No Invite, No Entrance?

This is our worry. Our venue only holds so many people and our invited guests are at capacity. We had to cut some family from the list that we're not particularly close to but when we announced our date, they all of a sudden show a vested interest in our lives. Still not invited but we're worried they will show up anyways.

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We have told several that have tried to invite themselves about the capacity and the guest list has already been decided, keeping it small etc. If we would have to pay for uninvited guests, that would be a whole other issue but the ceremony seating limit is really the only issue.

View Quoted Comment Exactly this. They can try and come in but they'll be standing around rather awkwardly lol!

View Quoted Comment Be very explicit on your invitations, website, social media, conversations, etc.

View Quoted Comment I think that informing the guests that space is limited is the key. I would also tell them there won't be enough food, most people come to weddings for the good anyway 😂

We had a check in for every person who entered at the front entrance of our in. Not on the list, not coming in. I hate weddings in function halls and hotels where just anyone can wander in, or people you did not invite can come through the door. Once in, it is a scene, we have no meal, or seat, management calls host away. No. You were not invited, you don't step inside . When there is a church wedding, some religions allow any parishioner there. Others treat it as though the sanctuary is private for any wedding, christening, private funeral ir confirmation, if the families wish, and post it private. So church or other religious setting, that rules. But in any ceremony venue you either pay for, ir designated area you paid a permit for, it is yours. No one not invited should enter.
I have never understood why for a $3 movie people expect they will be stopped from walking right in, without a ticket. But some people get upset at the idea that except for an open church service, and every private wedding and reception should have a formal check in. You may be served fifty dollars in liquor and $50-150 in food in a place where every seat and table comes at a cost. Why wouldn't you have a check in table barring entry to anyone whose name is not on the invitation list ( may be invitation granted a guest, still on list.)
Few weddings are walk in, anybody off the street welcome. No invitation? Go away. I don't care if you have known the groom for 10 years, or are his uncle. If you knew about the wedding and wanted to come, and did not receive an invitation, you had a month or two to contact the people. Guess what, I moved home from Europe. If you could not be bothered, don't expect to come more than 8 feet in the door, then be turned away because your name is not on the list.

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We also had our venue check guests as they came in. Everyone received a timeline wristband like entry into a club, lol. Luckily everyone who tried to come in was on the guest list. 😌

While everybody has a wedding guest list, some people are okay will walk-ins, even if they are strangers. I'm not just one of those people.🙅

I totally again with you! FH and I are paying for our wedding, and made it very clear only invited guest. We also stated on our wedding website that if you weren't given a plus one or if your kids weren't invited please don't bring them. Wedding planning is expensive, and we have set our guest list.

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My husband and I also paid for our own wedding so I totally understand. My family members wanted to treat my wedding like a family reunion so I had to be firm that only our closest family and friends were invited.

View Quoted Comment Idk why people see weddings as alternative family reunions 🤣 My FH made it very cleary to his parents he didn't want family members there that he never met or wasn't close too.

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I have no idea but it was ridiculous for us.

Our wedding will definitely be INVITE ONLY! We will make that extremely clear and I will have no issue turning people away. If they want to come through, they better have the extra cash to pay for them and whoever they decide to bring with them.

Funny Image I saw about this topic...

My FH and I are doing something like this but instead we're going to have assigned seats and a picnic table outside the dining hall labeled "losers who don't RSVP" with no dining set just mints lol.

View Quoted Comment 👏 I agree with you completely!

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The image is hilarious. Don't actually do have a loser table though, that's so mean, lol.

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I suppose. We're just sarcastic like that and we know the ones who are going to drop the ball will be our college friends who would do that same kind of thing to us.

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Oh okay. I would suggest making a website where they can RSVP since people in our age group are typically on their phones.

Im having invite only. FH and i are paying enough money for people who are invited we are definitely not paying for uninvited gusts

View Quoted Comment 👏 I completely agree with you.

At my wedding, there were people who rsvp’d saying they would come and never showed up, even though we paid for their food in advance. Then there were people who we put “we have 2 seats reserved in your honor...” on the wedding invitation and they sent back that 5 people would be coming. We then had to tell them we only had room for 2 as it was limited space and they weren’t happy, but I would never invite someone else to someone’s wedding! There have been times I’ve attended weddings and I didn’t know anyone else there but the bride and groom, but I wanted to show support towards them. It may sound harsh, but if you don’t have extra food and a spot for them to sit, I don’t know what else you can do.