How To Create A Micro Wedding Guest List

The best thing about a micro wedding? You get to truly connect and spend time with every person there. The hardest part? Deciding who makes the micro wedding guest list.

Read on for five easy steps to create a wedding guest list that feels good, fits your budget, and works with your venue size.

Who To Include On Your Small Wedding Guest List?

1. Start with the Fam

Begin with your must-haves. For some couples, this means immediate family; for others, it's chosen family. However you define them, these are the people you cannot imagine getting married without.

Make two lists: one for immediate family and one for extended family. Or, combine them and sort from "must-have" to "nice-to-have" on your small wedding guest list.

2. On to the Crew

Next, create a list of your core group of friends. Be sure to include friends you both know as well as individual friendships—this will come in handy later (see Step #4).

3. Lastly, the Friends

Finally, create a list of other friends you'd like to invite. This could include co-workers, childhood friends, school friends—anyone you want to share your day with and add to your small wedding guest list.

Putting It All Together

Start building your final small wedding guest list with the fam. Once you know how many spots are left, agree on a fair way to divide them up. Maybe you each get to invite the same number of people, or perhaps only mutual friends make the cut. Whatever you decide, make sure it feels fair to both of you.

Next, add guests from your crew list until your spots are filled—or until it's time to dip into your final list.

Pro Tip: Take a few days off from thinking about your wedding guest list, then revisit it with fresh eyes to see if anyone should be added or removed.

Backup Plans (For When You're Paying for Empty Seats)

Congrats! You have your small wedding guest list. Now what? Time to send out those invitations!

But don't forget about your backup list. If your venue charges for a set number of seats (whether they’re filled or not), your backup guests can save the day.

Not everyone you invite will be able to attend—life happens. As family and friends bow out, you can invite people from your backup list to fill those empty seats.

Pro Tip: Sending your invites out early helps you avoid paying for unused seats.

Prepare For Some Feelings

Let's be real—someone may feel hurt about not being invited. But here's the truth: You can't please everyone. This is your wedding day, and your wants matter most.

In a perfect world, people will feel disappointed but ultimately be happy for you. If you need help navigating tricky conversations, check out these tips for telling your family you're eloping (they work for micro weddings too!).

Additional Ways For How To Keep Your Wedding Guest List Small

Still struggling to get your wedding guest list down to 50? Here are a couple of ways to trim it further:

• Have an adults-only wedding: There might be some feelings, but most guests will understand and make it work.

• Limit plus-ones: Your best friend's live-in partner? Invite them. Your cousin's boyfriend of one month? Maybe not.

• You both know: Since this day is all about the two of you, try inviting only guests that you both know. 

Set Yourself Up For Success

When it comes to your small wedding guest list, these tips will make the process smoother:

1. Send Save-the-Dates Early
By sending save-the-dates to your must-haves, you increase the chances they'll be able to attend. This helps you predict your final guest count, which is key when working with a limited number of seats. Typically, save-the-dates go out 6 months to a year before your wedding.

2. You Don’t Have to Invite Everyone
I have two cousins in Mexico I've met twice. Even though they’re family, they didn’t get invited to my wedding—which was in Mexico.

If you haven't spoken to someone in over a year, don't feel obligated to invite them. Your wedding guest list should include people who truly matter to you.

3. Take an All-or-Nothing Approach
If you have a large extended family or a big friend group, an all-or-nothing approach might be easier. For example, either all your cousins are invited, or none are. All the kids come, or none of them do.

 

 

Keep It All On The DL

At the end of the day, your wedding guest list is your business. It should feel good, make you excited, and bring you joy.

If it helps prevent drama, consider keeping your small wedding guest list private. No one needs to know who made the cut (or who didn’t).

Find Your Wedding Photographer Who Gets It

Your wedding, your rules. If you want to invite 60 of your favourite people and still call it a small wedding—do it!

And if you're looking for a wedding photographer who gets it and won’t fuss over the difference between 50 guests or 60, I might just be your girl. Fill out the form below, and let's set up a time to chat about your big day!