Day and evening guests: the UK guest list
How to split your list, track replies and meals, and get final numbers to your venue on time.
Most UK weddings have two guest lists. Day guests come to the ceremony, the drinks and the wedding breakfast. Evening guests join for the party later on. Venues usually price them differently, so keeping the two apart is the easiest way to control the cost.
Building the two lists
- Start with everyone you would invite if money were no object.
- Mark each person day or evening. Close family and the wedding party are usually day.
- Check the totals against your venue's minimum and maximum numbers, for the day and for the evening.
- Agree a rule for plus-ones and children, and write it on the invitation.
Tracking replies
Give everyone a reply-by date about six to eight weeks before the wedding. Keep one row per person, not per household, so you can count meals, dietary needs and seats accurately.
| Name | Invited to | RSVP | Meal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amelia Hart | All day | Yes | Fish |
| Tom Hart | All day | Yes | Vegetarian |
| Priya Shah | Evening | Waiting | Evening buffet |
Final numbers and the seating plan
Many venues ask for final numbers and the seating plan a few weeks before the day, often around six weeks. Check your contract for the exact date and work back from it when you chase replies.
Plan it all in one shared place
Our Notion planners are made for UK weddings: budget in pounds, day and evening guests, notice of marriage and a timeline that dates itself from your wedding day.
See the UK Wedding PlannerTry the free Lite