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What is the average percentage of a wedding guest list that doesn't come?

I'm coordinating a wedding in a room with a maximum capacity for 150 people. She and her groom are inviting 180 people and she is "freaking out" that all 180 are going to show up. I've tried to explain what statistics say, but she's not listening. Does anyone have hard fact evidence of what percentage will RSVP no?

Public Comments

1. Its really hard to decide but most people who dont know you very well will not come and hardly anyone will ever rsvp. Oh and Congrats and Good Luck!!!
2. First of all you better re-think that room..you just may be in for a shock and 150 plus will attend. Why on earth would the bride-to-be freak out if they all showed up...if she wanted to avoid this she should have down-sized her guest list hence avoiding this problem. A person can roughly estimate 10-20% depending on the weather..ie; snow, ice, distance, or age of guest's on list.
3. From what I've researched, the average is 75-85% who respond that they will attend, but I wouldn't rely on that statistic totally. I think it all depends on how many people will have to travel to your wedding vs how many live in the vicinity of the wedding. When a lot of people you invite have to travel great distances (fly or drive more than 3 hours)I think your % of no-shows will be much higher. You can't always count on that either though.
4. plan on 70% if all are far away an 80% if all are locals alot of people will not come becouse of work an what time of the year it is
5. You or the site manager should have a policy to NEVER let a client invite more than the room can hold. You never know if they WILL all come! There is no steady percentage you can use to predict, either. I have talked to brides online for over 5 years and have heard of everything from 100% invitee attendance rate, to 40% attendance rate. I have also recently heard of a bride that retracted several dozen invitations because the reception site couldn't hold the number she invited-- incredibly rude, and bad planning! AND some of the people had already bought their plane tickets! So now she and groom are infamous for their terrible manners. When you say "coordinating," are you saying this is your JOB-- you're a wedding coordinator, and you're asking this question here? Or, are you like the maid of honor or something?
6. I remember being told 15-20% but I think it all depends on how many people are invited and where everyone lives. We invited just over 100 people to our wedding and our final headcount was 75. And most of our invitees are in our area. It all depends.