5 Tips To Right-Size Your Elopement Guest List
Eloping is making a welcome comeback for many. This most intimate and personal type of wedding nuptials reduces the stress of planning, limits problems, and delays, and lets you craft a very personalized day. But how many people should come to your elopement? The right answer is just as personal as the day you're designing. To help you find it, here are a few tips for guest list success.
1. Start With the Rules
Begin your guest list by checking the legal wedding rules in your state. Many states — but not all — require an officiant of some kind and a minimum number of witnesses. Can the officiant be a friend or must they be ordained or granted legal authority? And how many witnesses are enough? This is the minimum number of attendees.
2. Size Up the Location
Elopements provide an amazing level of flexibility about where you actually say 'I do'. It could be anywhere from a church or county office to a beautiful park, the side of a mountain, or on a dock. However, many of these spots weren't designed to serve as wedding bases, so don't overestimate how many people they hold or how comfortable guests will be. Assess their potential realistically.
3. Limit the Wedding Party
The next set of must-have guests on your list is the wedding party. However, be cautious about how many people you include. If the elopement location is limited, don't overfill it with a large wedding party. In addition, keep in mind that eloping gives you the perfect opportunity to weed out people from your guest list. So start with the smallest party possible and only build up as warranted.
4. Stick to Your Plan
In contrast with other ways to get married, eloping has the smallest guest list. It's often under a dozen or so individuals. It can even have zero guests beyond what the state requires. Sit down as a couple and decide on your preferred number of guests, including and not including the wedding party. Then, stick to your guns when others get wind of your plans.
5. Have a Party Later
The best way to keep your guest list the size you really want is to offer an olive branch to those not invited. That olive branch is usually some other kind of post-nuptial celebration, such as a reception or brunch later on. Some couples even host a big first-anniversary party instead. Planning this in advance helps you fend off unwanted guest creep.
Want more help planning the perfect guest list for your elopement? Start by meeting with an elopement venue in your area today. With their guidance and expertise, you'll have the best size wedding and the most special day possible.
To learn more, contact a company like Hideaway Country Inn.
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