If you’ve just been recently engaged, then the creation of guest list has probably crossed your mind a few times already. It’s never too early to start discussing about your guest list, but before you proclaim that everybody is invited in a Facebook status update, you might want to consider talking with your fiancé first.

It’s essential that both of you are in complete agreement in primary factors such as the (1) quantity of guests and (2) the overall budget. Already in agreement on those areas? Well, there are still a few more factors you need to take into careful consideration. So without further ado, here are five fast and efficient ways to organize your wedding’s guest list.

• Ask the preliminary questions

Who are the key people that literally need to be present at the wedding? It could be your best friends or your family. You won’t know how big your guest list can be without asking this question.

Next question to ask yourself is: “Who is not welcome?” It’s also essential to discuss ground rules. These people can be ex-girlfriends or ex-boyfriends, people who tend to drink too much, or even business acquaintances. Your guest list must be trimmed down to the people whom you really want to be there.

• Tidy down your list to current friends and family

Consider skipping those whom you haven’t had personal communication with for over a full year. Only give out invitations to those who will really be sincerely glad and honored to attend your wedding. This is especially true if you and you soon-to-be spouse are on a tight budget.

• Solidify rules about who gets to bring a plus one

The universal rule is that the one invited should have a significant other who already lives together or who have been a couple for quite some time now. A perfect example would be a bestfriend who has a girlfriend or a boyfriend whom you’ve never met. It would be shabby not to include bestfriend “and guest”.

• Limit children

I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t want countless kids running around the reception and breaking things, bothering other guests, bumping into the wedding photographers, and so on. They’re noisy and oblivious to the perfect occasion that is happening. Unless it’s your little sister or brother or a close friend’s baby, you might want to exclude children from your list. The best way to do this is to set a number of seats in the invitations, and if they ask to bring their children, just politely say no.

• Create the basic spreadsheet

Organize all the guests in a spreadsheet and fill the columns with facts and personal contact information, bride or groom affiliations, etc. You can’t just remember all of them in your head. It’s really essential to write them down in a spreadsheet so you won’t lose count and be prepared.