Planning a wedding takes time, and there are many decisions you and your sweetheart will have to make along the way. One of the most important decisions is who you will invite.

If you’ve caught yourself wondering, “How many people should I invite to my wedding?” you’re not alone. It’s one of the first important decisions you’ll need to make about your big day, and it also affects your wedding venue and wedding budget.

How many to invite?

Deciding how many people to invite to your wedding depends a lot on what type of wedding you want. This means that there is no right answer that works for every couple.

Generally, wedding experts recommend inviting only as many guests as your budget allows. This prevents stress and ensures that you focus on celebrating your marriage rather than worrying about overspending.

To answer the crucial question, “How many people should I invite to my wedding,” start by deciding what type of wedding you are having. Sit down with your fiancé and discuss whether you want a large wedding, a small wedding or something in between.

Once you have that part figured out, you can consider the factors below that may affect your big day and the number of guests that may attend.

Talk about budget

One of the main factors that determines how many people you will invite to your wedding is your budget.

If your budget is for 100 people, you shouldn’t invite more than 100 guests. One way to keep the number of guests within your budget is to make two invitation lists.

The first is called the “A” list and usually includes your closest friends, husband and wife relatives, and immediate family members. This list should include everyone you absolutely want to see at your wedding.

If the guests on the “A” list refuse to participate in the return invitation, you can send out new invitations to the guests on the “B” list – just make sure you don’t exceed the number provided.

List “C” is a list of other guests you’d like to invite to your wedding, but can’t invite if everyone on list “A” decides to come. These could be people from your extended family as well as co-workers and more casual friends or acquaintances.

Consider the venue and location

In addition to the number of people you invite, the venue can take a big chunk out of your wedding day budget. If you want to go all out, hold your wedding ceremony in an unusual location, such as a private estate.

If you’re trying to keep costs down so you can invite more guests, consider holding the event in a park or on the shores of a picturesque lake.

Keep the small details in mind. Food and drink make up the largest part of the expense associated with guests. These costs change when you add or remove guests, which is why it’s so important to stick to your guest count.

Things like lighting, floral arrangements, dance floor, and guest gifts can increase costs.

The key here is to decide what’s important to you as a couple. If your biggest concern is having more guests, you may want to forgo the things you care about the least – like large floral displays or overpriced wedding dresses.

Once you’ve decided how many people you’re inviting, you can send out invitations. Depending on your preference and budget, you can choose to send out printed or digital invitations. Online wedding invitations are easy to send with just a few clicks, and they come in thousands of customizable and gorgeous designs.