Of Guest Lists and Grace: Trimming the Numbers Without Causing a Scandal

Dearest Reader,

There comes a moment in every bride’s journey where her lace-trimmed dreams must meet cold, hard reality… and it usually happens somewhere between cousin number 42 and the neighbour who once watered the roses.

Yes - today we speak of the guest list.
A subject so sensitive, I dare say even Great-Aunt Petunia would clutch her pearls.

You see, weddings are not endless banquets (unless one happens to be royalty, in which case - do write me), and seating is not conjured out of thin air. The list must be curated - carefully, lovingly, and sometimes with the resolve of a duchess on a budget.

So, how does one trim the list without trimming ties?

1. Begin With Your Non-Negotiables
Your nearest and dearest. The people you cannot imagine saying “I do” without. If they’ve walked beside you through heartbreak, hangovers, and hair dye disasters - they’re in.

2. Establish a Fair Rule (and Stick to It)
For instance: no plus ones unless engaged, no colleagues unless personal friends, no second cousins unless they’ve attended your birthday in the last five years. Brutal? Perhaps. But clear.

3. Be Honest, Not Brutal
A gentle “We’re keeping things small” goes further than a spreadsheet breakdown of why Uncle Lionel didn’t make the cut.

4. Remember: Not Everyone Expects an Invite
Some will be relieved not to source formalwear. Others will raise a brow, then forget entirely by tea time. The world will keep spinning, darling.

5. Quality Over Quantity
What matters is that you are surrounded by joy, not just by numbers. A room full of love will always feel grander than a hall of strangers.

I leave you with this: one needn’t invite the entire town to be celebrated. A wedding is a reflection of you, not a parade of expectations. Curate it kindly - but firmly.

Ever selectively yours,
Lady Belle