How many guests should I expect???

I've heard anywhere between 80% to 60% will rsvp yes. What we're doing is saying we want around 100 people, so at first we're inviting about 140, then as people decline we'll invite people we wanted to come, but had to invite other people before them. The only way this works, though, is to send out invites early and put the rsvp date kind of early, too.

I've heard you should invite 40% more than your target guest count. I use to be a wedding coordinator and that is what I would tell all of the brides I worked with. However, it would ultimately depend on how many guests you're inviting from out of town, etc.

Never invite more people than your target number! There is never an exact ratio because there are too many variables. ie. date, number of out of towners,family situations, etc. Every wedding is different. If you are having to limit your guest list because of the accommodations or budget, put together a list in order of how many people you would like to invite. If you get a "no" response, invite the next person on the list. If you aren't worried about the numbers but are just wondering about planning, plan for your max. It is much easier to ask your vendors to cut back than to add more. They usually won't want a count until a week or so in advance anyway. Good luck with your planning and congratulations!

Congrat's Bride,

Yes, that is such a thing. I do agree with Agape Weddings. Do not try and plan for the lack of, plan for the max (135). What I advise my brides to do are to have the RSVP date at least 1-2 wks before the caterer needs their final number. If you wanted to, this will give you time to call the guests that didn't RSVP. So remember the rule basically is that if you invite 135 then about 1/4 will not show--but don't forget the reception usually draws the crowd more so than the ceremony. HTH's

If you should need more advice feel free to contact me at *************@*****.*** or through this website. Once again--Congrat's.

La-Tanya Dunham

Certified Planner/Co-Owner

Jackie Times Two Wedding & Event Planners

Good heavens, yes. Invite only what your budget and your venue can accommodate. It is so difficult sometimes because the larger the families, the more difficult it is to draw the line on where you should stop. Immediate family, then extended family and close family friends is a good place to start. There should always be some wiggle room built in. Make up your A guest list. Then your B guest list. As the A's decline, move in the B's. Then, of course, the discussion is from whose B list are we going to invite? That varies in each circumstance, and usually compromises are worked out.

Hello and best wishes,

It's true that some of your invited guests will probably decline - However, you never know for sure! Ratios and percentages are not always accurate. Sometimes you'll be surprised - especially when the far removed relatives that were sent invitations as a courtesy actually accept! It's probably best not to invite very many more than you can actually accommodate. As has already been mentioned, if you send the invitations early enough, you can invite others as you receive regrets.

Best wishes for a wonderful wedding and a wonderful life together!

Bill and Margaret Sneddon

The Hudson Heights Duo - Harp and Flute

New York, NY and the Hudson River Valley

www.HudsonHtsDuo.com

I think it is 20% but we invited 245 people and we have 170 attending. I think it may differ for everyone. Having an A and a B list may be the best idea and you can send the invitiations to the B list as people on the A list decline.

It depends on your situation as other posts have mentioned. With 135 invites- it sounds like a more intimate event and thus more people are likely to show up. For example, one wedding I went to had invited 130 and had 132 people show up, the next invited 175 and had 160 show up, the last was 115 and about 80 people showed up... so it can vary A LOT. I know my invite list is 172 but we'll likely have 160 b/c it almost all family whose already booked flights and such. I think it is hard to depend on a percentage of declines, especially with a smaller wedding.

From what I can tell, it's somewhere between 20-25% of your guests that won't be able to make it, but like others mentioned, only you know your friends and family.

Some really good advice already given here. Definitely set up 2 different lists of guests. First list with guests that absolutely you would love/need to have there, and second list with guests that you would absolutely invite if your budget allows.

When you send out the invites, keep track of the RSVPs accordingly, so that say, if 10 guests from your first list declines, and you have the budget set aside to include another 10, you can send out 10 new invitations to people on your second list.

Hope that helps!