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Guests

Invitation protocol: who to invite without blowing the list

Coworkers, distant cousins, plus-ones: French etiquette rules and a must / should / nice method to decide as a couple.
C
Camille
·
Published on 27 July 2026
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6 min read
"Who do we invite?" is the question that blows up budget and seating fastest. Without a written protocol, each parent adds names and you end at 180 guests for a 100-guest budget.
Set a guest cap tied to budget first (see cost per guest), then sort names.

Must / should / nice method

Must: you would not marry without them (close family, intimate friends)
Should: you want them there, but can explain a smaller format
Nice: you see them once a year, invite out of courtesy
Rule: invite established couples together, not one spouse alone

Common cases

Coworkers: only close team, or none for a very intimate wedding
Children: global decision (all invited or adults only), stated on the invitation
+1: for guests without a partner you know, not automatic for everyone

How Fiancé can help

Fiancé's guest list supports must / should / nice via tags and counts plus-ones automatically. Use list without conflict and the budget calculator.
About the author
C
Camille
Budget, guests & seating expert
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