diff --git a/populate_db.py b/populate_db.py
index c53244d..2e6dd75 100755
--- a/populate_db.py
+++ b/populate_db.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from src.db.models.category import Category
 from src.db.models.event import Event
 from src.db.models.invitation import Invitation
 from src.db.models.user import User
-from src.utils.db import expr
+from src.utils.db import expr, from_id_list
 from src.utils.logging import get_logger
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@ EVENTS: list[EventConstructData] = [
             end_date=date(2025, 1, 1),
             end_time=time(12, 30),
             color=Color("#ff0000"),
-            attendee_ids=[],
         ),
         owner_username="user1",
         attendee_usernames=["user2"],
@@ -114,7 +113,6 @@ EVENTS: list[EventConstructData] = [
             end_date=date(2025, 1, 1),
             end_time=time(12, 30),
             color=Color("#ff0000"),
-            attendee_ids=[],
         ),
         owner_username="user2",
         attendee_usernames=[],
@@ -196,8 +194,12 @@ async def make_event(event: EventConstructData) -> None:
         _ = await db_event.delete()
 
     event.data.category_ids = category_ids
-    event.data.attendee_ids = attendee_ids
-    _ = await event.data.create_event(db_user)
+    db_event = await event.data.create_event(db_user)
+
+    if len(attendee_ids) > 0:
+        db_event.attendees = await from_id_list(attendee_ids, User, link_return=True)
+        db_event = await db_event.replace()
+
     log.info(f"Event {event.data.title!r} created for user {event.owner_username!r}.")
 
 
diff --git a/src/api/events.py b/src/api/events.py
index 056258e..fac955d 100644
--- a/src/api/events.py
+++ b/src/api/events.py
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ class _BaseEventData(BaseModel):
     end_date: date
     end_time: time
     color: Color
-    attendee_ids: list[PydanticObjectId]
 
     @field_validator("color", mode="after")
     @classmethod
@@ -52,6 +51,7 @@ class EventData(_BaseEventData):
     """Data about an event sent to the user."""
 
     owner_user_id: PydanticObjectId
+    attendee_ids: list[PydanticObjectId]
     created_at: datetime
 
     @classmethod
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class EventCreateData(_BaseEventData):
             end_date=self.end_date,
             end_time=self.end_time,
             color=self.color.as_hex(format="long"),
-            attendees=await from_id_list(self.attendee_ids, User, link_return=True),
+            attendees=[],
         )
         return await event.create()
 
@@ -115,7 +115,6 @@ class EventCreateData(_BaseEventData):
             end_date=self.end_date,
             end_time=self.end_time,
             color=self.color.as_hex(format="long"),
-            attendees=await from_id_list(self.attendee_ids, User),
         )
 
 
@@ -131,7 +130,6 @@ class PartialEventUpdateData(_BaseEventData):
     end_date: date | None = None  # pyright: ignore[reportIncompatibleVariableOverride]
     end_time: time | None = None  # pyright: ignore[reportIncompatibleVariableOverride]
     color: Color | None = None  # pyright: ignore[reportIncompatibleVariableOverride]
-    attendee_ids: list[PydanticObjectId] | None = None  # pyright: ignore[reportIncompatibleVariableOverride]
 
     async def update_event(self, event: Event) -> Event:
         """Update an existing event, overwriting it with data that were specified."""
@@ -154,8 +152,6 @@ class PartialEventUpdateData(_BaseEventData):
             update_dct["end_time"] = self.end_time
         if self.color is not None:
             update_dct["color"] = self.color.as_hex(format="long")
-        if self.attendee_ids is not None:
-            update_dct["attendees"] = await from_id_list(self.attendee_ids, User)
 
         return await update_document(event, **update_dct)