Anyone ever told this?

nygirl07

I've been told by a few people and also saw it on a few boards to take a few people off your final headcount when  you turn it it to cover the no shows since there are always a few.Anyone do this?I know my venue told me they cook for 3% over our total and to NOT count anyone we are unsure of when it comes to the deadline b/c they are always shocked at how many no shows.Did anyone do this?  If so how did it work? Do you pay for the people that night if they show?A lot of people have been telling me take off a few especially now with the swine flue since there will always be someone who gets sick or what not.Any advice on this?

NJ789

I've heard that from countless people to pay for a few less. I know our venue said to get it as close as possible but they'll give us a final total that night.

nygirl07

So how do you do it if your unsure of some people?  Do you have a seat and place card for them?  We have to have ours in the week before and I'm sure with my wedding being on a holiday and in the winter I'll have a few no shows from people who are sick.  So if my final headcount is 200 and I say 195 wouldn't my venue see that I have seating for 200 or do they not really pay attention to that?  

nygirl07

Oh and if they told me they cook for 3% more then my final do I just subtract that 3% from my final....which would be around 6 people

NJ789

The general rule of thumb I've heard from people is tell your venue you'll have 5 less. By the time you give your head count to your venue, you should have your rsvp's and if not, calling people!! As far as being unsure about anyone, I don't know what I'd do in that instance with place cards and all. Lucky we haven't run into that problem! Our venue likes to get things as close as possible they said to avoid bothering people for money the night of but they said they keep a tally and we will settle up if need be. I'm getting married on Saturday so, I can let you know how it goes if you want

taccoten

Your venue definitely won't be counting.  We are having "action stations" without any assigned seating, so some people told me that I can probably get away with telling our caterer we have 10 less people than what we actually do.  If they are making more food, you won't have to worry about running out.  I would DEFINITELY tell them 5 less!

Irishgrl417

I doubt they will be counting your seating cards. I didn't do this and kinda wish I had especially since I was dumb for counting in the unreliable cousin and his new girlfriend in the first place. If they ask about seating, I suppose you could tell them you want uniform tables of 10 in case your missing RSVPs decide to show.

nygirl07

Thanks for the advice girls!

hennynj

I think this is going to vary by venue. Our venue, Lucien's Manor, did not need a final count until a few days before the wedding - when we dropped all of our stuff off to them. So, there were no unknowns that that point. The number of seats on our seating chart had to equal our final count. They were not counting placecards, but they were setting the tables per the seating chart we submitted, which is essentially the same thing. So, unless you plan to move people around to different tables the night of the wedding, to account for the no shows, I am not sure how you could give your venue a lower head count than the number of placecards/seats you have on your chart? We did have 7 no shows and one "extra" the night of the wedding. It sucked, but it is understandable for those who fell ill last minute, etc. So, I guess I am saying - follow what your venue tells you so you do not have anything to deal with (seating changes, extra costs, etc.) the night of the wedding.(If you were not having a sit down meal or assigned seating, I would absolutely suggest giving a total head count number that is a few less than your true total - since there will likely be a few no shows.)

nygirl07

It is a sit down dinner so that's where I was confused.   My venue told me NOT to count any people unsure which of course I wouldn't but everyone says other then that to minus a few.   I guess I could give my seating cards and tables with the actual number and if they question it do what the PP said and say that I'm setting it so I have tables of 10 set up just in case some unexpected people show.

D&J1202

We gave our count the Monday before and just gave the actual number we recieved in rsvp. We only had 3 no shows out of 175ppl.

mumidi

It depends.  I've done this for banquet's but they were buffet, not sit down.  If your having a sit down dinner I would think you need to give an actual total so that everyone has a seat.  I've heard for a buffet to take 10 off for each hundred but that comes out to 10% and your reception only plans for extra 3%.  Point is - sit down I would say no, buffet I would say sure why not.