Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and being surrounded by the right people is essential. In a time of Coronavirus, many couples are unfortunately having to reimagine their celebration as a more intimate affair. Perhaps this is to accommodate a new venue, a smaller budget, or for safety reasons. The important thing is to have a strategy in place to help you cut your wedding guest list in an effective way.
CONTACT VENUE
Talk to your venue contact to clarify their restrictions (as well as any state restrictions) so you have a firm number to work with. Settle on a number of guest you will be able to accomodate.
START BY MAKING GUEST LIST A & B
An A List are those people that are the VIPS that have to be at your wedding. These are your immediate family and wedding party, as well as their significant other. B list for guests you would like to invite IF AND ONLY IF you had the space. A wedding B list will most likely include distant cousins, co-workers, school friends, etc..
CUT-IT
Once you’ve built your A list, work out how many spots are leftover. You can then fill these places with a widening circle of people from your B list. Some of the people that may be easier to cut include friends or family members you haven’t seen or communicated with in years, work friends, and plus-ones you don’t know. If your parents or in-laws have added names to the original guest list, they may be willing to cut some of these as well.
FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR GUEST
Before you make any further moves, it’s a good idea to check in with the guests still on your list. You can do this personally, or via a survey. Ask them who would be able to attend on your original (or revised) date. Some of them may not be willing to travel or attend a group gathering, however small. (This may be especially true for older relatives.) If so, you’ll be able to include others in their place. And they will have made the decision for you!
COMMUNICATE
Once you’ve settled on the revised guest list, it’s time to inform your previously-invited guests (if you have any). The best way to do this is personally. Reach out with a phone call or video chat as soon as possible. Explain the situation honestly, and let them know how disappointed you are that they won’t be able to make it. If you’ll be live-streaming the event, you should also let them know this.
Try not to let having to cut your guest list down due to Coronavirus overshadow your excitement at what will still be an incredible day!
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