Tips to plan your wedding guest list at Brooklake

A variety of wedding items, including a wedding invitation and wedding shoes, are artfully arranged on a table at one of the exquisite Florham Park wedding venues in New Jersey.

Planning a wedding can often feel like an overwhelming task, especially when it comes to creating the guest list. With so many different people to consider, we know it can be difficult to decide who to invite and how many guests to invite. To make the process easier, here are some tips on how to plan your wedding guest list.

A wedding at Florham Park’s Brooklake, with our indoor/outdoor event space, large ballroom and oversized dance floor we can comfortably accommodate over 300 wedding guests. We also host more intimate weddings. Our Event Manager is extremely responsive and flexible throughout the whole planning process, paying close attention to every detail of your special day. You can also get advice on local New Jersey accommodations for your out-of-town guests and lots of other important considerations you may not have even thought about.

Start planning your guest list early.

Begin by making a list of people you absolutely want to invite. This list should include your closest family members, friends, and any important people in your lives. Once you have your must-have list, it’s time to consider the size of your wedding. Your budget, and number of attendants can all help dictate the size of your guest list. Make sure to be realistic with how many people you can accommodate at your wedding.

Once you’ve determined the size of your guest list, you can start looking at the specifics. Break your list down into categories, such as family, friends, coworkers, etc. Decide how many people from each group you can invite, depending on your budget and the size of your venue.

When creating your guest list, consider any special circumstances. If you’re inviting family members who have a strained relationship, you may want to consider assigning them to separate tables.

A bride and groom gracefully walk down the aisle in a charming tent at one of the most enchanting NJ wedding venues.

What do you do when the bride or groom has a much larger family?

When it comes to wedding planning, no detail is too small. And when it comes to the guest list, it is especially important to make sure that all of your guests are respected and included. But what do you do when the bride or groom has a much larger family?

The first step is to start early. You will want to give yourself plenty of time to work through the guest list and make sure that everyone you would like to invite is included. It is also essential to be realistic about who you can accommodate. If you only have a certain number of seats, you will need to prioritize who you can invite. You should consider having an A-list and a B-list. The A-list should include the closest family members, while the B-list can include more distant family members. This way, you can make sure that all family members are given a chance to be invited without having to turn away too many. Planning a wedding can be stressful, and dealing with a larger family size can add to that stress. But with careful planning and communication, it is possible to make sure that everyone you care about is included in your big day.

You may also want to include a plus-one for each guest.

When inviting your guests, you can make it clear that you are open to including their partners by asking if they would like to bring a plus one. You could include this in your invitation or send a follow-up email or call. Make sure to emphasize that you are excited to meet their partner and look forward to having them join the celebration. Additionally, you can provide a way for them to easily RSVP for two.

A newly married couple walks down the aisle at their New Jersey wedding reception.

Consider whether or not to invite children to your wedding.

While it can be a fun and unique way to add a little extra life to your wedding, there are a few important factors to consider before making your decision. The first thing to consider is the overall atmosphere of your wedding. If you’re planning a formal, adult-only event, it may be best to leave out the children. However, if your wedding has a more relaxed, family-friendly vibe, it may be a nice touch to include them. It’s also important to think about the ages of the children you’d like to invite, as you’ll need to make sure they’ll be comfortable and safe during the ceremony and reception.

Another factor to consider is the cost of having children at your wedding. You’ll need to think about whether you’d like to provide meals and entertainment for the younger guests. It’s also important to think about who will be responsible for supervising the children during the wedding, as this can be a significant responsibility. Finally, it’s important to think about the wishes of your guests. If you have family or friends who are bringing children, it’s important to be courteous and considerate of their feelings before making your decision.

Read more about the topic of children at your wedding. 

A group of people posing for a photo at a new jersey wedding reception.

Special consideration for wedding guests who live far from New Jersey.

It’s common to invite out-of-towners to the rehearsal dinner, so that they have something to do the night before the wedding. However, while hosting out-of-town guests at your rehearsal dinner is a nice gesture, it’s not a must. If you have a lot of out-of-towners and your budget is tight, you invite them for dessert and/or drinks after the actual dinner. You may also consider hosting a brunch the day after the wedding. This way, you can offer your guests a meal and some quality time with family before they head back home.

What if one family is much larger than the other and the tricky question of who pays.

When it comes to planning a wedding, understanding etiquette of who pays for what can be tricky. This is especially the case when one family has more members than the other, such as when the groom’s family is larger than the bride’s. In situations like this, there are some guidelines that should be followed to ensure that the expense of the wedding is taken care of in a fair and equitable manner.

One of the most important aspects of etiquette when it comes to paying for a wedding when the groom’s family is larger is that both sets of parents should contribute financially. This should be done in a way that is respectful to both families and ensures that the cost of the wedding is shared evenly. This means that if the groom’s family has more members than the bride’s, then the groom’s family may need to contribute more.

The bride and groom should also bear some responsibility for the cost of the wedding. Couples often choose to contribute a significant portion of the cost, depending on their financial circumstances. This is a way of showing appreciation to their families and helps to ensure that the cost of the wedding is shared fairly.

Finally, while it is important to be mindful of etiquette, couples should also recognize that families may not be able to contribute as much as they would like. In these cases, couples should be understanding and work out a payment plan that works for both families. By following these guidelines for etiquette of who pays for a wedding when the groom’s family is larger, couples can ensure that the expense of the wedding is shared fairly and respectfully. By doing so, couples can ensure that their special day is both memorable and financially manageable.

A bride and groom gracefully dancing on the dance floor at a charming New Jersey wedding venue.
A group of people dancing on the dance floor at a NJ wedding.

Finally, make sure to double-check your list for any typos or mistakes in the wedding invitations.

You don’t want to accidentally leave out someone important or invite someone who is not able to attend. Contact each guest directly by phone or email and confirm their address. Ask them to double-check the address you have for them to ensure it’s correct. You can also send out a postcard or other small item to the address to test the accuracy.

Creating a wedding guest list can seem daunting, but with some careful planning and consideration, you can ensure that your wedding is a day to remember. We’re here to help! Contact the wedding professionals at Brooklake.