Something that has surprised me, and continues to surprise me is how freaking difficult making a guest list is. I thought it would be a 3-hour session, everybody sitting around a table a la Father of the Bride, and we’d be finished. (Damn that movie). It didn’t even occur to me that we would be working on it for at least 3 months. It’s still even in the really, really, really, really raw stages. Not getting down to the “Who lives where, with whom, etc.” stuff. Not even to the plus-one issue. I even have a folder dedicated to the guest list on my desktop. That’s just sad.
I think that when anybody gets engaged, there should be a packet. There needs to be a packet that says stuff like:
- If you’re planning a June wedding, you’re already behind. Go, go, go.
- There is a good possibility that your brain will turn into swiss cheese.
- There is also the possibility that you will become the most annoying person you know, or better yet, be obsessively neurotic about becoming the most annoying person you know.
- Making the guest list will be the biggest bane of your existence. That is, until you either:
a. invite everyone.
b. invite no-one.
c. are committed to an asylum.
And so on and so forth.
I just can’t figure out how to not piss people off, have everyone we love there, understand the rules for inviting old BFFs, or just how in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks to do it. I’ve read the “If you haven’t talked to the person in 6 months, cut them” rule. I’ve heard the “No ring, no bring” rule, though that one goes into the plus-one category, which I’m not even touching yet. This is one time where I’d love some rules. Concrete rules. No-exceptions-to-the-rule rules. Unfortunately, I don’t think said rules exist. I’ll just keep trying to play “Pin the tail on the guest” until it’s all finished. Or get stuck in a nuthouse.
Is it normal to have this much trouble making a guest list? Am I missing the boat somewhere? A memo, perhaps?
show hide 5 comments