The Guest List - it’s all in the numbers!

Create your guest list as early as you can. The secret to a successful wedding is time and this is the first step in preparing for a wedding, so make sure this is done properly.

Creating your guest list is a vital step in planning your wedding and not something that you want to just guess at. Deciding who will be invited is fun and should not be made complicated. But some couples still find themselves frustrated with who to invite and who not to invite. They are encumbered by the fear of disappointing those who don't make the list, and sometimes, in order to escape this anxiety, brides tend to invite everyone they know and end up spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars extra. So, why don't you set aside a night with your fiancé, and jot down the names of those people that you want to include in your list?

You don't have to invite people who you seldom see, or far relatives you haven't seen for a decade! You might feel like you need to invite them and that you are obligated to keep them on your list. DON'T! This is your day! You have the choice who to invite and who not to.

Jot down the first names that come to mind - close family members and best friends. Then prepare another sheet of paper and write the names of the people whom you would love to invite, but whose names can be removed from the list if needed.

(Please remember that for weddings, a smaller number of guests normally makes for a more intimate and memorable wedding, where you both get to spend quality time with each guest.)

Once you have your list, go over it again and then show it to your parents for feedback. If they are planning to pay towards the cost of the wedding, let them have a few suggestions with who to invite and who not to. But don't let them go overboard. If they insist on inviting a few people who are not on your current list, you may need to negotiate this with them (remember each and every guests costs you more).

The next step is to count all your guests – don’t forget to include yourselves in the numbers.

Now, you probably have a proper guest list and this will be your guide for all the wedding decisions that follow -

My 3 top tips for cutting down on a guest list:

1.       Decide if you want to invite guests from afar. There are some people like your distant relatives and old pals who have already moved away, and then you suddenly remember them. Decide carefully whether you would want them at your wedding. Have you spoken to them in the past few months? Have they invited you to any of their celebrations? If you really feel like inviting someone like your childhood best friend, that's fine, but accept your guest's decision if they do not want to travel.

2.       You can make a no-children policy. This might offend some parents and you might not be able to invite your little nieces and nephews, but this can also help trim your guest list and avoid crying babies as you exchange vows with your intended. You can schedule the time of your wedding in the evening which is generally understood as a kid-free time.

3.       When considering inviting people you work with, decide carefully. If you work in a small office, it is best to follow the all or none policy. You might disappoint some co-workers if they see others being invited and they are not. On the other hand, if you are working in a large firm, you can safely invite your happy hour crew.