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Can I Rely on 30% of My Guest List Not Attending? Ask The Expert Answer

July 22, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Question from Eloisa:

The Hall I may use only holds 185 Guests and my Guest list total comes up to 228 and I know I have heard that 30% to 60% of my Guests will not be there but my mind keeps going back & forth about whether I should cut my guests list or take a chance and leave it the way it is.

I know my event is going to be in 5 more years but I keep thinking that this is going to be the one time that everybody tells me that they are coming and I don’t have the room in the hall. Should I write another Guest list that shows a different amount of Guests that are maybe’s? I will try to relax about my guest list for now.

 

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Eloisa. I would only use a hall that can hold everyone I invite. Although it is true approximately 30% of your guest list will not come, I would not chance it. 

 
It is common these days to send a postcard to the out-of-town guest list to advise them of the party well in advance so they can save the date and start planning to attend.   (It is a Save The Date notice that your event is coming up and they will be invited.  This can be done up to a year in advance for those far away.)  Then closer to the event, you send out the invitations. If you do this, you are more likely to have them attending. 
 
Here is a little trick. If you send out the invitations a few months in advance, and get negative responses from those who know they won’t attend, you can continue to send out invitations to your “B list” to cover that number of people. That way you may fill your hall with everyone you wanted to invite, without the risk of having too many guests. Of course, you won’t want to tell anyone of this strategy, as they may feel insulted they were on the “B list”. But this way you may be able to have your cake and eat it too. 
 
Note that out of town guest invitations are often sent out before mailing invitations locally, as it gives them more time to plan and decide whether they will attend or not.
 
I hope that this is helpful.
 
Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert
Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Ideas, Planning, Tips & Advice
Angela About Angela

My name is Angela Fiebelkorn and I love to help brides and grooms plan their wedding. I am a certified wedding planner and an avid blogger. Enjoy....!

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