There are few things in life more stressful than planning a wedding, especially when it's time to narrow down the guest list. If you plan on having a big wedding, you have to draw the line somewhere. If you have a small one, then the pressure is really on to see who will make the cut.
However, there are a few guests that you should definitely leave off the list. We're not just talking about your childhood best friend whose birthday Facebook duly notifies you of every year, or your third cousin Charles who your mom insists should be invited, even though you've spoken once in your entire lives. We're talking about people who you wouldn't initially think to give the brush-off.
Curating a guest list can be difficult, but to make your big day as easy as possible, you'd be best off not printing an invitation for the following people.
Exes
This should be a no-brainer. However, you'd be surprised at how many people invite their exes to their weddings as a way of burying the hatchet. Unfortunately, you're likely to cause problems by inviting your ex.
There are a few exceptions, of course. If the break-up was unusually amicable, and both your and your intended are still on good terms with your ex, there's no reason why you can't extend an olive branch. Let's say you dated unsuccessfully for a few months, broke up, and are still part of the same friend group. That's fine!
However, if your breakup was less-than-ideal, we'd recommend leaving your ex off the invitation list. Inviting them will seem petty on your end, as though flaunting your happy relationship, and can cause friction with your partner. The last thing any wedding needs is more drama.
Colleagues
Colleagues are something of a slippery slope. It depends on the workplace itself and also how close you are with your colleagues. Being work besties isn't the same as being genuine friends; after all, if you only talk during office hours, then you aren't that close.
If you regularly see some coworkers outside of the office, then go for it! Otherwise, we'd recommend separating your personal and professional lives. If you invite one or two coworkers, there's going to be pressure to invite all of them. Then, they're going to bring a plus-one, so you'll have Frank who you barely know and his girlfriend whom you've never met taking up seating.
The same goes for your boss. It used to be the case that excluding your boss was a major faux pas; fortunately, those days are behind us. If you have the sort of familial relationship with your boss to the point where you feel comfortable inviting them, then, why not? If not, don't feel pressured.
Friends With Babies
While we generally aren't fans of child-free weddings, seeing as children are people and deserve to be included in public spaces, there has to be a line somewhere. Babies under a certain age shouldn't be exposed so many people, as it can mess with their developing immune systems. Not to mention that even the most sedate wedding will probably be overwhelming for a baby.
While it may seem cruel to exclude friends with babies, it's helpful to see things from their perspective. Having a baby doesn't mean a person deserves to completely be cut off from their social life, but they'll likely say no even if you send an invite. Most new parents don't like being away from their baby for too long, especially if it's their first.
With toddlers and other children, you're getting into more of a grey area that depends on the venue and vibe of your wedding. Personally, we think that if they're old enough to sit still and be quiet and aren't too picky of eaters, they should be fine. Provided, of course, that there are other kids—nobody wants to be the only kid at an adult party!
