This is without a doubt a big question on the minds of brides and grooms everywhere, as they plan their big day: how many people should I invite to my wedding? Do you make it small and intimate, or a huge, blowout? There’s a lot of things to consider, from family size to venues to wedding vision, that will help you determine just how many people you should plan on inviting to your wedding celebration.

Venue

If you have your eye on a specific venue (or venues), the location may be what sets your wedding size capacity. However, if you don’t have your heart set on a certain venue, choose one that can accommodate your approximate guest list, then use this capacity cut off to guide your list. You’ll want to consider whether you want a spacious ballroom that can hold 500 people when you only have 100 coming, or if you want to invite 200 and your guests are packed into the dance floor. 

Family Size

Have a large family with lots of cousins, grandparents, uncles, aunts and siblings that will absolutely have to be in attendance? Depending on how many friends (including family/parent friends) your were planning on inviting, this may make for a much larger sized wedding. Family is usually where the happy couple will start when drafting their guest list, it’s a great way to get an idea of how big your wedding will need to be.

Atmosphere

What do you want the overall vibe of your wedding day to feel like? If you are hoping for a cozy, intimate atmosphere, it’s best to keep the guest list on the shorter side and just include your closest friends and family members. Though if you’re looking for the feeling of a big party, full of everyone you know celebrating you, then a big wedding guest list is what you’re after!

Tip: Don’t forget to account for parents/in-law’s friends that they want to invite – ask parents and future in-laws to make a list for you. You don’t want to find out after you’ve finalized your list they have 10 extra people you need to invite!

Budget

The budget is a major guiding factor (sometimes even the most important) to couples when planning their guest list. This is because most venues will charge by the head, or at least a guest range. This means extra expense for certain meals/dishes, cake size, an open or partially open bar, chairs, decor, etc.

If you’re wanting a big wedding but have a smaller budget, look for buffet style dinners as they’re more likely to be less expensive than a multi-course sit-down dinner. And if your venue will allow you to cater in, rather than use their on-site vendor, this allows you more room to shop around and find a price that fits your budget.

If you’re dreaming of a super elegant, multi-course meal served to your guests during the reception, and maybe even an open bar, you may want to stick to a smaller list of invites if you’re working with a tighter budget. Think about how you want your ideal reception and ceremony to look, but remember to stick to the budget!