If you’re wondering what the average wedding guest count is, it depends on how big the wedding is. For smaller ceremonies, the average count is around 20, while you can expect larger ones to have well over 200 guests.
I not only answered this question, but some additional information that you may like, and some useful statistics too.
What is the Average Wedding Guest Cost?
As mentioned, the answer depends on how big the wedding is. I’ve taken a look at small, medium and larger weddings more in-depth later on in this article. Smaller weddings usually come with around 60 guests max, and if you are going for an especially small micro ceremony, you will usually see around 20 guests.
In case it is a medium wedding that you are planning, you can expect around 150 guests maximum. Most weddings these days fall into this category. Any wedding that has around 200-300 guests is a large wedding. Some super large weddings have around 1000 guests, but they are not as common, as you can imagine.
How Big Are Small Weddings?
You can divide small weddings into micro-weddings. They are very intimate and are usually the couple and just the witnesses needed for the wedding registration. Many people confuse micro-weddings for elopements but they are not the same – elopements are done in secret, while micro-weddings are just very cozy and minimal ceremonies.
With the coronavirus pandemic and global lockdown, small and micro weddings have been becoming more popular. Most small weddings average with around 30-60 guests. If it’s a particularly small venue that you’re having the ceremony in, then you are better off going with the lower end of the average and inviting 20-30 people.
How Big Are Medium Weddings?
You will usually find around 60-150 guests in medium-sized weddings. Most weddings these days fall into this category as they are not too expensive to have. They are also great as you will be able to invite quite a bit of friends and extended family even. Although they range between 60 and 150, medium-sized weddings have around 80-100 guests on average.
How Big Are Large Weddings?
Last but not least, we have large weddings. In most parts of the world, they consist of over 150 guests. They can be trickier to host, as hunting for venues that would be able to handle so many people is a bit of work. They can be more expensive too which is definitely something to keep in mind.
Most large venues are able to hold around 300 guests at maximum. Some large ceremonies have been known to cross the 1000 guest mark.
How Do I Decide What Size Wedding Is Right for Me?
This depends on a number of factors, like how big your family is, what your budget is, and how feasible it would be to have so many people in one room. I’ve taken a look at all the factors to consider in the section below.
Let’s get to it.
1. Your Budget Size
Probably the biggest factor that will consider how many guests that you can invite would be your budget. You would need to pay for each guest per head at your reception, so you may not be able to invite that many guests if you are tight on cash. You might be able to save a bit if you want to invite many people but are on a budget by cutting corners. For instance, you can choose a less luxurious venue, or not go to town with your decorations.
2. Size of the Venue
Even if you have enough cash to invite many guests, you should consider whether you would be able to find venues that are large enough to accommodate all the people that you want. If you’re planning on inviting over 300 people this may be especially hard, as most large venues are only able to handle 300 max. As you can imagine, large venues cost more. So, this would eat quite a bit into your budget as well.
3. How Many Loved Ones Do You Have?
Of course, your family and friend group will play a major role in how many people you will be able to invite. Even if you have all the money in the world and are able to book a large enough venue, it would be no point if you don’t have that many people to invite. I suggest that you do not invite distant relatives or friends of friends if you are tight on cash. Simply stick to all the people that you care about.
4. Location of the Ceremony
The location you have the wedding in would affect how many guests you can invite. If it’s out of town, you probably will not be able to invite that many guests – they may not be able to visit.
5. What Are You Comfortable With?
Last but not least, we have to talk about your personal preferences. If you just don’t want to invite that many people, then you don’t have to do this. Remember that this is your big day so whatever you want is important.
How Many Guests Should You Expect to Come to Your Wedding?
A general rule of thumb is that you can expect around 70-80% of the guests that you have invited to show up. If you are planning a large wedding and are inviting around 300 guests, you will be able to see around 240 people at the ceremony.
Let’s talk about all the factors that will affect how many guests show up.
1. Types of Guests
One of the biggest factors that will affect how many guests would attend is the location that you have the ceremony in. With this in mind, there are generally three types of wedding guests that you can classify.
