Confirming your final numbers
Final numbers is the least romantic deadline in a wedding and one of the most expensive to get wrong, because it is usually the figure you pay for whether or not those people turn up.
When it is due
Two weeks before is the common answer, but it is not the answer. Your venue and your caterer each set their own deadline and theirs is the one that counts. Ask both at the point of booking and write the date down.
For a multi-day wedding there is a deadline per event, and they are rarely the same day.
Chasing the people who have not replied
Around a fifth of guests will not reply to anything, which is not rudeness, it is life. Assume you will be chasing and plan the time in.
A message that gives them the deadline and an easy way to answer works far better than a reminder that only expresses disappointment. Ring the ones who matter; a phone call gets an answer in a minute.
What happens after the deadline
Numbers can usually go up a little and almost never down. Most venues will add a couple of covers late and charge you for anyone who drops out after the date.
So if you are genuinely unsure, confirm the lower number. Adding two is a phone call. Removing eight is a bill.
Common questions
When are wedding final numbers due?
Usually about two weeks before, but the venue and the caterer each set their own deadline and those are the ones that count. Ask when you book.
What happens if someone drops out after final numbers?
You are normally charged for them anyway, because the food has been ordered and the staff booked. That is why it is safer to confirm the lower number.
How do you chase guests who have not RSVPed?
Give them the deadline and a one-tap way to answer, then ring the ones who matter. A phone call settles in a minute what four messages will not.
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