Guest List & RSVPs

Everyone you are inviting, whose side they are on, who has replied, what they will eat and who is bringing someone — with the headcount your caterer and venue will ask for, always up to date.

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Building the guest list without a fight

Start with the number, not the names: the venue's capacity and your budget per guest set the ceiling. Then write the list in rings — immediate family and the people you could not imagine it without, then close friends and wider family, then colleagues and plus-ones. When the list is over the number, cut from the outside ring in.

Agree the rules before the names, and apply them to both sides: plus-ones for couples only, or for everyone; children invited, or not. It is much easier to say no to a person when it is a rule.

Replies

Set the reply date three to four weeks before the wedding — your caterer will want the final numbers about two weeks out. Expect a share of people not to reply at all; the Waiting filter shows exactly who to chase.

Related

Everyone who is coming, or has not said no, is ready to seat on the seating chart. The budget uses the headcount to show cost per guest, and the drinks calculator needs it too. The wedding planning guide covers when invitations go out and replies are due.

Questions people actually ask

Can I import the list from a spreadsheet?

Yes. Save it as CSV, open Paste a list, or bring in a spreadsheet and choose the file. Columns named Name, Side, Group, RSVP, Meal, Plus one, Child and Notes are recognised; anything else is ignored. The file is read in your browser, never uploaded.

How do I record a couple or a family?

Either put each person on their own line with the same group — best when they eat different meals or may sit apart — or put one name with a plus-one for a couple.

Can guests RSVP here themselves?

No — this is your private list, kept on your device with no server behind it. Record replies as they come in by post, text or through your wedding website.

How many invited guests usually come?

It varies a lot with travel and timing. Many planners assume somewhere around three quarters to nine tenths for a local wedding and fewer for a destination one, but your own list is the better guide — watch the replies come in.