Building a wedding guest list SUCKS.

It is one of the most difficult parts of the wedding planning journey for the modern wedding couple.

By the time most people are in their 30s - the new marrying decade- they have friends from high school, college, potentially grad school or work colleagues. That’s on top of 2 sets of family that have only become larger over time as spouses and kids get added to the mix. AND as we age, our elders are less likely to contribute financially towards these big events, many couples are funding these large celebrations on their own. With average 2026 wedding costs reaching $300-500 per person in Texas, this is all the more reason that many people strive to keep the guest list as tight as possible.

Fortunately, we’ve included some example language that can deter requests for +1 (plus ones) and wedding invitation ideas to help you hit your desired guest count goals.

What to include in your wedding invitation

The Actual Invitation

Host / Honoree(s) line

_____ & _____ "request the pleasure of your company at their marriage of their children"
"invite you to celebrate with them"
"request the honor of your presence at the celebration of their union"
“You are cordially invited to celebrate the marriage of _____ & _____”

Ceremony Details

Date
Time
Location

Guest Instructions: (Our special section)

Dress code
✨Headcount limiting language✨

What is “headcount limiting language”?

This is the Events in a Crunch term we use to describe language that allows hosts to politely, and clearly say “you are not invited!”

Let’s Talk about Head count Limiting Language

This can be a one liner on the back of your invitation, OR it can live in your FAQs section on your wedding website. We’ve included some of our favorite examples below.

Closed Invites

Kids

While we love your little ones, our wedding will be an adults-only celebration.
Due to capacity constraints, we can only accommodate children of immediate family.
Please join us for an adult-only reception immediately following the ceremony
We hope you can take this opportunity for a night off and join us to celebrate.

General invites or Plus ones

We have reserved __ seat(s) in your honor (or for something more casual, “we have reserved __ seats just for you!” )
Spouses and domestic partners welcome
Due to capacity constraints, we will only be able to accommodate those listed on your invitation.

Open Invites for a portion of the event

Family-friendly ceremony with an adults-only reception to follow
Our ceremony will be open to the public, with an intimate reception for immediate family to follow

How to Address Wedding invitations & reinforce the guest count

When addressing wedding invitations be sure to specifically name the people within the household to whom you are extending an invitation. This helps clarify who you intend to be in attendance. If you would like both people in a couple to attend, address the invitation as “Mr & Mr ______”, or “Sheril Smith & Jackson Park”. If the invitation is only extended to one person in the relationship, address the letter just to that individual.

When do wedding invitations go out?

The typical time frame for delivering printed wedding invitations is 3-4 months. But at Events in a Crunch we’ve had them shipped with as little as 6 weeks from wedding day. Even though it’s a tight turnaround for guests to send back their RSVPs, the invitation is a great way to set the stage for the event itself and to get people excited for what it to come.

Now the fun part is mapping your desired messaging to a design that fits your aesthetic and event theme. That’s where the Events in a Crunch team comes in. We’re people who make wedding invitations and who can print wedding invitations so you can rest assured that your stationery will be printed exactly as planned. The choice on who designs wedding invitations is a personal choice. Some people get excited about all things crafty and creative, while others would much rather leave it to a professional.

Contact our team at Events in a Crunch to design a custom wedding invitation that truly stands out and leaves a lasting impression.

How to tell someone they’re not invited to your wedding