Expected guests at each event of a wedding weekend (welcome drinks, the ceremony, an excursion or boat day, the farewell brunch) and an RSVP deadline, with invitation and reminder dates, that lands before the venue's final-count date.
Every percentage is a starting assumption you can change to fit your crowd.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I plan headcounts for a wedding weekend?
Start from how many guests you expect for the weekend, then give each event its share of them. Nearly everyone comes to the ceremony; fewer arrive in time for welcome drinks or stay for the farewell brunch, and an excursion is often smaller still. The shares in this planner are starting assumptions; change them to fit your crowd.
When should the RSVP deadline be?
Before your venue's final-count date, with room to spare. This planner sets it 14 days earlier by default, so you have time to chase late replies and add up the answers. You can change the gap, and it is worth asking each vendor when they need their number.
When should destination wedding invitations go out?
Earlier than for a wedding at home, because guests need time to book travel. Zola's RSVP guide suggests mailing destination wedding invitations 10-12 weeks before the wedding and getting a final guest count 6-8 weeks ahead.
Do I need a separate RSVP for each event?
If the counts differ from event to event, yes. Otherwise you only know who is coming to the wedding, not who is coming to the boat day. With Addressed each guest answers for each event separately, so every event gets its own count.