Guest List : How many is too many ? Where do you draw the line?

      
I’ve been stressing the Wedding Invites .. Like.. nuts. I have so many people that I HAVE to invite & then there’s a list of people that are under a “Big Maybe” ( literally, BIG MAYBE). & it’s so hard to narrow down.
I was told by a friend to not even bother setting a limit but to make sure that I’m not inviting people who I haven’t spoken to. She went so far as to suggest that if these people weren’t present BEFORE the announcement of our engagement - to not bother inviting them after.
If you are planning your wedding & find that your guest list is struggling -do the following:

• Before even thinking about a number, write down the people that come to mind when you think of your wedding. 
• First and foremost, it should be FAMILY. Family should always come first. Then, come the friends. Friends should be your closest. Not people who like your Facebook status’ or send you a general text saying “happy bday”. Chances are if they are that cheap with a birthday message, they’ll be cheaper when it comes to welcoming this new, exciting stepping stone in your life. 
• Decide whether or not you want children to attend. Certainly, the flower girl(s) & ring bearer have to be there - but there is nothing wrong with you wanting it to be an all adult thing,. Personally, I invited children. It’s a way to welcome and bless your marriage - with the old & the young. Just a thought though. 
• Divide the list : DEFINITE invites, POSSIBLE invites, & ( literally ) “If I have to” invites. Which makes sense if you think about it. There are going to be a lot of people on your list that go under the latter because they are family members & friends that you haven’t seen in months, even years, and you cannot feel guilty. There is nothing wrong with being frugal & logical. 
• When sending out invites - send to the possibles that you know WILL make it. 
• Remember, couples get one invite - let them know that they are BOTH invited. No Guests attending is needed here. 
• For those that are single, indicate whether or not they are allowed to bring a guest. Remember to keep that thought when making the list. In fact, you are better off asking if they would like to bring a date. 

After the venue is set, your hardest feat is narrowing down the guest list. Remember you ONLY want the people who have supported your relationship from the beginning, those who TRULY matter & those who YOU know will be there and make your special day .. one to remember <3>