Making your kankotri list: a simple system that scales

The kankotri list is the backbone of the whole wedding: it drives your headcount, your seating, your catering numbers and your budget. Yet most families rebuild it three times over in different WhatsApp messages. Here’s a system that holds together.

Build one master list

Keep a single list of everyone you’re inviting — not one per ceremony. Each guest can be flagged for which events they’re invited to, but the master list stays in one place so the total is always trustworthy.

Capture headcount, not just names

An invitation isn’t one person. Record the party size (how many will actually come) against each guest, so your final number for catering and seating is real — not a guess that leaves you short on the day.

Track who delivers each card

In Gujarati weddings, kankotri are often hand-delivered, and it matters who is responsible for each one. Note the delivery method — in person, by post, or on WhatsApp — and who’s carrying it, so nothing is forgotten in the rush.

Don’t type it twice

If you already have a list in a spreadsheet or last wedding’s file, import it rather than retyping. Retyping is where errors and duplicates creep in.

Keep RSVPs in the same place

As replies come in, update status against the same master list. When the RSVPs live next to the invitations, your headcount updates itself.

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Taiyra’s Guests & Kankotri feature does all of this — one master list, party sizes, delivery tracking, RSVPs and spreadsheet import. Join the early-access waitlist.