Let’s take some of the stress out of compiling your guest list. I can’t help you win the argument about whether or not your second cousin gets an invite. But I can give you an Excel template that will impress your future mother-in-law and will make addressing your envelopes go much more smoothly.
On average, I address over a thousand envelopes each month. And I’ve been at this for 8 years. Needless to say, I have some opinions about guest list formats.
After seeing every version under the sun - including some that were handwritten in what I can only describe as a half-step up from hieroglyphics - I finally I created my own preferred templates that I share with my clients…and now with you!
Here are the must haves for your guest list spreadsheet:
a SEPARATE field/column for EACH line of the address
NO abbreviations. Spell out everything just as you want it written on the envelopes. The only exception is Mr. and Mrs.
correct etiquette. Your guest list should already be reviewed for correct etiquette when it arrives to your calligrapher. For example if you’d like to use less formal names on the inner envelopes (ie: John and Sue instead of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson) that is completely your call. As your calligrapher, I am going to assume you’ve made that decision intentionally and will not override it. I will be penning the names exactly as they appear on the list. If you need some assistance with correct forms of address, I highly recommend “The Wedding Blue Book” by Crane & Co.
Here is my preferred guest list template when you are using outer as well as inner envelopes.
And here is my preferred guest list template for when you are using outer envelopes only.
Feel free to take credit when you send it to your future mother-in-law to assemble her portion of the guest list. Happy to help remove stress and impress MILs! Best wishes!
