As head of our organization, I’ve often advised couples on how to manage their guest list, especially when there are outside influences, such as a well-meaning mother-in-law. The journey to marriage is an emotional roller coaster filled with precious moments and challenges that test your resilience.

In fact, the main cause of conflict I’ve observed concerns the guest list.

If you and your partner want a small, intimate wedding with close family and friends, your mother-in-law’s choir or Pilates friends can quickly become problematic. In such cases, I always recommend that my clients approach the situation with an honest and caring dialogue.

Here are some strategies you can adopt:

• Discuss budget constraints: if the guest list grows exponentially, so will the total cost. Creating a comparative budget spreadsheet with guests X and Y will help them realize the significant difference.
• Explain the importance of having guests who play a role in your daily life as a couple.
• If you’re willing and able, make a few concessions. Perhaps allow him to invite two or three couples to dinner, or even more for the aperitif.
• Balancing everyone’s wishes is a delicate task. However, with a little compromise and a win-win attitude, a satisfactory solution can be found..