Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The Guest List Blues

In the suggested timelines in my bridal mags, picking a date, working out a budget, and settling on the guest list — I like to call them the Big Three — are always the first tasks. It's like these writers conspire to put you through the ringer right off the bat. More stressed out brides equals more magazine sales!

(This isn't my only wedding planning conspiracy theory, by the way.
As each new challenge pops up, I've been quietly wondering. . .
What if all of the planning hubbub was really invented by men
as one final test of their bride's ability to multitask,
exhibit grace under fire, and do the Macarena in heels?
It's possible!)

With our venues secured, Nate and I have finally managed to squirrel away the date, as you know. And our "budget" continues to teeter precariously in the realm of the doable. So, that's two of the Big Three... it's just the third that's still giving us trouble.

Not checking it twice.

We came up with a draft of our guest list very soon after the proposal. And despite a determination to keep it around one hundred guests, we woke up the next morning still blissfully engaged. I thought, at the time, that every other bride I've known was silly for complaining about her guest list woes.

And then it began.

A text message from an old friend. A sweet childhood memory including a relative you haven't seen in years. A new, wonderful acquaintance. All of these things in themselves lovely, but wreaking havoc on The List.

Havoc being wreaked.

Nate and I have tried a few different approaches to this problem. "Pencilling in" new additions. Repeatedly saying we'll give it a harsh going over, and never going over it. Wildly overestimating the number of regrets we'll receive. And meanwhile The List grows.

Our current philosophy is not to cut anyone, not to add anyone, and to tweak the budget in other areas to allow for adding per capita necessities like food and drink when needed. I sure hope this works!

1 comment:

  1. When Connie was planning her wedding, in 2 months time, her motto was, "If any part of the planning causes distress, then leave that part out." The whole thing should be enjoyable and memorable. Try not to get overwhelmed by details. Focus on your ideas and what you envision. Mostly, remember who you will be looking at, at the end of that isle and that is truly what matters most.

    Love you,
    MAC

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