DJ Rockin Steve

Your wedding guest list. How do you decide who to invite, and how do you decide who sits next to who? Especially if you have relatives who can't stand another relative and you can't place them at the same table.

Well here are a few tips that you can use to make sure that you have a perfect day.

1. Make sure you have a budget and know what you want.
Will your parents be helping with the wedding expenses or will the two of you be footing the bill entirely yourselves? For every person you add to the guest list your expenses rise, and not only by one but sometimes when you add a guest you will be including their spouse or friend.

It is important you try very hard to keep within your budget however realize that there will always be those unexpected expenses. Some of you may be fortunate enough to have a grandmother or sister in law that just might step up and help with the favors or flowers, hooray!

2. Make your event adult only.
With the exception of the ring bearer and the flower girls invite only adults. This could be awkward with some people with children but let's be honest. Children at a wedding are usually allowed by their parents to run around and bother the other guests. Sliding on the dance floor and screaming when they don't get their way. Having children at a wedding means special meals and make the seating arrangements more difficult.

It's a night out away from the kids with friends and relatives. A time to celebrate your marriage and get away from the children for an evening.

3. Plus ones or guests
Think carefully about who you want to invite. Don't invite "plus one" because you feel you have to. Get creative. Perhaps all the girls from work may want to come as a group rather than bring along their husbands. They can all be seated together and you will save considerably.

It can be awkward inviting only a few from work so just invite the few that are close to you and not the others. Don't lie but merely say that there isn't enough room and we are keeping to our budget. Ask yourself would your boss really feel like attending your wedding? Probably not unless you work in the front office and you deal with your boss daily.

4. Only invite people who will attend.
Weddings can be expensive occasions, and the invitations are precious. So when you do your wedding list, make sure that you invite people that you know will attend. How frustrating it can be to invite people to your wedding, reserve a seat for them. They reply "Yes" they will attend but end up not showing. That's about $100.00 wasted.

Only invite those who you are sure will come to your wedding. It is understandably one or two people would have something unexpected arise at the last minute and not be able to attend but we see many seats empty at weddings. Deciding at the last minute I don't want to go or I just couldn't afford a gift so I'll say I was busy is plain rude and unacceptable.

After you have created your list review it and make sure everyone on the list has a very good intention of appearing. If not, it's probably best not to invite them.

5. Don't stress about the seating arrangements.
Remember - this is YOUR day. Start off with the immediate family and work it outward from there. Do your best to put folks with similar interests together, work, church etc. but don't let it eat you up that you can't put these 10 people all at a table of 8. Trust me after dinner they will hook up and socialize.

If you have friends or relatives who can't stand each other do yourself a favor and tell them not to come. Sound rude? Maybe but face reality. If you invite them and they can't be mature enough to celebrate your day then it's best to leave them off of the list. Other wise you will hear about it all night how why did you seat me next to her blah blah blah. This is your day and you and your fiancé have the right to enjoy it to it's fullest.

6. Take care with the menu.
There is no need for a 5 course meal. Keep it simple if you have to. Salad, soup and the entree. Instead of offering choices select one meal style for all. It will be easier on the kitchen that night and I'm sure you will find you will be saving some of that hard earned cash.

For cocktail hour slim down the hors d'oeuvres since dinner will be in about an hour. Skip the butler passed snacks for some cheese and a variety of breads. By watching where your money is going you will find extra cash for those must invite guests.

Keep it simple, include your spouse and parents if you like and ask for their suggestions. Trust me you are not the only one trying to please everyone and yet keep to a budget. Focus on those who are dear to you and that you truly want to celebrate your wedding with. When all is said and done I'm sure you will arrive at a doable wedding guest list.