A Guide to Building Your Wedding Guest List

One of the trickiest parts of wedding planning isn’t the flowers, the menu, or even the seating chart—it’s the guest list. Whether your dream day is a cozy celebration for 50 or a grand soirée for 200, the goal is the same: create a guest list that feels warm, intentional, and truly yours.

1. Start With Your Inner Circle

Before you start adding plus-ones, work acquaintances, or your second cousin twice removed, begin with the people who matter most. Ask yourself:

• Who has been a constant in your life or relationship?

• Who do you truly want to witness this moment?
  
  

This “inner circle first” method ensures your guest list reflects your most important relationships, giving your wedding an intimate core—even if more guests are added later.

2. Define Your Vibe Before Your Numbers

If your wedding vision is candlelight, a string quartet, and heartfelt toasts, keep that image front and center. When you know the atmosphere you want, it’s easier to see how guest count impacts it.

3. Use “Priority Tiers”

This is my favorite behind-the-scenes planner trick. Create three lists:

• A-List: The must-haves. Family, lifelong friends, and people who’ve played a meaningful role in your journey.

• B-List: Guests you’d love to include if space and budget allow.

• C-List: Nice-to-have acquaintances, coworkers, or extended contacts.
  
  

This gives you flexibility as RSVPs come in—without sacrificing the feeling of an intentional guest list.

4. Be Strategic With Plus-Ones

Plus-ones can grow a guest list fast. Instead of offering them universally, set a guideline—such as extending them to married, engaged, or long-term partners. This keeps the atmosphere more personal, and helps you avoid tables filled with strangers.

Your wedding guest list sets the tone for your entire day. By being intentional about who you invite, defining your vision early, and using thoughtful strategies like priority tiers and selective plus-ones, you can strike the perfect balance between a celebration that feels full of love—and one that still feels yours.

At Madison Nicole Events, I help couples navigate these tricky decisions with grace, strategy, and a little magic. The end result? A guest list that’s not just a list—it’s a reflection of your story. Click HERE and lets discuss how we can work together!