Invitations- how many to invite

lipovace

I am just curious what others think about this...

I am working on my Save the Dates.  My reception venue holds 150 people.  I have about 200 people that I would like to invite.  Am I being to risky assuming 50 people will not be able to attend?  What are your thoughts?

janedoe1113a

Yes, it's very risky.  You need to assume 100% attendance.  If you want to invite 200 people, you need to change your venue.

slappy985

i say go with the theory that not everyone will show up.  If you have lots of guests from out of town you maybe able to get away with it.  GL

squirrly

Don't do it.  If you can change venues, do that .  If not, cut your guest list.  If you absolutely aren't willing to cut your guest list, you can do the dreaded A & B list, but please be smart about how you do things.  For example, I will likely have some of my college friends decline.  So, I could send that group of invites out first, and hold off on sending any to my family for the first two weeks.  Once I get a few declines in those first two weeks, I'd know if I had room to add Aunt Mildred, etc. 

That way, all the people who would talk to one another and mention the invite would be getting one at the same time.  Less hurt feelings.

But, I still don't like A&B lists.

agk0125

Only send STDs to family and OOT guests that you KNOW you want to invited because the STD locks you into inviting that person. If you sent out 200 STDs for a venue that only holds 150 that would be a huge disaster.

AmoroAgain

This is such a bad idea, it's not even funny.  Like, REALLY bad idea. 

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Assuming a 25% decline rate is VERY risky. It's highly out of the ordinary that you will get that many declines. If I wer you I would either not invite children, cut the list some other way, or switch venues.

squirrly

Definitely don't send STDs to that many people.  Limit your STDs to those that are absolutely beyone a shadow of a doubt invited.  Once you send an STD, you can't retract it.

SaraAndrew2010

I definitely echo the fact that send more invites than you have room is risky.

To give an example, I know one Chicago bride who got married in her hometown in Iowa.  She invited a bunch of friends and co-workers from Chicago, assuming that most of them wouldn't bother to go to Iowa for a wedding.  They planned for an accept rate of around 70%.  Over 90% of the people they invited ended up coming!