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Venue Canceled!!!!! New Venue Can't Hold as Many Guests!

Knottie55588415Knottie55588415 member
First Comment
in Wedding 911
I have no idea what to do. My wedding is October 17th and my venue has been canceled. I was planning for 200 guests, with the option of more if needed (it was a backyard wedding). I am so lucky to have found a venue with only 2 months away, but they called today and said I must max out at 150 guests. Every other venue is booked.

I've already sent out save the dates, and my invites are supposed to go out this week, but now I have to cut the list. How do I do this??!?! I'm so embarrassed and sad and just don't know what to do. 

Help!
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Re: Venue Canceled!!!!! New Venue Can't Hold as Many Guests!

  • NowIAmSypNowIAmSyp member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    Where are you located?  Did you post this on your local board?  Nearby Knotties may be able to recommend places you weren't aware of...

    What about going outside of where you were originally looking?  Even 5-10 miles further could open up some alternatives to you, no? 

    Good luck!
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  • Knottie55588415Knottie55588415 member
    First Comment
    I'm located in Ventura County, CA. I've called every wedding venue in a 20 mile radius. No one has the date available. I even went to ideas like VRBO or Airbnb and nothing has worked out. 
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  • kimmiinthemittenkimmiinthemitten member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    edited August 2015
    Did you send STD's to everyone or just your VIP's?  

    Also, don't you now have to change your invitations since the location will be wrong?

    ETF:  My inability to type today
    image
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  • Knottie55588415Knottie55588415 member
    First Comment
    I sent STD's to everyone :( And here is the kicker, I met with the new venue last week and we agreed to 175, which I could make work. So I sent my invites to the printer with the new address. Now today it's 150. I'm getting screwed on every level. I JUST WANT TO ELOPE!
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  • OliveOilsMomOliveOilsMom member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its

    Can you postpone your wedding until you can find a venue large enough?  Your other vendors may work with you because the date cancellation is beyond your control.  If you explain the situation, they may allow you to move your deposits and payments to a different date.

    Send out cards to all guests with the new date or email/call them all.

    Have you call country clubs, VFWs, Knights of Columbus halls, etc?  Think outside the wedding venue box.  Do you have a Maggianos near you (I think they are a national chain), the ones near me here are all very large and could accommodate a 200 person wedding.  Is there a church hall or community center that would allow an outside event?

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  • ViczaesarViczaesar member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    Have you tried all the state and county parks in Ventura and SB counties?  Lions Clubs?  Rotary?  Other service groups?



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  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    First Anniversary First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its
    Knottie55588415 said:
    I sent STD's to everyone :( And here is the kicker, I met with the new venue last week and we agreed to 175, which I could make work. So I sent my invites to the printer with the new address. Now today it's 150. I'm getting screwed on every level. I JUST WANT TO ELOPE!
    If you sent STDs to everyone, meaning all 200 planned guests then why in the world did you agree on 175 with the new venue?  Also you need to count your vendors into your headcount.

    Basically this venue is not going to work for you since you can't cut your guest list and you cannot assume that you will get a certain number of no's, so you need to find another venue.

    The only other thing you can do is cancel the entire thing, eat the deposits and re-plan for a different date which will allow you to alter your guest list.  Or cancel the whole thing, eat the deposits and elope.

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  • jacques27jacques27 member
    First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited August 2015
    In the "outside the box" vein:

    University conference centers
    Community centers
    High school auditoriums/gymnasiums
    Theaters (both older movie theaters and actual community theaters)
    Casinos (they usually have several ballrooms/meeting spaces)
    Local sports arenas
    Museums
    Arboretums
    City or state parks
    City or county fairgrounds
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  • MesmrEweMesmrEwe member
    First Answer First Comment 5 Love Its Name Dropper

    I agree with the others!!!

    Also, call around and check out sound stages in the area...  I know in the past they've been a "popular" reception venue idea that's out of the box in that area..  Granted, it's a pain to bring additional items in for rentals, but it's not the end of the world.  Remember, no one cares if it's a fancy chair, they care that it's a chair. (Look under "Film Ventura" and you'll get quite a few ideas)

    Check with your florist, baker, and caterer as they may know of ideas that aren't typical venue ideas.  Check business venues for meetings/conventions.  There are options out there, but you may need to be flexible.  Talk with your already booked vendors for options depending on the circumstances surrounding why the venue cancelled on you.


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