01
Write everyone down first.
Start with a long list without judging it. Write down family, friends, colleagues, and anyone your parents expect to see. It is easier to remove names from a full list than to remember people later.
Then decide together. Agree on a maximum that fits your venue and budget, and go through the list side by side. Marking each guest as the bride's side, the groom's side, or both makes the balance easy to see.
02
Know who comes to what.
Many weddings have more than one event: a ceremony, a dinner, a party the night before. Decide early who is invited to each one, and write it down per event instead of keeping it in your head.
Note children and plus-ones from the start. They change your numbers more than you expect.
- Separate events for the ceremony and the celebration.
- Children counted as guests, not as an afterthought.
- Extra adults recorded with the guest who brings them.
03
Collect replies before the deadline.
Give every event an RSVP deadline a few weeks before your caterer needs final numbers. Send each guest their personal RSVP link, and note the replies that arrive by phone or card, along with meal choices and allergies.
A week before the deadline, look at who has not answered yet and contact them personally. A short message usually works better than a second card.
04
Turn replies into final numbers.
When the deadline passes, count the accepted guests for each event, including children and extra adults. That is the number your caterer and venue need.
Then seat your guests, give the caterer a list of allergies, and share travel details on your wedding page. In DJENETE, all of this works from the same guest list.