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Dedicated April 2019

Venue size help

Emily, on April 6, 2018 at 10:55 AM Posted in Planning 0 13

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So I found a venue that I LOVE. It's an old,turn of the century mansion, perfect decore, a library, I can enter down a flight of stairs. Plus my calmest dog can be my ring bearer!!!!!!

However, my FH doesn't think it's big enough. I'm bad at spatial reasoning, so he'll never believe me. It's max 150 for indoor events. Our list is 140, 150 with kids, so figure 125-130. He thinks"the venue's job is to sell us the place, of course they'll tell us it's big enough, even if it's not."

How can I demonstrate it's big enough? I've done the math, it's 2,782 sqft of usable space for dance floor and seating, plus 1,982 square feet for bars, cake table, card box table, etc. I know this is big enough. Simple math (which I'm good at, I use it at work all the time, it's only spatial reasoning I'm bad at). But as previously mentioned, FH won't believe me on this because of spatial reasoning...So I need to demonstrate it's enough size somehow, I just don't know how.

Any thoughts or advice appreciated.

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13 Comments

Latest activity by Melanie, on April 7, 2018 at 3:44 AM

Master July 2017
Going to the chapel · on April 6, 2018 at 10:58 AM
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Can you get a floorplan and then make a layout of how everything will fit?
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Super September 2018
M&M Bride · on April 6, 2018 at 11:03 AM
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Ask the venue to show a floor plan of how it would be set up for maximum capacity.
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Super September 2018
Teresa · on April 6, 2018 at 11:05 AM
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Does the venue have any pictures from previous events? This is what helped my FH with our decision. We had to see how it looked with other events.
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VIP September 2018
HowCo Industries · on April 6, 2018 at 11:06 AM
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We live in a world of online reviews! That's why they won't give you basic information that's wrong. Have him read reviews and talk to your contact person. If he still doesn't believe then that's not the issue.
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Super August 2018
augbride · on April 6, 2018 at 11:08 AM
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The website AllSeated I've found to be really helpful. They may already have a floor plan for your venue, or you can easily create one and add everything you plan to add at your wedding.
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Master August 2018
Kristina · on April 6, 2018 at 11:10 AM
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Usually the venues are open and honest about how many people they can fit, because there's logistics and codes they need to follow or they could get in trouble.
Like others have said, get a floor plan for how it'll be set up. Look at pictures from other events. Read reviews, all what other PPs have said.
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Dedicated April 2019
Emily · on April 6, 2018 at 11:12 AM
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This is what I told him, but he seems to think venue workers are as honest as used car salesmen!
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Master September 2019
Mrs. H · on April 6, 2018 at 11:20 AM
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While it is the venue's job to "sell the place", their maximum seating number exists for a reason, lol. If you know for a fact that the venue is indeed big enough, I would walk through the logistics of the seating, the measurements, etc. with FH and explain how it will work. If there is a shadow of doubt in your mind, and you think you may have more than 150 guests, do not book the venue. Not only is this rude to the venue owners, it's rude to your guests if there isn't enough seating/space for you to properly host them.
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Master April 2019
Brittany · on April 6, 2018 at 12:14 PM
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I don't think they'd lie to you about how many people the place holds. Yeah they want you to book and they want your money, but they could also be in a lot of trouble if they have more people than they can hold. (Fire hazards and stuff)

ETA: A legit place wouldn't lie about this at least
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October 2018
FirstTimeMOB · on April 6, 2018 at 12:33 PM
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You mention it is an old mansion...Is the square footage and space for available seating all in one room, or is it multiple rooms? That may be why it will hold 150...because the assumption is multiple rooms will be used.
We looked at an old mansion for my daughter's wedding in MD, and even though there were multiple rooms that would be used for the cocktail hour and the buffet set up, there was a large glass solarium that had been added on to provide the 'single' space for all the tables and dancing at the reception.
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Dedicated April 2019
Emily · on April 6, 2018 at 1:45 PM
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In winter, yes it is multiple roims. Max is a single area is 107. That originally gave me pause, but after talking it over with friends and co-workers I love the idea.

In summer they do a huge tent extension and everyone is in one area.
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VIP September 2018
Michelle · on April 6, 2018 at 1:52 PM
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Our venue is similar! They said max is 144 guests and we invited 144- so we guess maybe 120-130 to show. We knownthe soace will be tight. In the event that everyone did show, they have examples of what it would look like (pictures from other wedding). Maybe your venue has some examples as well!
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Devoted March 2018
Melanie · on April 7, 2018 at 3:44 AM
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He’s right about the venue selling you.
find a rental vendor that has set up chairs at the venue before and ask them how many chairs they can fit. Also, look through the venues Instagram and see what it looks like with chairs (also look through photos that people tag at the location).

i had the same issue... venue told me 130 chairs, wedding planner told me only 75 fit, and then the rental company told me they could get 95 from their experience. I think we ended up with 100 chairs and a few people standing in the end.
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