Most of our wedding-planning tasks have been exciting and fun; however, one area we've struggled with is our guest list. Both Rigo and I come from huge families and have a close group of friends. We both work at the same hospital, so we have many co-workers that we consider to be pals, too. (They've indicated that they're "expecting" an invitation to the wedding—some have mentioned this subtly, while others were quite forward.) Our large circle of loved ones became even bigger when we factored in all of their children.

These contributing factors raised the following questions: How many people should we invite total? Can we invite some-coworkers and not others? How do we ensure that the reception doesn't turn into a daycare center? Can we prevent invited guests from bringing "extra" guests with them? With some planning, research, and creativity, here's how we dealt with all of these challenges.

Photo Credit: Photography by Jen Philips

Do the Math to Come Up with a Reasonable Limit

Each week, we feature music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week's post comes from DJ Kraff, a Brooklyn native who rocks dancefloors with his impressive skill and charms guests with his infectious smile. Kraff learned at a very young age the timeless value of great music, drawing inspiration from his father's extensive collection of raggae vinyl. "I find it fun to play for a wide variety guests at a wedding. The best is when you look out in the crowd and see people in their 80s dancing with people in their teens."

Photo Credit: Shawna Yarbrough & Damion Hamilton

The post-wedding brunch is usually the last event of the wedding festivities (sniff). With close friends and family surrounding the newly married couple, it’s a moment to rehash, relive and reflect on all those wonderful moments from the wedding itself. Please and soothe all age groups with a playlist built around love and togetherness. Music is the perfect cure for the figurative (and for many guests, literal) wedding hangover!

It's incredible how the most amazing day of my life went by in the blink of an eye. On July 1st, Michael and I exchanged vows at our Staten Island parish church, Our Lady Queen of Peace. Afterwards, we held a reception with 120 guests at the Lighthouse in Chelsea Piers, Manhattan. Our wedding was steeped in tradition, yet it also reflected our personal style: modern romance. Watch a trailer from our wedding video here!