Numbers for Catering/cake?

Usually you give your vendors the number that you’re inviting and your final numbers are due a week or two before the wedding. They make enough based on that final number. Also for vendors like the band they should receive a vendor meal which some venues discount.

Our final numbers are due to the caterer a month before. So I'm waiting until I get all my RSVPs back to give her the number. Are you just getting quotes right now?

I agree with PPs in that you'd give final #s before but for cake specifically if the price for exact # of people isn't so bad it's ok to do that and so many people will tell you to plan one serving a person but honestly 10-20% of people really donttttt eat the cake or it's cut much smaller slices than ya think. I got a cake that was about 20% smaller in terms of serving and it came out just right. So if you're tight on a budget you could go with 120 rather than 150 serving. But if there is a middle for your 135 then that's preferable.

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We got a really late start on the planning because (long story short) Future FIL had a stroke and came to live with us (serious cramp on the style!) We have already locked in a caterer and I have a cake baker in mind, so I am just looking at how to play the numbers.

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I'll have to ask the caterer about the band and vendor meals. We will have the band (6 people), bartender, and probably also the photographer.