By: Catalina Walsh
We all want to share and include everyone in our wedding. But, inviting all your favorite co-workers and friends from work is not always feasible with our budgets, especially in this economy. So, how to handle the situation so that nobody feels excluded?
What is Your Real Budget?
Start with your real budget. What can you really afford? How many people should be on the list and who shouldn’t be on the guest list.
Now for the Guest List!
Once you determine how many guests you can have at the reception, you can work realistically with your wedding guest list. Start your list with people that are most important to you and your fiance.
Coworkers
Making the cut can often depend on how many spare spaces you have on the guest list. Are you close with your co-workers? Do they think you are close? Do they expect an invitation? These are all things you should think about when making these decisions.
Remember, if you do have a close friend at work, most likely you consider them a friend not merely a co-worker, so they would make it on the guest list.
If you do not have space on your guest list…
Consider organizing a toast in your office and explain to everyone that your wedding reception will be small, but you’d like to celebrate with them this way. A few bottles of wine and some sandwiches will ensure that all feel they are important.
If you have space on the guest list…
If you have space on your guest list, then you may but are not required to invite co-workers. Now this is where it gets tricky… If you would like to invite co-workers, then start with an order of priority. Your boss should get an invitation. Then the co-workers you work immediately with, starting with someone you work directly with, i.e. any work buddies.
As an alternative
Consider inviting co-workers to different showers. Most often, it is polite to invite only those guests that will be included at the wedding, such that guests don’t feel left out. However, you might suggest that even if they are not invited to the wedding but would like to attend a shower or be included you would be happy to include them.
Remember that the goal of this celebration is not be celebrating along with everyone but you and your other half. Invite those with whom you two want to share and enjoy your marriage.
