I seem to recall there was a show with this title, but that is neither here nor there....

Line reminds us:
Ch.43 - Mrs. Reynolds: "We expect (Darcy) tomorrow, with a large party of friends."

ch.44 - Mr. Gardiner has gone to meet *some* of the gentlemen at Pemberley by noon to go fishing, and

ch.45 - Darcy) had been some time with Mr. Gardiner, who, with *two or three other gentlemen from the house*, was engaged by the river...

I agree with Line that if we hark back to the two other places where JA describes a "large party" we are talking at least 12 or more people, and Bingley and his family are only four. So, despite what the adaptations show us, JA meant for us to understand that single, wealthy Mr. Darcy does indeed invite more than Bingley, Caroline and the Hursts to stay at Pemberley. His house party could include his Fitzwilliam relatives, or other single men, young married couples? Does anyone have any other points of reference for what might have been the norm for a house party hosted by someone as well-off as Mr. Darcy?

Intereseting that when Darcy left so abruptly to look for Wickham and Lydia in London, he left his friends at Pemberley, returned to them, and then back to London for a few days for the wedding. We know Pemberley was at least two days travel...so he really put in a lot of miles because he had guests at Pemberley and presumably could not just stay put in London until the wedding.

In ch 52, Mrs. Gardiner's letter to EB says: [Darcy] returned again to his friends, who were still staying at Pemberley; but it was agreed that he should be in London once more when the wedding took place...

Would love to hear anyone else's ideas on who might have made up that "large party" of friends!