Wedding Planning, Part V

Compiling your guest list is perhaps one of the most politically-charged elements of the entire wedding planning process. I mean - do you invite Uncle Larry's wife or his mistress? Is it acceptable to seat your foul-smelling cousin Joseph at the children's table? And what about your Great-Aunt Carol? Do you think they will give her a free pass to leave the mental institution of the day, or would it be better if her invitation simply becomes “lost in the mail?” Well with questions like that, it is no wonder why people find guest list planning to be so difficult. But don't worry. Today, I'll share with you a few key tips that should help make your guest list planning a little less of a headache.

First, remember that this is your wedding. And if you don't like 'em, you don't have to invite 'em. Sure you might have to deal with some hurt feelings and/or passive-aggressive rumor starting, but deal with all that after the wedding. Face it, if you fill your wedding guest list with all the people you don't like, yet feel some obligation to invite, you're not going to enjoy your wedding day. (Especially when your socially-awkward cousin Harold decides that your wedding is the appropriate time and place to announce his undying love for his pet poodle, Bubbles...) So, fill your guest list with the friends and family that you want to share your special day with. And deal with the rest later.

Second, always invite the significant other. And I know this tip seems to contradict my previous tip, but let's be honest here – if you want your college buddy to attend the wedding (and remain your college buddy in the future), then you must invite his/her significant other. And forget about that whole - boy, girl, boy, girl – seating arrangement. Let's face it, in this day and age chances are not all of the couples are going to be boy, girl...

And third, use social media carefully. Sure, it might seem like a good idea to set up a wedding events page on Facebook. But if you're not careful, you'll end up with every Facebook stalker, wedding crasher, and poor college student in the state attending your wedding for the free food, open bar, and plethora of available and/or easy wedding guests. And you'll forever look at your wedding photos and ask yourself - who was that little bald man who ate all the shrimp cocktail?

Well, I hope these tips help you plan the guest list for your wedding. And until next week, I wish you good luck with all your wedding plans.