Guest count... too few?

I would definitely vote to space out the room or fill it up with lounge furniture over inviting more guests!! Remember that more guests means more money - and not just for the food and booze bill! It hits everything: number of invites, programs, table cards, more linens, chairs, centerpieces, etc. etc.

I think you should keep looking. Not because of the actual empty space, but because of the minimum. Not meeting the minimum is a waste to me unless you plan on upgrading your bar package/dinner (if that's even an option).

You and your guest will enjoy the extra space. I had about 80 guest and my venue sat up to 300. We had a lounge space also and the guest utilized it. If table normal seat 10 only seat 8 there and give your guest some more space. Since you do have to pay for a minimum of 100 you can always invite a few more or you will just have extra food. We paid for 10 extra people and still had no food left over. I think you are just over thinking this.

Are you following etiquette rules and inviting guest's SO's? Are you considering giving truly single guests a plus one?

We have a 125 guest minimum for our room so I understand. I don't think you'll have a problem with it looking empty.

eta: grammar

The list includes a plus one for people who have been with their SO for at least a year or so (I believe that is the etiquette rule), but maybe we should ease up on that and give some more plus ones. We fell in-love with this place and want to make it work. It's a waterfront catering hall in Nassau County (easy commute for guests) with a ton of delicious food options (we'll be upgrading as well) and we'll have an open bar.. all at a very reasonable price and it includes a lot of items which helps us save money. Even just typing that I got excited about finding such a great place, lol.

Oh in that case I'd definitely make sure to invite everyone's significant other, and see if you have enough budget room to give all single guests a plus one!

From personal experience, if that's the venue ya'll fell in love with, go for it. We made the mistake of booking a venue regretting it a week later and going back to book the venue we originally loved.

I would suggest seating 8 to a table and spreading them out a slight bit. Ease up on the plus 1 for others and maybe invite a few of the other people you originally had in mind. Or since you already would be paying the extra ppl to meet the minimum maybe extend some invitations to your parents? See if they have any close friend they'd like to invite.

You'll be good.

From my experience as a wedding guest, I would have LOVED to be at a wedding with plenty of space and some lounge areas for more intimate conversations. Too often reception halls will squeeze people in until you can barely get through all the chairs, or are constantly having to weave through groups of people. And all that body heat and chatter makes spaces hot and noisy fast.

You have to give every adult, single/in a relationship for a month/engaged/married a plus one.

If you really love it, go with it. As PPs stated, you can have more tables, less guests at each one, and spread the tables out more. The cocktail/hightop tables could also be spaced out more and it looks like its a floating bar, so that could even be moved in closer perhaps. Adding some lounge furniture is a great idea. Does it have a guest minimum or spending minimum? Also will be a few vendors to add to your guest count.

I wouldn't worry honestly! Our reception will be in a huge and gorgeous room and we are only having 60ish! Maybe slightly overthinking I am sure it will be totally fine !

You're wrong on that. A plus one and an SO are two different things. A plus one is for truly single guests. For an SO it doesn't matter how long someone has been in a relationship - 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years: everyone in a relationship gets their SO invited and by name. It's not up to you to judge the seriousness of someone's relationship; it's extremely rude and offensive. This is the proper etiquette.

It's your call to give a truly single guest a plus one - but if you're concerned about meeting the minimum and it works with your budget, then give those single guests a plus one.

Do you have a wedding party? Every person in your wedding party gets an SO or a plus one - that's proper etiquette.

I'd give everyone a plus one since you will have extra space. Plus, it really is the polite thing to do.

Our venue can fit like 300 with a dancefloor....we are inviting no more than 110...when we toured it was set up with either side of the dance floor to seat the amount of people we are inviting (so double in total!)

We are planning on 6-8 to a table to have more tables to fill the space. If I were you and you have a minimum I would invite the people you originally planned on inviting.

My fiance is inviting childhood friends that he literally hasnt seen or talked to in the 4 years we've been together because he feels like he's obligated to.

I would definitely give every person a plus one. Nobody likes going to a wedding alone plus you need the people to meet your minimum. We have a 150 minimum at our venue so I know how you feel. What makes you think people will not show up? I keep hearing that is the norm, but the last 2 weddings I was at had more people show up than expected and the bride and groom ended up spending a lot more than they had planned. I think in our case it's better to have too many than not enough. It's a shame to pay for meals no one is going to eat.

I would include the SOs and +1s and leave it at that.

A lounge section is a great idea. And definitely spread the guests out to give them a little more elbow room.

Ask if your venue will allow the excess money used towards more alcohol since you'll be charged for it ($$ in minimum food) anyways. My venue doesn't allow this though, but I know others people's have.

I think you are totally fine as that room isn't enormous. Yes, there will be extra space, but the venue is lovely and it will look just fine. I wouldn't invite extra people just to fill the space. With the uplighting and decor of that room, it will turn out beautiful.

Just think---you'll have a nice big dance floor!

@gymrat Thanks for clarifying that for me. We already accounted for everyone in a longer relationship, but I misunderstood the etiquette on inviting the SO in a newer relationship and plus ones for truly single guests. That alone will help our count by approximately 10 guests.

Thank you all for your input. You truly helped me feel better about this. I think we'll go ahead with this venue, regardless of the final count, because we love it so much. I think everyone will have a great time. Thanks again ETA: wording

OTWTMA, I feel ya-- we were in a similar situation-- we had a 100 minimum, thought we'd make it, easy-- "everyone says they have more people who want to come, right?" but actually had less than expected-- we forgot to factor in that our friends (and we) are COMPLETE DORKS, so no one who wasn't married had a plus one. And my sister brought a family friend, who was also invited, as HER plus one, so there went two....

Anyway, we ended up with about 60 in a room that could easily hold 100 or more. The lovely event coordinator at our venue just suggested we use smaller tables to help fill up the room-- it worked out great.

Also, be sure and ask, if you don't hit the minimum, if you can upgrade your meal or bar. I wish I'd thought of it, but that was 18 years ago--- too late, now!