This Newbie Needs HELP!

[patsydawn]

Hello everyone! So glad I have found this site! My name is Patsy Dawn, but please call me Dawn! I am engaged to the most romantic man! Our wedding date is Feb. 28th and my church, but over the weekend, we've discussed how to cut back some, (first wedding list over 500 people) and we're thinking of moving the date up to Sept and having a smaller wedding in his grandmothers back yard on the water. This is my second marriage, 1st wedding, and his 1st time around. My question is this: with 3 wedding showers already being planned, how do we make the guest list smaller? We don't want to not invite someone who has gone to a shower and given us a gift! My first plan, was to be married in church, not send invitations, plan for around 400 people, just by word of mouth and in the paper. I'm scared though, because we know so many people! Any word of advice?

Our engagement story is amazing...I'll post that in the engagement section! Thanks bunches!

Dawn

[O'Driscoll Photography]

Congrats and welcome, Dawn!

 

Why not go through your list and just choose the friends that you are really close with, and then eliminate the folks that are acquaintances. This will really help cut back your total costs.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Tod

[rafa]

Welcome to the firum Dawn!

 

First of all do not be scared. Normally not all the people that you invite would go, that is a rule of thumb. If you do a DW in a beach, for example, less people will go, but the people that goes will be your best friends and family.

 

Hope this advice will help you.

 

Rafa

[dinogomez.com]

Welcome to the forum!!!

[stacey]

Congrats and welcome Dawn!

[lucy106]

Welcome to the forum Dawn!! Just because this is your second marriage doesnt mean a damn thing sweetie! This my second and my FI first. I just had to learn the hard way and I am a better person for it. Who makes up the 500 people list? People that are your parents friends or acquaintances? I agree, cut it to family and close friends.

[BEACHBRIDEMA]

Welcome to the forum

Sarah

[patsydawn]

Thanks for the advice and the welcoming! The 500 list is 100+ for Ty's family, wedding party and families, my family, and friends of both of ours. With living and working in the same area for so long, we know EVERYBODY!!! We're paying for this ourselves, so my MOM has no say so in the wedding, guests or anything! Just having a hard time, cuz don't want to exclude anyone that has given us a gift and expecting an invite!

[Autumn]

congrats, Dawn - and welcome!

[Kelly C]

What we decided to do is invite close friends and family and we sent out an annoucement to the rest saying a Home Town reception to follow. That way no one gets their feelings hurts. The AHR isn't going to be anything crazy. Just an open house type of thing when we get home.