I've seen a few comments on this and thought I'd share my tried and true formula. This helps my brides save a lot of money by not spending money they don't have to spend (and saves me work by not having to bake/cook for 200 people when only 150 will show up. What I tell my brides is to take their entire invite list times 60%. This hits the nail on the head about 95% of the time. I've used this formula for over 20 years. The only exception is military.....if the bride or groom is military, then the show-rate is higher. I don't believe in RSVP's.....they absolutely do not work (see my website for a true story on how 57 people who said they'd be there, didn't show!).

thanks for the great advice!!!

What about a military "wedding"....the ceremony is done in a court house on December 22nd of this year with no "please save-the-date" cards for our "reception" where we just want money.......how does that work???....ha ha this is my brother-in-law's wedding that I'm doing his cake for whatever we want to call this thing. TIA