Practical party planning guide
How Many People Will Come to My Party?
The useful answer is a range or scenario, not a magic RSVP percentage. Confirmed guests are known; unanswered invitations are uncertain.
Separate the guest list into states
Track confirmed yes, confirmed no and pending separately. If you need an early estimate, apply an explicit acceptance assumption only to the pending group.
Use scenarios when the decision is expensive
For venue booking or catering deposits, compare a lower, expected and higher attendance scenario. That shows whether the decision still works if your assumption is wrong.
Update instead of defending the original estimate
As replies arrive, replace assumptions with confirmed numbers. The estimate should become less important as the party gets closer.
Use the Guest List Planner to keep confirmed and pending guests separate.