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Maria
Savvy March 2018

Too many show up for reception dinner

Maria, on June 13, 2017 at 11:33 PM Posted in Planning 0 40

Hello...Im new to this app but I had a question What happens when you give yr venue a head count of 50 an 60 end up for a example..What happens, does venue make you pay extra at end of reception?

40 Comments

Latest activity by Kathy, on June 21, 2017 at 11:36 PM
  • howdoibride
    Dedicated May 2018
    howdoibride ·
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    Are you talking about people that RSVP "Not attending" but then show up anyway?

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  • ReneeEdward
    VIP November 2017
    ReneeEdward ·
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    How would too many guests show up? You send invites to your guests, they rsvp, and if they don't then you follow up with them

    Who else would show up?

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  • Sylphier
    Super June 2017
    Sylphier ·
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    This doesn't happen if you invite only as many as your venue allows/actually count your rsvps to see how many you have. Your count might vary by one or two extra people but, definitely shouldn't by ten.

    But yes most places will bill you for extra IF they have that means to accommodate the extra. Catering usually doesn't have that much extra though, from what I've heard most will have maybe 5 extra people worth of food but again, ten or more seems very unlikely and not necessary

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  • Mrs.VtoBe
    Super July 2017
    Mrs.VtoBe ·
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    I'm not sure but I can see how that would happen. Some family members think they are automatically included in the count. Even after confirming with my cousin that he and his wife were not invited the wife called my mom to say they were coming? No ma'am lol I won't be surprised if they both try to come anyway. Pushy people suck but I think your best bet to avoid charges is to turn people away

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  • 24kMagicWed
    VIP May 2017
    24kMagicWed ·
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    My venue automatically makes 3% more of each meal in case of this type of situation.

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  • Madelayna
    VIP September 2017
    Madelayna ·
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    I don't know about your venue but with mine if more than 5% show up to the wedding that weren't included in the head count we'd get charged 1 and 1/2 times the amount per person after that 5% amount.

    So if my head count is at 100 and it's $100 per person and 10 extra people come, we'd get charged $150 (instead of $100) per extra person after that 5th extra person (since 5 people is 5% of 100 guests).

    I'd check with your venue. Just check in with your people if they don't RSVP to make sure they're coming or not. Make sure they know your wedding is NOT a free for all.

    ETA- clarifying

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  • Heather
    Expert June 2017
    Heather ·
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    I'm going to prepare for a few more, just in case...

    Though that just seems so rude to me :/

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  • Maria
    Savvy March 2018
    Maria ·
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    Thanks ladies I see yr points..I just know how some people are.."Oh i heard such n such are getting married lets go, they will ok with it" You know how some ppl think..But thanks u all I hope I dont run into this situration..

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  • A. L.
    Master July 2017
    A. L. ·
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    Why would that happen? I've never met anyone who would do that.

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  • annakay511
    Master July 2015
    annakay511 ·
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    You have to give an accurate count to your venue.

    If guests show up who RSVPd no, they will not have seats and will not have plates.

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  • GymRat
    Master May 2017
    GymRat ·
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    My venue and my DOC had my guest list. I told my DOC that if their name isn't on the list, do not let them in. She knew that all but one person did not send in their RSVP. But no one crashed my wedding, and I wasn't really worried about it anyway.

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  • TheWrightGirl
    Super November 2017
    TheWrightGirl ·
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    Someone showed up to my friends wedding and he wasn't invited at all. He asked other people where and what the wedding would be and showed up. She didn't say anything to me until after the wedding, but she thought it was really rude for him to show up and I agreed. People will bring other guest with them as well adding more to your list than expected. I don't understand how some people have the nerve to do it.

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  • LoveLoveLove
    Super October 2017
    LoveLoveLove ·
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    I can see this happening as well. People don't understand that you need a true head count and that you're paying per person. My venue will have "extra" dinners as well so I am not worrying about it. I hope the no shows will cancel out any crashers.

    Also, we're doing a seating chart and a plated meal. They will realize their mistake when they arrive and don't have a table or a seat.

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  • Nonna T
    Master April 2014
    Nonna T ·
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    Most venues know how to accommodate this and yes, you pay them later (but that evening in most cases).

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  • Lynnie
    WeddingWire Administrator October 2016
    Lynnie ·
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    Hi Maria! Hopefully your venue would be able to accommodate extra guests and serve them dinner (which you would be charged for), but worst case scenario is there are no meals or seats for those unexpected guests.

    There are several things you can do along the way to make sure that you don't have unexpected guests show up!

    - Clearly address your invitations to exactly who is invited to the wedding (so "Joe and Jane Smith", not "The Smith Family")

    - Add a line to your RSVP cards that states "___ seats have been reserved in your honor" (you fill out the number so your guests know exactly how many people are included on that invite)

    - Follow up immediately and directly with any guest who RSVPs for additional guests

    - Follow up directly with every person who does not respond by the RSVP deadline to see if they will be attending or not. If they don't respond to follow-up attempt #1, leave them a message along the lines of "if I don't hear back from you by x date, I'll mark you down as a decline"

    - Have assigned tables that are conveyed through a seating chart or escort cards

    - And finally, don't share all of your wedding details with everyone!! Keep wedding talk with non-wedding guests to a minimum, and don't share wedding details or your wedding website on any social media!

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  • Blair Waldorf
    Master October 2017
    Blair Waldorf ·
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    At my best friends wedding, a is that was specifically not invited showed up during the reception (after dinner at least) and took part in the bar. It's not the biggest issue but it was a consumption bar so she literally was costing them extra money. You bet your ass one of the other bridesmaids and I said something to her, she tried to make excuses but eventually we got her to leave.

    So if those people show up tell them to take a hike.

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  • F
    Just Said Yes July 2017
    Fabiola ·
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    If you're paying for your own wedding like my fiance and I... I'd be more strict. We advised everyone who didn't RSVP will not be allowed into the reception. They are welcome to the church but it's not a free for all. These days people, especially those who are married should understand the costs associated and respect it. We have made an exception but we told them they'd be responsible for paying the additional cost. It is really inconsiderate for people to straddle the fence in a situation like this. Follow your heart and what's within your means. It's about you and your FH.

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  • Celia Milton
    Celia Milton ·
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    Who would even think to do this?

    You invite exactly the people you want to come; not 'families'

    You follow up on RSVPs

    And no one who fails to RSVP gets a seat.

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  • Maria
    Savvy March 2018
    Maria ·
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    Ok so what im talking about is people who wernt invited. .My FH is from a small town where everyone knows eachother for years on top of years..So Im talking about people who just HEAR that hes having a wedding an a reception on tht particular day..

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  • Heather
    Expert June 2017
    Heather ·
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    That's probably something your venue can answer more accurately

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