Who Not to Invite To Your Wedding

When it comes to planning nuptials for post-pandemic times, you might be thinking, “The more the merrier!” That is, until you get the bill. After adding up catering, rentals, and favors, you’ll start to see the simplest way to cut your wedding costs is to cut the guest list. And if you’re stuck on where to start snipping, here are a few suggestions of people who you don’t really need to invite if you don’t want to.

Tight family, close friends, and anyone else you can’t imagine doing this whole “I do” thing without. (Or none of the above, if you feel like eloping.)

We’re not saying they must come off the list, just that if you’re trying to slim down your number of guests, here are a few places you can cut, guilt-free.

• Anybody you haven’t spoken to in a year
• Co-workers you’ve never seen outside of work
• People you’re only considering inviting because they invited you to theirs
• Anybody who would introduce drama or bring on bad vibes with their presence
• Anyone just your parents want to invite (unless they’re footing part of the bill)
• Anyone you wouldn’t normally buy dinner for
• Anyone your partner hasn’t met

This past year, all of the generally accepted wedding invite etiquette has gone out the window. If you’re planning to wed in the middle of this pandemic and thinking about who to invite, your biggest priority should be safety: Follow state and local guidance, only invite the number of people you feel safest having there, and encourage those guests to join only if they feel comfortable doing so.

And remember: Even if that means there are only two people on your in-person invite list—you and your partner—Zoom can open up a world of festive possibilities.