Who should be on a wedding guest list?

Short answer

Your guest list should include the people you love and who love you back, plus anyone you feel obligated to invite, like close family or long-standing friends. Start with immediate family, then add friends who support your relationship. Keep it to people you genuinely want to celebrate with.

Begin with your immediate families, including parents, siblings, and grandparents. Then add close friends who have been part of your life together, plus any partners or children of those guests if you are having an adults-only wedding, decide that clearly. Next, consider extended family, such as aunts, uncles, and cousins, especially those you see regularly. Work colleagues are optional, only invite those you socialise with outside work. For each name, ask yourself: will I regret them not being there? If the answer is no, leave them off. Be fair to both sides, but you do not have to match numbers exactly. If you are having a small wedding, it is fine to limit to immediate family and very close friends. Remember, you can always celebrate with others at a later party. The key is to choose people who will be happy for you and add to the day, not people you feel pressured to include.