A wedding in the family is a long-awaited event where relatives and friends come together to celebrate the bride and groom with great pomp and show. Compiling your wedding guest list is probably one of the first steps in planning. It affects your venue choice and budget. For some, it's straightforward; for others, less so.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to a guest list—cultural, religious, and personal dynamics all play a part. At Varniika, we consider:

• Intimate Wedding: 50–100 guests
• Small Wedding: Less than 50 guests (ideal for a backyard with about 6 tables)
• Tiny Wedding: 15 guests or fewer (aka 'minimony' or 'micro wedding')

To help prioritize, here's a helpful breakdown of guest tiers:

Tips for Making Your Wedding Guest List:

• Create tailored lists for each function. For instance, for the Mehndi, the bride could invite a select group of ladies—relatives, friends, colleagues, her girl tribe, and key women in her mom’s circle.
• Make a standby list: In case someone cancels, have backup guests ready to fill in, ensuring you include as many loved ones as possible.
• Kid-free celebration: Let the invite clearly mention this. Couples can personally communicate if needed, but avoid exceptions to be fair to all.
• +1 isn’t for everyone: Reserve plus-ones for those in serious relationships (married, engaged, living together, or long-term dating).