I want alot of people at my wedding, what if no one shows?

Question

I want alot of people at my wedding. i am worried that alot of people won't show up. What percentage of people usually attend?

Answer 1

don't worry- people will come! Of course there are always a few that can't but generally this is only a small proportion of the guests you've invited. It also depends on the day and the time of year your wedding is- for example if it's on a long weekend or around holiday time more guests are likely to have other plans. My sister invited 80 guests and 72 came to her wedding and her's was in the middle of summer.

Answer 2

The rule of thumb with any party is to invite about 20% more people than you actually want in attendance.  For instance, if you want 200 guests, invite 240.  That way, if you get negative RSVPs from some people, the bulk of them will still RSVP yes, and you'll have your 200-guest wedding.  I only want 50 people at my wedding, because that's the max capacity for our ceremony spot, so I'm inviting about 75 or 80.  See how that works?

However, just in case everyone RSVP's yes, you should send the invitations out in "waves" so you can judge how many more you need to send before you hit your absolute quota.  Take my case again- I have three tiers of guests- an "A" list (immediate family and close friends), a "B" list (co-workers, childhood friends, and extended family), and a "C" list (acquaintances, friends of the family, people my fiance and I meet/make friends with in the next year, etc.)  I will start by sending out the invitations to the "A" list about 8 weeks prior to my wedding day.  As their RSVPs trickle in, I can see how many "B" list guests to invite judging by the amount of "yes" RSVPs I get from the "A" list.  I send out the "B" list invitations 7 weeks prior to the wedding, and judging by their responses I send out the "C" list ones the following week.  If I hit my 50-guest max and still have people on the "B" or "C" lists without an invite, I will invite them to the reception only using a separate invitation with different wording.  I think it will go quite well.

Answer 3

Obviously everyone else has told you that about 20% don't show.. which I think is truly correct.. but I just wanted to share with you that I was freaking out about this about 2 weeks ago.  When is your wedding?  It depends on the day you have it too.  For example if it's on a Friday night, less people will be able to attend because of work etc.  Also if it's a holiday weekend people may already have plans.  If you are really worried about it and still have time.. send out save the date cards or magnets.  We made our own by going to Michael's getting the sheet of magnets with one side sticky, printing them on business cards, putting the whole sheet on and cutting them out.  The only real cost was the postage, otherwise it was about $20... very affordable.  The only advice I have is to laminate them so they don't run if they get wet.  

But anyway, don't worry about it.. the people that really matter to you and really love you and your fiance will show up.  And if they don't want to come, they won't, and you just gotta realize that that's their own problem... they are the ones missing out.  I was freaking out because I'm like I spent $650 on my dress.. and now the alterations are like $250 and no one is even coming to the wedding so I'm spending all this money on a stupid dress that I'll only wear once and no one will see it!!  What a waste.. but I was just letting the emotions get to me.  Like I said.. I'm sure it will all work it's self out!  good luck and congrats.. enjoy the day no matter who comes and who doesn't.. the people that truly love you will not miss your day!

Answer 4

Assume that 80% will show.  Also assume (and this is from personal experience) that some people will RSVP yes and then no show.  I was LIVID because you will end up paying for those people if you have a caterer that "precounts" and charges off that number.  Make sure they count plates the day of!!

Answer 5

If you invite family and friends then they will come- about 10% won't to being sick and having work and stuff like that.

If you like one of my old friends and invite everyone's name you know... people you have NOT seen in like 10 years... everyone you work with..(I mean EVERYONE)... lots of people who live out of the area... everyone you went to college with.... your show up isn't going to be good.  She invited 280 people and 45 showed.  That's mainly because she invited people just to invite them and get more gifts.

Answer 6

well one thing, usually people love weddings and they will come

if someone dosnt come it maybe because they were busy or caught up in something more important some where else.

all the people who will make it to your wedding likes you enouf to be there, so dont worry about who makes it to your wedding and who dosnt. try to share your happiness with the poeple who are there to support you and see your joy.

Answer 7

We had an open church ceremony & reception which means you didn't necessarily have to have an invitation to come.  We sent one invitation to my church and one to my husbands church and then individual invitations to all our family and close friends.  We had 50 invites and I wasn't really expecting a huge crowd, we planned for 125 people to actually show.  Well, it's a good think we did a finger food reception 'cuz the church was full!  I think the closest count anyone got was around 175 people!  I was very shocked when the church doors opened so I could walk down the aisle!  I think having an open ceremony is the way to go if you truly want a crowd of people at your wedding!

Answer 8

If your wedding is on Christmas or New Years eve probably less

If you are very socially prominent in your area probably more.

Average 60 - 70%.  

Answer 9

The event coordinator at the reception hall where we're having our wedding told us that the approximate number of guests that will attend is usually about 60-70% of people you invite.  She's been doing it for a while so I trust her guestimate.

Answer 10

Well at our wedding we had 250 guests, and lol All but 2 came! So figure 90%! :) Don't worry, I'm sure you'll have a big wedding!  

Answer 11

I have heard about 20% don't come but not sure how true that is. There are a lot of factors to consider though - if you have a lot of out of town/state people you are inviting, whether or not single people will bring a guests (if you have given them) or if it's near a big holiday people might have travel plans. We had over 220 invited and 159 show up (almost everyone who decline was out of state)

Try not to worry, though. You don't want to have any unnecessary stress.

Answer 12

First off it is a lot not alot! Next about 20% of people you invite will not show, but who cares you really will not notice everyone at you wedding anyways. The day goes by so fast everything gets blurry. I forgot who I took pictures with, we I said hi to etc. Also do not worry about saying hi to everyone, if you do you will not be able to enjoy your day and spend all of your time saying hello.

Answer 13

Usually not everyone shows up, but if you send save the dates out early this may increase the number of people who come.

Answer 14

Well, I think it depends upon whether you are talking about the wedding or the reception.  Your immediate family and friends will attend the ceremony and more will be at the reception as some people work or don't have child care that long.  It also depends on when your wedding is, Friday weddings tend to bring less people to the ceremony.  

Answer 15

You should also take into account how many people are coming from out of town...yes, the standard amount of people who mark no on the RSVP is about 25%, but if half of your list is made up of people who live out of state or something then that percentage might be higher.  Maybe send out a save-the-date so people have a lot of time to plan for it.  This is especially true for families that have a lot of small children, or if you are planning your wedding on or around a holiday or popular traveling time.

Answer 16

I was the same way especially since we had a destination wedding. About 20% of our guests didn't come and only about 5 of them that said they would, didn't. Don't worry it will be fabulous!

~MLF~

Answer 17

well for normal parties the rejection rate is usually 30 - 40% for wedding's it's usually about 10 - 15%.  So if you invite 100 people expect about 85 - 90 people to say 'yes'.  

Answer 18

i do not know what percentage usually attend, but people who really love u will defenetly come....still u want to celebrate with lots of people call the oldage homes and ask the people who really like to attend and bless you...and can also call the orphans........