Your guest list will have an impact on almost everything you need to plan for in your wedding such as your reception venue, your wedding cake, the number of invitations, and more.

You can start with as many names in your list as you like, then you have to go through the filtering process. You and your fiancée should individually list every one you'd like to invite. Invite your parents to make their own lists, especially if they are paying for the wedding. Compare your lists, if necessary, compromise.

The easiest way to reduce the number is to cross off the duplicates from each list. Working together you'll be able to reduce the list to your preferred number of guests. The best guest list is big enough to make everyone happy and small enough to fit your budget.

Don't worry about inviting long lost far away friends to the wedding. The purpose of inviting people is to have your closest friends and loved ones near you on this special day. The goal is not to invite as many people as you can unless you are a celebrity hungry for publicity.

There are few very important factors to consider when finalizing your guest list:

Are you going to have an adults only reception, or do you want to invite children as well?

Are you going to invite anyone from work? For the most part, it is sufficient to invite your boss only, unless you are very close with some other coworkers.

If you have single friends, will you invite their significant others, or not? If it fits in your budget, it is best to allow fiancées and long time companions, especially if they have been part of your life.

Finalizing your guest list is an interesting exercise, and it can be a stressful experience. If you work well with your fiancée you will find it fairly easy to come up with your guest list.