Worried about accidentally forgetting to invite someone to your wedding? The best way to start making your wedding guest list is to create a dream list with the help of The Knot Guest List Manager. Brainstorm a hypothetical list of absolutely everyone you’d want (or need) to invite if you had unlimited space and money (and patience) to host them all. You’ll likely need to cut your guest list once you factor in a realistic budget and venue, of course, but jotting down all possible attendees first is a great way to avoid missing anyone important. Having a large, general list will also be super helpful if you end up drafting an A-list and B-list (more on A- and B-list etiquette here). So, without further ado, here’s a lineup of every possible group of people to consider adding to your guest list, keeping in mind there could be overlap or differences based on your circumstances.
Immediate Families
Are we being too obvious? (Just kidding.) But, seriously, both of your immediate fams should make the top of your list.
Extended Families
You can probably come up with your aunts, uncles and first cousins on your own, but your parents will be a great resource to help you name all of those second and once-removed cousins, or great aunts and uncles, who should at least be considered.
Your Parents’ Friends
How much of a say your parents get in the guest list depends on how much they’re contributing financially. Ask your parents to come up with their own dream list (yes, we know it’s your wedding, but still) that you can refer to when making yours.
Family Friends
Think about loved ones you know through your own family—godparents, people you’ve grown up vacationing with or anyone who practically feels like a relative. You know who they are.
Religious Circles
Are you particularly close to anyone from your current and/or childhood religious community? Write them down.
High School and College Friends
Your current closest friends—even members of your wedding party—might be from your high school and/or college days, but now’s the time to think about other fun, maybe less obvious people from your school years whom you’d have a blast celebrating with. Maybe it’s your sorority sisters/fraternity brothers just outside your best friend circle, your improv group or those hilarious freshman year roommates. And don’t forget to consider any special teachers, coaches or mentors from this time in your life.
Childhood Friends
We’re talking summer camp friends, that bestie you’ve known since you were in diapers and so on. (When it’s time to trim your list, if you’re no longer close or haven’t spoken to them in over three years, go ahead and cut them.)
Interest Group Friends
Whether it’s your intramural dodgeball team in the city where you work or the group you volunteer with at the local soup kitchen every Saturday, scan your current “extracurriculars” for new friends you can’t imagine getting married without.
Coworkers
Guest list etiquette around coworkers and secondary friends can get tricky, especially if you’re close to a few colleagues, but would rather not celebrate with all of your office mates. Include as many as you’d feel comfortable with to your preliminary head count. Later, you can cut and strategize—maybe coworkers (even your faves) make the B-list, for example.
Children
If you’re not crazy about inviting kids to your party, don’t feel bad about having an adults-only wedding. But if you’re still on the fence about it, include littles ones for now—in terms of budget and logistics, it’s easier to have to cut than make additions down the line.
Phone Contacts and Social Media Friends
Still think you might be missing someone? Scroll through your Facebook friends,Instagram followers and phone contacts to cast the net super wide and jog your memory. You might be surprised who (and whose plus-one) you forgot to include.
Remember, don’t let this massive list freak you out—and don’t delete any names yet. Once you’ve thought of everyone, comb through to organize into categories like “definitely,” “maybe,” “if there’s room” and “no.”