2. Local Guests
Most guests are local guests. They are people who live in or around the city where you will be getting married. No surprise, it is easier for them to come to your wedding.
3. Out of town guests
Along with the above, we also have out of town guests. They may have to spend a couple of nights in order to attend your wedding as they live in another city, state or province. You can usually expect 55 percent of your out-of-town guests to be at your wedding.
4. Destination Guests
Although not all weddings are destination weddings, quite a few ends up going this route. Your guests would be abroad and would need to book a flight and plan an extended stay to make it to your ceremony. If this is the route you are taking, you can expect around 35 percent of your guests to attend the ceremony.
You will be able to increase the numbers of people that show up by paying for your guests’ accommodation. This will also be true for out-of-town weddings and not just ones that are in other countries.
5. Did You Send Save the Dates?
You can increase the chances of guests showing up by sending save the dates. They are simply heads up that you would send to the people that you want to invite, saying that your wedding is in the works. In general, you have to include the names of the couple, as well as the city where the ceremony will be in, as well as the exact date and time that it would be in.
You should send them out at least 8 months before the wedding date. Sending this notice months in advance helps you get guests as it easily lets them plan their schedule.
6. When Were Invitations Sent?
Although you send save the date months in advance, you send invitations on the other hand around 6 to 8 weeks before your wedding. They should include an RSVP card. And remember to also include the exact location, time of the ceremony, and reception information onto the card.
I advise you to send the invites out earlier than required as this would give your guests a good chance to plan their schedule. This is something that you should especially consider if you are having a wedding out of town or in a country abroad, as your guests may need extra time to move things around.
Just don’t send them out too early either, as your guests may forget that they have a wedding coming. Instead of 6-8 weeks before, sending the invitations around 10 weeks beforehand is the best.
Who Do You Invite to Your Wedding?
With all of the above points in mind, I decided to conclude this article by touching on who to include into your guest list.
Let’s get into everything you should know.
Immediate Family
Of course, you need to invite your immediate family. These would include parents, siblings, and in-laws. You need to look at your family carefully when inviting guests, as immediate family members would be hurt if they do not get invited.
I recommend running to your draft list with your parents or siblings. They will give you advice, and inform you whether you have missed any close relatives.
Wedding Party Members
Along with inviting immediate family members, also remember to invite everyone to your wedding party. This includes your best man, maid of honor, as well as man of honor too. If you’re wondering how big your wedding party should be, it usually is no bigger than 10 members.
Extended Family
Along with your immediate family, also consider inviting extended family members. These would include your aunts, uncles, cousins, and even close family friends. This is what usually takes up a large portion of your guest list.
Friends
Next, you will have to keep in mind all the close and mutual friends that you have. I advise you and your fiancé to go through your individual lists to find any mutual friends. This would help you avoid sending out double-invites by accident.
You should also speak to your close friends to double-check whether you have missed anyone in your social circles out.
Co-workers and Colleagues
Next, we have coworkers. You should invite all of your close colleagues at work. But if you have a bigger budget, then inviting your whole department might be a good idea. Don’t forget to invite your boss too.
People You Used to Know
Last but not least, we have all the important people in your life that you used to know. You don’t have to invite them, especially if you don’t have a big budget – they are not in your life anymore after all. But it would be nice if you could. This would include all your old school friends, and old work colleagues and neighbors. If you want to include a couple of them onto your list, and are wondering how to invite them, you can try hunting them down on social media. Facebook is a good place to look.
What is the Marriage Rate?
Well, the answer depends drastically on the country you are looking at. But in the United States, it was around 5.1 percent in 2020. It used to higher, as it was 9.9 percent per 1000 in 1990.
Final Thoughts
We can come to the conclusion that the average wedding guest size differs on how big of a wedding that you want to have. If you are going to have a smaller wedding, the average guest count would be around 30-60 guests, but there are small micro-weddings which can be around 10 people.
On the other hand, we can have a medium wedding which will have an average guest count of around 60-150 guests, and large weddings which have around 300 guests maximum. This guide not only took a look at these statistics for you, but a range of additional information, such as how big your wedding should be, and what factors you need to consider when inviting guests.
Hopefully you found everything that was discussed useful.
