So many people and so few seats! Never fear, you'll be able to get your list in gear in no time. Your guest list is an essential piece of information to have before you plan the other elements of your wedding, so it's important to get it in order.

How do I start making a guest list?

Before you write down anyone's name, figure out how much money you're going to spend. The number of people you invite will affect:

• Food costs
• Size of the reception hall
• Table rental
• Decorations
• Number of invitations
• Mood and intimacy of the wedding

Once you hammer out a goal number, identify who will contribute to the guest list. Ask each person to generate a list ranked by importance. Add up the names and compare. If your list exceeds the budgeted number, you'll have to cut people. Have each person remove an assigned number of names from the bottom of his list. Continue to hone down the list until you reach the target number.

How can I get my parents to compromise on their lists?