Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

S
Dedicated June 2010

How many people ACTUALLY show up to a wedding?

soon to be..., on August 24, 2009 at 1:40 PM Posted in Planning 7 17

Just wondering if people had experience with what percentage of people actually show up to a wedding. About 50% of the guests are out of town, so we're not sure what to expect and don't want to invite too many people! Anyone have any experience or a good rule of thumb?

17 Comments

Latest activity by Kristine, on February 20, 2022 at 10:14 AM
  • Amy
    Devoted September 2009
    Amy ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I have always been told to expect at least 80% of the total invited. Now, that being said, you should plan on everyone that you invite attending. I say this because if you invite people thinking that they won't come, then chances are you won't budget for them. But what happens when they do come? Also, if your venue has a capacity limit, you want to plan on all invited guests coming so that you don't go over that limit. If the limit is 150 then don't invite 200 just because you think that fifty won't show. Hope this helps.

    • Reply
  • MrsBraddock
    Devoted October 2009
    MrsBraddock ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I just posted something similar. I cant wait to see the responses. We invited 115, FH is kind of worried because it is all adding up- especially when we had 55 people at first on the first list.

    So we will see, so far we had 6 RSVPs, plus us is 2- so thats 8 people... BUT I mean with the wedding party/family and their dates it goes up, but they arent being added until I get their WRITTEN RSVPS Smiley smile haha

    • Reply
  • P
    Devoted May 2009
    Pistol ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We invited 190 and 170 RSVP'd that they could make it. Of the 170 we expected we had 10 no shows although all of them still gave a gift but had various excuses why they didn't make it.

    • Reply
  • Mrs. Rullan
    Dedicated September 2009
    Mrs. Rullan ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We invited 128 and 100 RSVP'd.

    • Reply
  • Chelsea
    Dedicated September 2009
    Chelsea ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We invited 138 (including wedding party) and it looks like we will get about 100 guests from that. (My Mom's whole family is from Texas or New Mexico so it's a long trip.) I was so worried about numbers I never thought I would end up below my planned number! (Yay for saved $$&dollarSmiley winking

    • Reply
  • Crystal
    Expert March 2010
    Crystal ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    My cousin got married in February, all but about 8 people came out of the 145 she invited.

    • Reply
  • Crystal
    Expert March 2010
    Crystal ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    There were only 4 people who didnt respond, and they did not come.

    • Reply
  • Janny & Gwendolyn
    Devoted October 2009
    Janny & Gwendolyn ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Great question, because i was thinking about this yesterday. We sent out 70 invitations accumulating to 115 people, so far out of 70 invitations 20 have rsvp'd and out of 115 people 70 are attending....let's see who really shows up at the wedding then. yay for saving money, but what if they say they are going, you pay for their plate and at the end they don't show? what then ugh!!!

    • Reply
  • S
    Dedicated June 2010
    soon to be... ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Thanks everyone for your responses: we want to have as many people as possible at the wedding, but don't want to go over our venue's limit. We are thinking about trying to send out invites early to the exact number of people that we can invite and have room for, and then when we hear "no" back from people, sending out invites to the people on our list who we didn't originally have room for. We'll see if we try that and if it works!

    • Reply
  • Amber
    Beginner April 2012
    Amber ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I am panicking because my guest list is at 250 and the chapel only holds 160! I really hate to just invite some to the reception! It looks like I might have too! I think I'm gonna convince the FH to just send out some announcements too. I think its silly to invite people we know that live overseas and we know they can't make it!

    • Reply
  • Mrs. Gresham
    Devoted November 2011
    Mrs. Gresham ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Our wedding is on the beach and we have 90 people so far that are coming (including us and the wedding party). We dont have a limit, but there are only going to be 20 chairs (for the parents and disabled or elderly) So everyone else will be standing at the ceremony, I just really hope people dont think they will all have chairs! I'm kinda starting to freak out about how many people are actually coming!!! We are having a buffet style reception has any else had to feed this many ppl? If so what did it run you?! I need suggestions on how to make this as inexpensive as possible!!!

    • Reply
  • Moria
    Just Said Yes September 2016
    Moria ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I have invited 215 and a month out from the wedding I have received 173 Yes RSVPs, 14 Declined, and 28 have not responded yet.

    • Reply
  • E
    Just Said Yes April 2017
    Erika ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I sent out 193 invitations for total quests of 430! Our venue holds 500 but we were aiming for 400. We r 56 days out from our wedding and we have had 305 people rsvp YES! Leaves me with missing 110 people, so if they all show up I will be sitting rt at 415people or so at my wedding! Yeah large wedding indeed but there's no way we could have cut anyone!

    • Reply
  • L
    Savvy September 2017
    Lindsay ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    We invited 191 people hoping for 125. Big difference I know but we know a lot wouldn't be able to make it and didn't want to be rude and not send the invitation. Any way there is 45 days until my wedding and 77 have said their coming, 72 have declined, and we are still waiting for 42 responses. I'm completely heart broken that so many won't be coming, it makes my FH and I feel unimportant, but it is a cost savings.

    • Reply
  • L
    Just Said Yes November 2019
    Lori ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Invited at least 50 people, only 8 are coming Smiley sad Part of my problem is the location. We are having a destination wedding in the Dominican Republic. Still shows who truly cares about you!

    • Reply
  • Mson
    Savvy February 2020
    Mson ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    You are both important Smiley smile no matter what!!

    • Reply
  • K
    Just Said Yes February 2023
    Kristine ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    That's what I'm thinking

    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×

Related articles

WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Groups

WeddingWire article topics