Guest Lists at Official Functions
At an official function, for a party of not more than 30, a seating plan may be displayed. For a party up to 100, a numbered drawing of the table may be displayed with a list of guests alongside it in alphabetical order, each with a seat number.
For parties of more than 100, each guest should be provided with a printed table plan, with the names listed in alphabetical order, or with a table diagram with their seat marked.
Naming Styles
A guest list at an official event requires that names and titles be listed in full, formal style, as on an envelope, rather than in the more informal social style. So prefixes such as the Rt Hon and suffixes such as OBE should be used. Male guests without a title or rank should be styled Mr rather than Esq. An untitled married couple would be listed separately as Debrett, Mr John and Debrett, Mrs John.
Male guests without a title or rank should be styled Mr. An untitled married couple would be listed separately as Smith, Mr John and Smith, Mrs John.
Any guest invited by virtue of office should be so indicated: for example, Fenchurch, Sir William, KBE, President of the Society of Stationers.
Peers are shown by their exact rank in the peerage. For example, Middlesex, The Earl of, KBE; Flintshire, The Countess of. (The definite article is optional for the ranks of viscount and barons and their wives and widows). Consistency in these listings is important.
Peers by courtesy are not prefixed by the definite article (ie simply Blandford, Marquess of, Burlington, Earl of, etc).
Privy counsellors are accorded the prefix The Rt Hon.
Baronets are accorded the suffix Bt.
Crown honours and decorations should be included, and degrees, etc, where appropriate.
