Guest List Estimator
Paste your invite count, adjust the RSVP rate to match your event type, and get the actual attendance number to feed your caterer. Baseline RSVP rates are from industry data across 2023 to 2025.
Inputs
Numbers below are industry defaults. Override anything that does not match your situation.
Confirmed from invites
100
Plus-ones attending
35
Total expected
134
Catering math
Base catering cost
$16,135
134 guests × $120 per head
With 5% buffer (recommended)
$16,942
Order for 141 heads to absorb last-minute additions.
Where do these numbers come from?
Default RSVP rates are pulled from The Knot, WeddingWire, and industry planner surveys from 2023 to 2025. Weddings average 83% attendance; corporate events drop to 68% because invites are free. Plus-one defaults assume half the guest list is offered a plus-one and 70% of those invites bring someone.
Your final headcount also sets your table count, which drives how many centerpieces, linens, and chargers you need. Once you have a number, tell us and we will quote the table decor to match.