For many people, their wedding day is the highlight of their lives. But this is also a pricey day, and sometimes corners have to be cut. The simplest tactic to cut back is to reduce the guest list because this is the largest cost of many weddings due to catering expenses. Following are a few useful etiquette tips for inviting wedding guests.

Often, the parents of the bride and groom will have friends and relatives they want to invite to the ceremony. Despite the fact that these people may not be very important for the bride and groom to celebrate their special day, it is nice to honor the people who are likely paying for the event and give them some involvement in the guest list. It’s considered proper protocol for the bride and groom to allot a certain amount of spaces for the preferences of each set of parents.

When it comes to the bride and groom, there is an easy technique to manage the guest list. The ones who are without doubt going to be invited to the ceremony will be put on the “A” list. The “B” list will comprise people who the bride and groom would want to ask if space permits. Once the invitations go out and responses come back, the bride and groom can ask people from the “B” list once somebody from the “A” list has indicated they will not attend. This will be awkward to contend with if the “B” list person realizes that they got their invitation later than others. Chances are, though, that the issue won’t be brought up.

One more method to reduce the amount of guests is by not permitting all the single people to bring a guest. This might involve a bit of legwork, since if a guest is believed to be unattached but they’re in a meaningful relationship, then they ought to be allowed to bring their date. Talk to family and friends before targeting a single guest and not allowing them to bring somebody meaningful to them to the ceremony.

Finally, a number of couples are choosing to have ceremonies that do not involve children. If every guest was permitted to take children, then the crowd would swell exponentially, right along with the cost. As you’re addressing the wedding invitations, include just the names of the couple you are requesting the presence of.

If somebody replies and includes a companion when one wasn’t included in the invitation or a family replies with four attendees rather than two, there are ways to deal with it courteously. It is important to call up these invitees and explain the circumstances. To start with, find out from the single person if the relationship is meaningful. If it is, then make an apology for not realizing and include the date if seating permits. In the situation of the family, hold your ground and inform the family that children aren’t invited and that it’s no different for each of the participants. If they have any difficulty with this, then make an apology but remain firm.

Preparing the guest list and sending invitations is one of the biggest jobs of planning a wedding. The good news is that there are basic guidelines that you can follow no matter what style of ceremony you are planning. Learn more by visiting the Wedding Invitation Etiquette site.