A Different Sort Of Guest List Inquiry

[Caleb's Bride]

Hey ladies!

I'm sort of torn with what to do about sending out invitations. So I wanted to ask you all about your experiences so that maybe I can figure out what to do.

FH and I have a guest list that consists of 101 people. I've read nearly everywhere that generally a quarter of the invitees can't make it.

Now, I don't know if I'm naive or what, lol, but I really sincerely feel that EVERYONE on our list will show up.

Problem is, we've budgeted for about 80 people. So I don't know what to do. Should I cut the list and risk having less than 80 people actually make it, or do I send out one to everyone on the list and pray that some can't come?

This is so frustrating.

[shawnsgirl]

There is a slight minute chance that everyone may show up. Generally though you can count on at least 15-20% declining or not showing up at your wedding. With that said if 20% decline that will give you 81 people as guests. Realistically, ever wedding I have attended or been to with a guest list higher than 20 not everyone invited attended.

With that said, between now and September in the rare even everyone does RSVP is it possible for you to save extra money just incase for the extra guests? If you need a minimum of 80 people I wouldn't chop the guest list, I would try to do some saving.

[dearlyloved]

I have to tell you - I was freaked out that I would over invite and ended up being kind of stingy with my guest list. BIG MISTAKE. It ends up that at this point we are going to be way under. Our reception hall requires a $1,500 minimum so we are going to pay that no matter what but it's frustrating to pay for unfilled plates. People that I swore were coming ended up not being able to come. It's just something to think about. I don't want someone else to make the same mistake I made!

[Caleb's Bride]

Thanks ladies! I'm just torn.

I've pretty much spoken to everyone that is on my portion of the list, and other than there being some major catastrophe, they all said they will be there. Because the list consists of mainly close family and friends, I have no doubt about that.

Now, here's the problem. FH's family and friends are not what I would call.....reliable. They have all said that they will be coming and FH for some reason has faith in these people, even though they constantly let him down. Anyway, I do hope they come because that will make him happy.

So that's my dilemma. I don't, in my heart, believe that all of the folks he's invited will show up. It will shock the you-know-what out of me. LOL! And I don't want to take some of the people off of my list where there's almost 100% certainty that they will show up to make the 80 person range (granted a person ot two over won't be a big deal).

But what do I do if by some miracle, all his people show up and all of mine do too? Yes, we could start trying to put away more money, but we are 5 months out and still have a ton of money to put out for everything else.

I'm just stressing. I don't want only like 50 people to come because I want it be a nice party. But I don't want it to be over-done either. Sigh.

[sjk1431]

I'm going through the same thing our list has 175 people and our contract for our ceremony/reception hall is for 100. I'm really not sure how many will really come I hope to not go over 100.

Alot of FH family lives pretty far away. I hate waiting to know the details. :laugh: