500 Guest!!!!!

With a wedding that size I would strongly suggest a wedding planner! They’ll know how to get a great deal on your food and tables too.

So, I'm thinking 50 tables with 10 chairs each and you would need 500 chairs. I would maybe use the same chairs for ceremony and reception so you don't have to rent 1,000 chairs but you will definitely have to assign a few people to move them for you. With 50 tables, that's 50 centerpieces and they aren't cheap, depending on what you decide to have.
Perhaps you could do long rectangular tables so you could fit 20 at each table, that would cut your tables and centerpieces in half to just 25 of each, still needing 500 chairs either way.

Yeah, I agree with the other girl, with 500 guests, I would definitely hire a wedding planner!! I'm having 100 guests and I'm planning everything myself, it's a huge job!! There is no way I would do it alone with 500 guests, I suppose it can be done, but it will be extremely stressful!! I wouldn't recommend it, lol!! Good luck girl!! Keep us posted on any updates!!

Oh and I've heard that BBQ and Italian are on the less expensive end when catering large groups!! Also, a cake to feed 500 could get pretty pricey, you may want to consider cupcakes and a small cake to cut. Or maybe a 2 tier for show and have sheet cakes in the back to serve guests!! Hope that helps!!

For food bbq, Italian, and Mexican restaurants are usually cheapest. I’m guessing you’ll spend a minimum of $6,000 on food if you get something really cheap like bbq. For tables a 60 inch round can comfortably fit 8 and a 72 inch round can comfortably fit 10. So it will depend on what size table you get as far as how many you need.

Get a planner!! Good luck!🍀

Wow! That is a lot of people. You won't even be able to say hello to everyone. Are you sure they are all needed?

Note than 500 invited is not 500 attending. So you won't have a better idea until later. I've been to a 300 person wedding where only 5 invited didn't show, and mine was probably 300 something and 160 showed (we knew deep extended family and most out of state wouldn't show, but we had to invite to keep family peace). 500 is quite a bit, so I hope it's not actually that many! At 160 people, we didn't have time to say hi to every table and we barely had time to eat.

Is this venue an unconventional one where they do not have caterers or rentals? Also, you will definitely need a caterer for that many people, as the needs of Re stocking and keep food warm will be too overwhelming with that number. Sorry I can't be more help, but good luck!!

It would depend on the size of the table on how many you would need. Some tables only fit eight comfortably even though they may claim to seat ten. Also, you may not be able to seat exactly ten (or eight) at each table. If you have an odd number, such as a family or a single person, you wouldn’t want to split up the family or sit your single friend with people she doesn’t know.
I would definitely hire someone to help with all the details. With such a big guest list, you’re going to be needing a large number of everything and it’s going to be hard to keep track of. I definitely think a wedding planner would be well worth the money. They also would have some insider info about where to get good deals and whatnot.

With this kind of wedding it's important to try to stay organized. I always advise for weddings with a ton of guests when doing seating charts that alphabetical by name would be better than my table.
I'd also go with 50 tables that seat ten per.

Definately I'd say assigned seating/tables and plated meal as buffet lines would be so long. I don't know what "affordable" is since 500 is already an arm and a leg! Haha, but the least expensive things are like tacos, salad, chicken, pasta, etc! I also agree to have a wedding planner especially day of coordinator and 2+ photographers etc since there will be so much going on. Alot a lot of time for pictures too since wrangling everyone may be hard.

The venue where your having it at normally
have ideas and a example of seating.
However, some of the other ladies suggested
please get a Wedding/Event planner even
If it's just "Day of Coordinator " That's too much
work on that day for you to set up or rely
on people to set up right.

Buffet is always easiest with large weddings - I'm planning one as well. I like big weddings. If you did 50 tables with 10 chairs. Another option is to do 40 tables with 10 chairs each and then have optional seating like sofas and lounge chairs. I would also allow room for high-top tables. The last few big weddings I went to have had high-top tables near the dance floor for people to set down their drinks and snack a bit if they would like. It's a great way to cut down space. Also realize, that everyone will not sit at one time (unless you do a seated dinner). I'm not, and I like people to wander about, be on the dance floor, or step outside for fresh air if they would like.

As for your wedding planner, it's definitely worth looking into one. Make sure that whoever you do your floral arrangements and rentals from has a crew that can set up and take down without your input, perhaps the wedding planner can help with that. It's not mandatory to have one, I don't but my weekend of coordinator is totally capable and the person decorating everything is pretty much a wedding planner so it worked out. Do your research, and remember that it's totally ok not to talk to everyone at your wedding - people who go to big weddings understand it's hard to talk to everyone.

Also be realistic about your 500. So my guest list is 500, but I know that all of them won't come. At all. I can guarantee about 350, but realistically it's likely going to be more like 250-300. So I'm planning for that number, because I sent a lot of courtesy invites. However, there will be plenty of food all night so if 500 people do come, we can feed and seat them. It never hurts to be prepared.

That’s so many people! Holy Moses! Good luck!! Definitely get a wedding planner!

View Quoted Comment Thank you 😊