📋 Guest List & RSVP Tracker

Add your guests with their RSVP status and plus-ones to see a running confirmed headcount.

What counts towards the headcount

Only rows marked Attending reach the total, and each contributes itself plus its plus-ones:

confirmed headcount = sum over attending rows of (1 + plus-ones)
attending / pending / not attending = row counts, not people

The two example rows show it: Jane Smith attending with one plus-one and John Doe pending give a confirmed headcount of 2 from 1 attending row. Set John to Attending with two plus-ones and the headcount jumps to 5. Plus-ones on a pending or declining row are ignored entirely, which is why the headcount can sit well below the number of names on screen.

Turning pending rows into a catering number

The pending pile, not the confirmed count, is what decides the final bill. Work it at an expected yield:

Local events usually land near 80-85% acceptance, so 20 pending rows are worth about 16 more attending - plus their plus-ones.
Destination or travel-heavy events run far lower, often 55 to 70%, and the plus-one rate falls with it.
On the day expect 2 to 5% of confirmed guests not to appear, which is money already spent - do not cut the count for it.

So 55 confirmed with 20 pending is realistically about 75 by the deadline, and that is the figure to quote, not the 55 on the card.

Caterers and venues want a guaranteed number 7 to 14 days out and bill on it whoever turns up. Nothing here is saved either - reloading the page empties the list, so record the total before you close the tab.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage of invited guests actually come?

Roughly 80 to 85% for a local event, and 55 to 70% when guests have to travel or take a hotel. Apply that to the pending rows rather than assuming everyone outstanding will say yes.

Why has my headcount not gone up after adding a plus-one?

Plus-ones only count on rows set to Attending. A pending guest with two plus-ones adds nothing until you change the status, which keeps the confirmed figure honest.

When do I give the caterer a final headcount?

Usually 7 to 14 days before the event, and it is a guarantee rather than an estimate. Give the confirmed count plus your expected yield on anything still pending.