WR: Would anyone do this?

lu27

My co-worker just told me that I should scale down the number of guests I give the caterer, because they always make 10-15% extra anyway. She said this way, I would save a decent amount of money and not have to worry about over-buying or wasting food.

WDYT?

AllAboutTheBenjamin

Nope - you always gotta plan that everyone will show up.  Some people RSVP that they won't come, and then come last minute.  Other people RSVP, and then show up with extra guests.  You just never know.

When people outside of my wedding planning/paying circle tell me how I should do things, it pisses me off.  I have a short fuse though.  And I'm a bitch.

vegasgroom

That sounds like a really good way to end up not having enough food for your guests.

MarriedInAFever

I wouldn't risk it. Better safe than sorry sort of thing.

J&K10910

That sounds like a really bad plan.

And anyway, my caterer is my coordinator so I have to give him an accurate number or there won't be enough chairs.  So there's that. 

Are you having a buffet?  Because that's the only possible way I could see this "working".  Not that I think you should do it.  Because you shouldn't.

PaigeMcC

Bad idea - if you scale it back you might not have enough food for your guests.  I'd rather have a little extra then not enough.

PetraStonegirl

Not  a chance. I went to a wedding where the couple did exactly that. You guessed it, not enough food on the buffet. 

edited for spelling

lu27

Right? This is what I was thinking too... but I had to ask.

We are having a late evening wedding and serving cocktails and heavy hors d' oeurves along with a carving station and made to order mexican food. I still think you ladies are right. It sounds like it would lead to disaster.

BTW AATB.. I doubt that you are a bitch.

katiewhompus

Very bad idea. I too have heard that caterers do that, but if it's a buffet it is so people can go up for seconds, or because some people take bigger portions. You also could be fined by the venue/caterer if your head count is significantly less than the actual amount of people attending.

MarriedInAFever

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wr-would-anyone-this?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:4e4b9140-62cc-495d-a998-189fc75db706Post:d449cfe6-bb89-448d-8cde-1d5eae7865a7">Re: WR: Would anyone do this?</a>:
[QUOTE]Right? This is what I was thinking too... but I had to ask. We are having a late evening wedding and serving cocktails and heavy hors d' oeurves along with a carving station and made to order mexican food. I still think you ladies are right. It sounds like it would lead to disaster. BTW AATB.. I doubt that you are a bitch.
Posted by lu27[/QUOTE]

Mmmmm.... Mexican food.

J&K10910

Yeah, they do make extra food.  But they do it for a reason.  Because there are sometimes uninvited guests that show up.  Or people that didn't RSVP.  Or whatever.

I'm glad you think it's dumb too, lu.

MeaghanandMichael

Also, caterers often make more food because their reputation for putting on a nice display is at risk. Besides eating, food is also something that is part of the wedding decor and the caterer probably doesn't want to look like they skimped. But yeah, bad idea.

JenGin74

Also, wedding leftovers are yummy. We took everything home and vacuum sealed it.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wr-would-anyone-this?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:4e4b9140-62cc-495d-a998-189fc75db706Post:d449cfe6-bb89-448d-8cde-1d5eae7865a7">Re: WR: Would anyone do this?</a>:
[QUOTE]Right? This is what I was thinking too... but I had to ask. We are having a late evening wedding and serving cocktails and heavy hors d' oeurves along with a carving station and made to order mexican food. I still think you ladies are right. It sounds like it would lead to disaster. BTW AATB.. I doubt that you are a bitch.
Posted by lu27[/QUOTE]


You're very sweet, lu.  And honestly I am not usually a bitch on these boards but I can be pretty unpleasant IRL :)

gottahavashorti

That sounds like recipe for disaster, especially if any of your guests bring crashers.

J&K10910

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wr-would-anyone-this?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:4e4b9140-62cc-495d-a998-189fc75db706Post:611527a1-fae9-4752-9653-8d68d16e7775">Re: WR: Would anyone do this?</a>:
[QUOTE]That sounds like recipe for disaster, especially if any of your guests bring crashers.
Posted by gottahavashorti[/QUOTE]

Can't say I'd feel too bad if the crashers didn't have anything to eat.  But I'm kind of a biitch like that.

526SadieSadie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wr-would-anyone-this?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:4e4b9140-62cc-495d-a998-189fc75db706Post:79daffff-9b98-4619-86ff-972105fe9786">Re: WR: Would anyone do this?</a>:
[QUOTE]That sounds like a really good way to end up not having enough food for your guests.
Posted by vegasgroom[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I agree with this.  You're not really going to save much money anyway.  Order the right amount of food.

betrothed123

That's one of the worst ideas ever.  The venue may make extra food, but they are also certainly counting plates, utensils, glasses, etc.  They will know that you tried to screw them over and they will get their due out of you, whether they just charge your for the guests you neglected to mention after the fact, or take you to court over it.  It's really not worth the risk.  I'm glad you're not really considering it.

Blueyed228

I have been to wedding where they must have done this. 

Know what happens?  They run out of food.

Lenore2010

It is from the same line of thinking that tells brides to plan on 10% regrets on invites when doing food, seating and so on. It is bogus because you might get 50% regrets and you might get zero-you need to plan on everyone attending or risk going without seats and food.

natalienoelle27

My parents attended a wedding and they got up to go through the buffet line and they ran out of food! Like not momentarily but completely!  Can you imagine how you would feel if this was your wedding? Or you were the guest that attended a wedding for hours with nothing to eat?
I'd tell your coworker that she can be served last and go hungry at your wedding if you run out of food! Then she might bite her tongue before giving the next person such bad advice!    BTW: I'm just kidding about this part !!

Jelenny

no way...

one thing is for sure we want all of our guests to have plenty to eat - shortage on food WOULD be remembered...

kpwedkk

Just don't do it!

lu27

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wr-would-anyone-this?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:4e4b9140-62cc-495d-a998-189fc75db706Post:30350af2-3a20-4283-ad4c-342319769eea">Re: WR: Would anyone do this?</a>:
[QUOTE]My parents attended a wedding and they got up to go through the buffet line and they ran out of food! Like not momentarily but completely!  Can you imagine how you would feel if this was your wedding? Or you were the guest that attended a wedding for hours with nothing to eat? <strong>I'd tell your coworker that she can be served last and go hungry at your wedding if you run out of food! Then she might bite her tongue before giving the next person such bad advice! </strong> ;)  BTW: I'm just kidding about this part !!
Posted by natalienoelle27[/QUOTE]

HA! <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />

skippylouwho

If anything the caterer would make 3% or 5% over your RSVPs but they certainly woulnd't prepare 15% more.  Of the two I mentioned, I believe 3% is now the norm if they are going to prepare extras.

JenO24

if you were a guest at a wedding that ran out of food wouldn't you be mad.
dont do that to YOUR guests

gottahavashorti

[QUOTE]In Response to Re: WR: Would anyone do this? : Can't say I'd feel too bad if the crashers didn't have anything to eat.  But I'm kind of a biitch like that.
Posted by J&K10910[/QUOTE]
Oh, I woudln't feel bad for the crashers either.  But for any guests who ended up with not enough food because of crashers, especially if it's a buffet or open seating.