How to...Create an Alphabetized Excell Guest List

Most of the time I receive Guest Lists that have no organization to them at all. They especially are not alphabetized, which makes it almost impossible to go over a guest list with a client when I have questions. I end up making some statement like this, "Mr. Jones address which is on the page that has Mrs. Palmer at the top." Not exactly professional. Today, I would like to give a simple "How To" on creating an alphabetized guest list on Excell.

First on all, there is one extra step that you must take that most don't even realize. You must designate the very first column as "Last Name" only. It is this step alone that allows you to alphabetize your guest list. Type in every guest, couple or family as you see below.

IMPORTANT: I really want the three line address just like it is below, stacked. You can do this very easily by pressing ALT + ENTER at the end of each line to create another line for the address. Press them together when the cursor is at the end of the line of address. See my next How To blog on centering addresses.

After you have two or three columns filled in (only two if you don't have inner envelopes) highlight ALL your information in one box just like it is below. Then move your cursor to the tool bar at the top and click the button that says "AZ" with an arrow pointing down, also known as "Sort Ascending". You can see that button highlighted below.

After you press the "Sort Acending" button (or what I call the alphabetizing button) your information will be alphabetized!!! It is that easy. Check it out below. The best part is that you can do this periodically as you go along making your guest list to help you keep track if you already have Grandma on the list or not! Just follow the same directions over again. Excell is super easy if you just use the right tools!