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Expert June 2021

Anyone having an uninvited guest table?

on December 31, 2019 at 9:41 AM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 13
I ask this because two days ago i was watching a YouTube video and one of my favorite YouTube personalities said how she had an extra table for possible uninvited guest and on the seating chart it read “Can’t find your name? Still glad you came!)


The uninvited guest issue has honestly been such a stressor and fear for me since my family is endless and I’m doing a kid free wedding just to fit everyone in the venue. If we had all my families kids we’d be way over capacity so to not be in the situation to pick and choose who gets to come I will not have any kids. But I still fear for those who won’t listen and bring their kids anyway or a plus one that wasn’t invited. So I’m now leaning towards an uninvited guest table. Anyone else doing this? Or have done this? How did it work out? Did you need more than one extra table?

13 Comments

Latest activity by Jana, on April 15, 2020 at 4:54 PM
  • Caytlyn
    Legend November 2019
    Caytlyn ·
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    We didn't have an extra table and we also didn't have one single uninvited guest show up.

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  • V
    Champion July 2019
    Veronica ·
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    Nope! I think that is totally unnecessary. We had one couple (one of our groomsmen and his wife) that brought their toddler even though we had an adult's only reception. The groomsman had asked about bringing the child to the rehearsal which we said was fine so he misunderstood and thought he could bring the child to both the rehearsal and the wedding. They live like an hour from the venue so we didn't think they were going to stay the night before the wedding, but they decided to. I wasn't thrilled that they bought the child, but adding a high chair for her wasn't a big deal. They also had to remove a chair at a different table because we had forgotten to since my husband's cousin was in a wheelchair. We told them the night before when we realized the child would be at the wedding and when I realized we didn't need a chair for the cousin. Otherwise, we had no other guests show up or any problems like that. If we had, there wouldn't have been a place for the uninvited guest to sit or food for them to eat, but that would have been their own fault for showing up uninvited. You shouldn't have to pay extra for those who are rude enough to show up uninvited.

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  • R
    Super September 2018
    Rachel ·
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    This is confusing. You are at capacity, thus not inviting kids and limiting +1s, but you have room for one or more ‘uninvited guest’ tables?


    Don’t do this. First, if anyone does show up uninvited it puts them on blast publicly. Second, I imagine it will annoy your rule followers who had to attend solo or arrange a baby sitter to see that you saved space and budgeted meals for uninvited guests.
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  • Anna
    Super August 2020
    Anna ·
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    Most venues know how to deal with this and will make it smooth if an uninvited guest shows up. What is more likely is a RSVP decline to show up rather than a completely uninvited guest. The venue should make room for them and will ensure no attention is drawn to that person. The table would be humiliating for them. I don't expect this is a common issue but I'm sure once in awhile someone forgets to RSVP or accidentally hits decline on your wedding website and then still comes.

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  • N
    Expert June 2021
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    I’m not at capacity yet I will be if I add 10-15 more people but being that my mom is 1 of 12 there’s are over 40 children on her side and about 5 on my dads side. So to not pick and choose which kid is allowed I’ve decided not to invite any so it doesn’t show favoritism. So I definitely have room for 1 or two-ish tables for those who chose not to abide by our wishes. I just wanted to know if doing so was a common thing.
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  • Ashley
    Dedicated September 2021
    Ashley ·
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    I have seen this advice, but knowing how much it is per head the answer will be a NO.

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  • Mandi
    Master October 2020
    Mandi ·
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    There are specific uninvited people that will receive a police escort if they show up. So I won't be saving them seats.
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  • Cyndy
    Master May 2019
    Cyndy ·
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    I don’t think it’s necessary. Your venue will know how to handle this if it happens. I certainly wouldn’t want to make it easy for people to be rude. They should feel awkward if they come and don’t have a seat.
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  • Merline
    Super February 2020
    Merline ·
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    That sounds like a waste of money and space. I mean it sounds like a good idea, but you would have to pay for those seats, right? Our venue has a per head price and they are basically putting out the number of chairs based on our headcount. If someone declined or wasn't invited, they have no reason showing up. Also, I've been to many weddings in the past, where people RSVP'd yes and did not show up, so those were extra seats. If people do not follow your rule then they will have to share a seat with their child or leave.

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  • H
    Master July 2019
    Hannah ·
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    I had 0 uninvited guests show up. I wouldn't really worry about it.
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  • Nicole
    Super August 2020
    Nicole ·
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    At our venue, tables can fit 8-12 guests. Most of our tables are set for 10 people, so hopefully it doesn’t happen but if people who didn’t rsvp show up, they can easily make room.
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  • Pirate & 60s Bride
    Legend March 2017
    Pirate & 60s Bride ·
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    Nope! If anyone not invited showed up, they would have been escorted out... even if by me or hubby. 🧐
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  • J
    Master October 2022
    Jana ·
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    No one should ever show up uninvited. If they're not on the guest list, they don't get a seat.
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