It all depends on factors like the size of your families and friend groups, your culture and religion, and even your vision for your big day. But you asked, and we shall answer! Typically, a guestlist of 75 to 150 people is considered an "average" wedding size. However, average guest counts fluctuate too.
The average wedding guest count in the USA is about 130-140 people. There are variations between regions and religions, though. For example, some religions tend to have larger weddings with an average of 180 guests while others only have an average of 120-130 guests.
How many guests are typically invited to each size wedding? These numbers may vary a little depending on who you're speaking with, but a small wedding typically includes 50 people or under, a medium wedding has a guest list of anywhere from 50-150 guests, and a large wedding has over 150 attendees.
50 – 100 Guests: Medium Wedding
Your work friends might get cut from the list, but your fiance's brother's new girlfriend makes the cut. With between 50-100 guests, you get to mix and mingle without standing in a line taking selfies all night.
A large wedding is a marriage with more than 150 people. It is officially a larger than average wedding when you have more guests than the average nationwide of 125 guests.
A large wedding is anything from 150 guests and up. We typically think of a large wedding as having around 250-300 guests but in some cultures, it's normal to have anything from 500-1,000 people popping in to celebrate your day with you.
Experts recommend inviting no more than your budget can allow. If you've budgeted for 150 people, you should send out 150 invites. On the off chance some of those prospective guests send their regrets, feel free to send out more invites to “second tier” guests, but only up to that original 150-person total.
It all depends on factors like the size of your families and friend groups, your culture and religion, and even your vision for your big day. But you asked, and we shall answer! Typically, a guestlist of 75 to 150 people is considered an "average" wedding size.
There's no “one size fits all” scale when it comes to a wedding guest list—different amounts of attendees will feel right to different people based on family makeup, friend groups, culture, religion, etc. Mason considers 75 to 150 guests to be an “average” size wedding, and anything over 150 to be a “large” wedding.
Traditionally, the bride's family pays for the wedding, but that custom is rapidly changing. Couples are increasingly choosing to handle at least half of the wedding expenses on their own. Early planning and a written budget can help avoid miscommunication when deciding who pays for what.
According to the latest research, it takes an average of 6 to 12 months to plan weddings. Some busy couples prefer to extend the wedding planning timeline to 18 months to give themselves some extra wiggle room, as well. The sooner you can knock out wedding planning, the better.
How many servers do I need? For a buffet, we recommend one server for every 25 to 35 guests. For a seated, plated event, we suggest one server for every 10 to 15 guests. For passed hors d'oeuvres, we recommend one server per 25 guests.
With a more intimate guest list, you can focus on creating a personal and unforgettable experience for you and your guests. Typically a very small wedding of less than 20 guests is called a micro wedding, while a small wedding is considered as having between 30 and 60 guests.
We spoke with etiquette expert Myka Meier, author of Modern Etiquette Made Easy, who agreed with Glantz that there really aren't any rules that limit the size of a bridal party.
You may have as many 'maids/matrons/attendants as you wish.
Consider that the wedding party is traditionally invited to the rehearsal dinner; and it's also in good taste to give your attendants plus-ones for the rehearsal dinner and wedding.
Small weddings can range in size, but typically include around 20-80 people and are just as special — and potentially a lot less expensive — than a large celebration. Wondering how to pull off the perfect small wedding? TMRW sought out the pros to get a few tips.
The number of bridesmaids selected for a bridal party, is very much down to the size of the wedding. For instance, a small wedding of up to 100 people, is unlikely to have 9 bridesmaids. But a wedding of 500+ people, may do. Typically, on average, brides tend to go for around 3-5 bridesmaids.
Disadvantages of Small Weddings
When you choose a smaller wedding, your guest list naturally includes fewer people, which can cause friction and drama when family members and friends find out they're not invited.
Small weddings are becoming increasingly popular. Some couples might have a small wedding to reduce their expenses while others only want to share the day with those who are most important to them. Unfortunately, when you opt for a small wedding, you may have to say “no” to people you like.
It is considered that 75 to 100 guests are very okay, but having more than 150 guests can be many people. You might invite almost 100 people to your wedding, which is realistic since you and your fiancé have friends and family that you wish would be present on such a special day.
For local guests, plan for 85% of invitees attending. Don't forget to add spouses and children if they are invited! For out-of-town guests, plan on 55% of them attending. However, if most of them are close family who may go the distance to make it, your estimate could be higher—as high as 85%.
THE ETIQUETTE
She offers these guidelines to wedding-goers wherever they might be: A distant relative or co-worker should give $75-$100; a friend or relative, $100-$125; a closer relative, up to $150. If you are wealthy, are you expected to inflate the gift? No, Cooper says.
There's no magical formula to determine exactly how many invitees will RSVP "no" (trust us, if we could predict the future for you, we would), but it's safe to plan for roughly 15 percent of people to decline the invitation (and more like 20–30 percent for a destination wedding).
The best way to combat this mistake is to remember this rule of thumb: 200 guests = approximately 100 wedding invites.
Budget For Wedding Reception Tables
Let's say you are planning on 150 guests. They will fit at 15 round tables or 18 rectangular ones. Rectangular tables would mean you're paying for three additional tables, linens, and centerpieces.