Let the destination trim your guest list
Filed under: Destination Ceremonies, Negotiating Speed Bumps, Relationships, Invitations, Budget Advice, Etiquette, Receptions, Ceremonies
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One of the greatest stresses for any bride and groom is the matter of the guest list -- who to invite, who to leave off and who to constantly bump heads over. Capping the guest list is a wise financial choice as the headcount dictates the cost of many things. Just a few examples: most venues charge you for dinner (either sit-down or buffet) by the headcount, the cake is quoted to you by the headcount, the favors, the save-the-date cards and the invitations are all ordered with the headcount in mind. If you keep your guest list to a set amount, the costs will be cut across the board. It makes logical sense, but that doesn't make it any easier. You want to invite everyone in your mutual address books, and sometimes just the families alone can add up to 50+ people. How do you make the hard decisions over who to include and who to, well, exclude?
One of the silver linings of a destination wedding -- in addition to the built-in vacation for you and every one of your guests -- is the unavoidable reality that many people who would have made it to a hometown ceremony just can't travel for a destination wedding. You want everyone to come that can, and you'd admittedly love for everyone you invited to make the trip, but it's just not realistic. This makes it possible to pad your guest list with a few of those on-the-fence guests without worrying about those above-mentioned higher costs. For my personal destination wedding we sent out 150 invitations (some to entire families) and our final headcount was right around 65.
Although it may seem like a destination wedding is a silly choice to make with a budget in mind, the cost doesn't have to reach exorbitant levels. Let the destination be the decor and know that your wedding will ultimately be smaller with much fewer in attendance than if it were being held back home. The extra expenses of traveling and accommodations really will be eased by the smaller headcount.
Although it may seem like a destination wedding is a silly choice to make with a budget in mind, the cost doesn't have to reach exorbitant levels. Let the destination be the decor and know that your wedding will ultimately be smaller with much fewer in attendance than if it were being held back home. The extra expenses of traveling and accommodations really will be eased by the smaller headcount.
What's in a name?
Dress of the day: Anastasia by Maggie Sottero
Unusual wedding cakes from Dragons and Daffodils
