After sending your invitation, the biggest worry is "how many people are actually coming?" Among guests who say "Yes," 76% actually attend. If you set your guaranteed minimum by gut feeling, unexpected meal costs can arise when the actual count differs.

Turning on RSVP lets you collect responses with a single link, and even guests who haven't replied yet can have their attendance likelihood automatically predicted based on behavior patterns like opening the invitation or adding to their calendar.

Real case: A couple contracted with a 300-person guarantee. Of the bride's side 80-person guarantee, only 50 actually attended → an unexpected charge of $1,300 for 30 unused meals. (See Wedding Hall Guarantee Trap)

Getting Started with RSVP

RSVP only takes two steps to set up and you're ready to go.

Once set up, guests simply tap the personalized link inside the invitation to automatically record their response, eliminating the hassle of following up with each person individually.

Step 1: Enable RSVP on Your Invitation

Go to the invitation edit screen and turn the RSVP toggle ON. When guests open the invitation, they can select attendance or non-attendance, indicate the number of additional guests, and leave a message.

Step 2: Send with Personalized Links

Using personalized links instead of a general link lets you track who opened it, when, and how many times, plus automatic recording of account copy, calendar add, and map open. A general link only shows total views with no action tracking or attendance prediction, while personalized links automatically calculate behavior-based probability. Find out how to send them in the Invitation Guide.

Behavior-Based Attendance Prediction

The biggest problem is people who say "I'll attend" but don't show up. Mobile RSVP achieves a 75–85% response rate, far higher than phone calls (60–70%) or group chats (30–50%). Pudding analyzes not just RSVP responses but also behavior patterns to predict the likelihood of actual attendance.

Adding to calendar or copying the account number are very high signals. Reading for 3+ minutes or opening 2+ times with 80% scroll are high signals, while opening the map is medium to high. More recent actions carry higher weight, today's action counts 100%, 2 weeks ago 70%, 2 months ago 50%.

With a general link, you cannot tell "who read it," and behavior-based prediction is also unavailable. You must use personalized links to access this feature.

Real-Time Dashboard

The dashboard automatically updates whenever a guest response comes in. You can see response rate, confirmed attendance (including additional guests), not attending, no response, and behavior-based predicted attendance at a glance. There are 4 response statuses: Attending (including additional guests), Not attending, Undecided, No response.

Sending Reminders to Non-Responders

You can gather all guests who haven't responded and contact them at once. Open the filter in the invitation responses tab, select "No response," and combine filters by side (groom/bride) and relationship (e.g., "Bride's side + Work colleague + No response") to narrow down your list.

It's best to factor in a 5–20% no-show rate. Even among those who responded "attending," some won't show up on the day. It's safer to set your guaranteed minimum at 90–95% of confirmed RSVP attendees.

After the Wedding: Expected vs. Actual Attendance Comparison

After the wedding, you can compare the predicted headcount side by side with the actual attendance. Expected attendance combines confirmed RSVP responses and behavior-based predictions, while actual attendance is the number recorded at the reception desk. This comparison data can also be shared as a reference for friends or siblings from the same social circle who will be getting married.

Frequently Asked Questions

Without RSVP vs. With RSVP

RSVP Management Checklist

You Can Know Your Guest Count Accurately in Advance