush the Process

In our opinion, and in the opinion of many top wedding planners, the creating of a wedding guest list is one of the most important planning tasks you'll undertake. As the end result will affect every subsequent planning decision.

For instance, the number of people attending your wedding will dictate the size of your venue, as well as the overall budget you'll require. A larger crowd will create a very different vibe to a lot smaller, more intimate group. A wedding day with lots of plus ones will feel a little less personal than one with limited extra guests invited. You get the picture.

Every guest you add to your ceremony and reception list changes the dynamic, and logistics of your day. Which is why it's essential to not rush the process, and instead be mindful of every decision. The good thing about using an online guest list tool, such as ours, is that if you change your mind about a certain guest, they can be quickly, and painlessly removed. Giving you the opportunity to instantly see what your updated list looks like, without all the messy crossings out paper and pens create!

Carefully Prepare Your B-list

Begin putting together your B-list column of guests in order of importance. First, add the friends, family members and co-workers who really play an active role in your life. The ones you feel will make a positive impact on proceeding. Those you'd love to see present on the day.

These guests should be considered as the 'nice to have' there people. The type that wouldn't ruin your day if they didn't come, but would enhance it if they did.

We would suggest inviting your A-list guests before your B, and C list guests. As the availability of some VIPs may mean more names lower down the spreadsheet can subsequently be invited. Keeping your RSVPs online, and tracking them using a free digital tool such as ours, will simplify this process.

Organize your guest list

Decide on Your Plus-one Policy

If, like us, you would love to allow every guest to bring a plus one, but know your budget can't stretch to that. It's important to decide early on who can, and cannot, bring an extra guest. Some loved ones, such as parents, and those in your wedding party will automatically get a plus one. Especially if they're married. But those further down the pecking order will require a little extra thought.

Solo guests on your B-list, for example, will they know numerous people at your wedding and therefore not need to bring someone? If you have co-workers coming, they could be invited as a group and actually not require plus-ones because they can stick together during celebrations. As can close friends or family members who'll know a large number of invited guests.

On the flip side, if you have a friend you'd love to invite, who isn't part of your friendship group, consider giving them a plus-one. Just so they don't feel lonely on the day. Unless budget is particularly tight, we would suggest working out plus-ones on a case by case basis, rather than having a blanket ban, or free-for-all.

Start your guest list

When using our free wedding website builder to invite guests, it's easy to pick and choose those who can bring a plus one, without hurting any feelings. As our RSVP form can be instantly customized to show only certain guests the option to bring a plus one. Avoiding any awkward conversations in the lead up to your big day...

Craft a C-list of Guests You'd Like to See on the Big Day

Unless you're planning a massive wedding, we've found that most couples don't actually invite a lot of their C-list guests, unless their hand is forced. This group is typically made of people who are in your life, but to a much lesser extent than those in your B or A list. People you would like to see during your wedding day, and you feel would have a good time, but aren't a priority. In reality, if the majority of your A and B list confirm their attendance, you need only announce your wedding to your C-list after the wedding.

It sounds so ruthless to make these kinds of distinctions between people. But it's important to remember that we all categorize friends and family like this everyday, whether we realize it or not. And if you want to create a harmonious, successful celebration, you'll need to be honest about your feelings, and how much certain people mean to you.

You will find that during the process of inviting your A and B list guests, there will be a few that simply cannot make it, for whatever reason. This is when your carefully prepared C-list becomes especially useful, as it'll act as a pool of people you can quickly add to the invite list.

Find Out Dietary Restrictions Ahead of Time

Your catering team will need to know if certain guests have allergies, or dietary requirements ahead of time, to effectively craft their service. The best way of getting this information is by using an online RSVP tool such as ours, as it allows you to ask as many pre-wedding questions as you like. Your guests will quickly be able to share not only food intolerances, but also their meal choices.

All of this information will be gathered via your RSVP, and automatically added to your guest list, ready to be sent to whichever supplier that needs it.

Design your guest list

Send Out Tailored Guest List Spreadsheets

Many of your vendors will require specific information about your guests, to better prepare for the big day. From the venue and the caterers, through to the planner and coordinator. These guys all need to know your headcount, but won't require the same, more detailed information.

For instance, your caterers will need to know how many vegan dishes to prepare. But your hotel will typically not need to know that information. To avoid confusion when sending out guest lists, it's important to tailor each one to the specific vendor. And our guest list tool makes that so simple!

Once you've finalized your guest list using our free tool, you can easily create a bespoke list for each individual supplier via a series of checklist boxes. Giving you the option to not only share dietary information, but also guests' attendance to specific parts of your wedding.

Organize your guest list

Once you've got the perfect, tailored list ready, it can be downloaded it in just one click, and in a printable format. An ideal reference for the venue planners creating your seating chart, or perhaps for you, post wedding, sending off thank you cards to everyone who thoughtfully gave you a gift.

Start Planning Like a Pro Today with our Free Wedding Guest List Builder

Take control of your guest list, and free up valuable wedding planning time, by utilizing our free wedding guest list template today. A core tool in our suite that'll help you not only keep track of RSVPs, but also provide valuable information for seating charts, vendors, and budget.

We always suggest to our couples, carefully consider your guest list, make mindful choices and the rest of the wedding will plan itself - almost!

Build your guest list today and explore our many other free wedding planning tools available to you.