How many to invite?

nixietink

My fiance and I are struggling on figuring out how many people to invite to our wedding at Olowalu.

To keep our guest list at 50, how many should we invite? What did most of you do?

Thanks!

motoLyn

I invited about 46 people, only 36 of them actually can make it.  My advice invite as many as your budget and venue allow you.  Try not to over invite with the idea that some will not make it.Go to the B-list when some A-listers tell you they can't make it.

kimmykupcakes

Never invite more than you want/can afford. There's always the chance that they will all show.

kimmykupcakes

Funny; this was just posted on TK's FB page: http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-questions/wedding-guest-list-advice/qa/can-i-plan-for-no-shows.aspx

h1jung

we invited about 120 and are expecting 60, but don't know for sure yet because not all of our rsvps are in yet. our wedding planner said to expect about a 50% acceptance rate, but I don't think this necessarily holds if you're inviting 300 vs 40.

LaurenM2013

I am getting ready to start my STDs and I'm planning to invite 48 people to Hawaii with us. We are only expecting around 20 to come, but a lot can chance in the next 11 months

WinstonsGirl

We invited 125 and had 40 show.  But lots of my friends are still starting out cash wise and couldn't afford to come with all their kids too.  Don't invite more than you want, can afford or that your venue can hold.  

stephcap32

I'm also getting married at Olowalu and trying to keep it to 49.  I nailed down my "A" list and am keeping it to 49.  If some people say "no" then I have a few that we may invite.  For me, it became crystal clear as to who I wanted to invite when I really had to narrow it down.  I will honestly be happy if we end up at 40 because it works better for our budget so that we can have a party when we return.
So I wouldn't go over, unless you are willing to pay the increase for having more than 50.  Figure out your budget and give some thought to the people who you most want there on your special day.  Good luck.

dianalynm

I think you really have to plan for as many as you invite. Just because you have a feeling some may not show, what if they end up showing?

Your guest count is truly not official until all of your RSVPs come in. 

I am also doing separate lists. A list folks will get their invites, then B list once I start getting declinations...

Just be cautious about inviting more than your budget/venue holds. I know Olowalu holds 200+, but if your budget only allows for 50, you should only invite 50. Invite more guests once the "no's" start rolling in...

carrieoz_76

We invited about 55 people, and 29 came.  Some of those who came were not people we thought would, and some who couldn't come were people we thought would.  You really can't predict this part, so it's safest to only invite as many as you can afford/have room for and to invite people you both agree you want to come.

We had a pretty tight rule about who we invited.  My extended family is large and I know lots of ppl through work, although many of them my husband hadn't met yet, and I rarely see them.  So everyone we invited had to be someone my husband had at least met.  It didn't make sense to us to have an intimate Hawaii wedding and have people there we both didn't know and care about.