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Here at Brides, we can talk wedding etiquette until our faces turn blue. Turns out, bride-to-be Lauren Conrad is preoccupied with wedding etiquette do's and don'ts, too! She talked to E! News recently about pointers for assembling a guest list and more—and her personal guidelines actually sound a lot like ours! So, what are her two big tips for inviting family and guests?
1. LC says: Be choosy. "I had one hard and fast rule: If we haven't sat down and had a meal together in the past two years, you're probably not going to be invited," she said. "Since all of my closest friends and I dine together regularly, this helps separate people I'm still close with from the friends that I've lost touch with over the years. I think it's a pretty fair rule."
Brides says: Consider the circumstances!. Conrad's probably having a reality TV-worthy blowout wedding worthy of the former MTV star. For her, it's about pruning down the guest list down to genuine friends and family, and not just hangers-on. But for most couples, especially ones planning smaller weddings, space and budget take precedence. We love her dinner rule, but some couples have to leave close relatives off of the guest list. We simply say to keep a transparent policy throughout to eliminate any hurt feelings or confusion.
2. LC says: Plus-ones have their limits. "I also had to come up with some guidelines to determining who gets a plus-one," she shared. "A plus-one is a must for anyone who is married, engaged, or in a long-term relationship. No exceptions there! A plus-one is also thoughtful for anyone who is single, but won't have any other friends attending. But if someone is single and will be amongst friends or family, giving them a plus-one is not necessary. Who knows, they might meet someone special..."
Brides says: We agree! We think bridesmaids and groomsmen should automatically get a plus-one, regardless of their relationship status. Aside from that, her guideline is thoughtful and smart, especially for brides and grooms planning big weddings. Again, smaller weddings might require a stricter limit on extra guests, but we love how her advice puts guests' comfort first.
With all that out there, Conrad admitted that her personal rules are certainly not hard-and-fast. "Deciding who will and won't be there to witness your marriage can be very stressful, but everyone is different and will have their own way of deciding," she said. We agree!