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Guest List Question

OctBride03 Posted:

Guest List Question

How did you find it the easiest to organize your guest list???

I always thought Excel would be the easiest for me, but then I saw on Father of the Bride, they used index cards and I thought that was clever....

Any ideas? I want to get my list together, but I don't want it to be inconvenient every time I have to refer back to it...

Thanks

MaryK Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

Hey Lauren!

I live & breathe Excel at work so that was the easiest for me. I have it on disk and on my hard drive as backup (I save to both every day). But that's me - I'm most comfortable with that....!

Let me know what you decide!
alina Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

Mine isn't well organized, but its in Excel...
I plan to split it into who is who pretty soon, so that it makes it easier to do table seating charts (which I started on for people who I know will come for sure)
nylisa Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

My best friend used the Martha Stewart method and I am going to use the same thing. If you want, I can e-mail you what I am using.

Niecey Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

For me it is Excel...but I am a computer bunny here. I used it to merge to Word when addressing my invites and thank yous and even my christmas cards. I also used it to track all gifts and responses and seating arrangements. I had to give my hall all kind of lists of people sorted different ways (by table, ABS, etc.)

What I found helpful, was postit when doing my seating card. Got a big piece of card board, drew out the room and used post it to move people around.
Niecey Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

Mary is so right - backup! so important. I thought mine disappeared from my hard drive (it did - I blame DH) but I had a copy in the office as my backup and on diskette!

jennbaby Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

I thank god for excel!

Kristen Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

I have a few lists..i had to give a list to the invitation place (simple in word) so they could do the envelopes. I also have computer wedding software which is good (camelot) and i did do the index cards..thought it would help when we do the seating. As i get the responses i have written on the index cards and on the list i printed from the software. The invitation place also advised me to number the response cards b/c sometimes people send them back without putting there name on it. So each response card has a small number on the back in pencil which corresponds to a list i have that says who they are.

reallybehind! Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

i've gathered that people here don't like theknot.com but i've found their guest list tool to be really helpful. the best part is you can put people on the a or b list, groom or bride. it just makes it easier to see who has to cut people or how many from the b-list could be added etc.

oh yeah and you can export it to excel for when you're ready to give the list to the calligrapher or something.
ChristineC68 Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

I used excel too. Aside from being able to create a data base of all the information, we used it to keep track of rsvps, thank you cards, table numbers, etc.

We also used it with MS Word to print our envelopes with mail merge. And I loved that we could sort it for certain events (rehersal dinner, out of town guests, etc).

Sage10.03 Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

Excel for me too!

OctBride03 Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

WOW!!! Thank you ladies!!! I'm actually in the middle of typing everything into Excel... I have 300+ guest list and just need to get a head start!!!

Kristen, numbering the response cards - that's such a great idea!

Denise, I like the post it idea too for the seating chart!!! Monica & Chandler did something like that on Friends and I always said when it was my time, I'd do something like it!

OH and BTW, I NEVER even thought of making a back-up!!!
JoRo Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

I agree - Excel rocks! although i don't know what the Marth Stewart method is and i can imagine, but do not know for sure, the benefits of the index card method.
so far we have used our excel list (sorted different ways) for the invitation addressing and for the RSVP count. We also keep track of RD invitations, Out of Towners (for our little goody bags) and 'Guest' names. I just added a gifts andthanks you columns too (because we got our first gift! yeah!)
The best part about excel is that once you enter it the information in, then you are set. you can rearrange and change the list anyway you want!
Good luck!
nylisa Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

Here is what the Martha Stewart method looks like:
Name: Invited:____/Attending:___
Address: Thank you written:___
Thank you sent:___

OctBride03 Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

Well Excel it is! I never even realized what else I would need a list for! Sheesh!

Anyway, another question... I am inviting a few families... how do I write out the outside envelope?

#1 - Mr & Mrs Joe Smith & Family
#2 - Mr & Mrs Joe Smith & Child's Name

Inside:

#1 - Mr & Mrs Joe Smith & Family
#2 - Mr & Mrs Joe Smith, with each Child's Name listed

Sorry ladies for all the dumb questions today


Thanks Lisa!
jpsgirl Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

i actually cut out little round peices of cardboard, and then cut out 100 little squares. I would move the tables around an outline of the room I drew, and then move the little squares from table to table until I got it right. People thought I was nuts!

Jodi73 Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

Oh, I was just putting my guest list into excel. Did you girls put the address' into excel or word?

karen32 Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

I have everything in excel. I used it for the e-party to track responses, gifts, thank-you's sent. I found it to be really good. I also had a column to sort bride family vs. groom family vs bridal party vs friends, etc. I plan on expanding that for the wedding!

nylisa Posted:

Re: Guest List Question

Lauren: I am going to have the same thing as you, so I am writing:

Outside envelope:
Mr & Mrs. John Smith

Inside envelope:
Mr & Mrs. John Smith and Daughter/Son

I am going to be putting my seating chart into excel until I have it final.

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