XP Questions Galore

roseofdeborah

Ok so I have a few questions about practical things

1. I have 30 out of 217 people that have not RSVP'd after multiple attempts to contact them through calls, texts, facebook (was the last resort with the wedding website link where they could rsvp), sending a reminder postcard (as I forgot to put the time on the invite)...I honestly don't know what else to do. Our overhead costs are about $30pp. Do I eat the costs or is there an alternative? 

2. Seating chart questions- So we get a reply card back that has Mr & Mrs Smith want chicken and fish. I do not know whether Mr smith is the one with chicken or fish. I will have stickers on each name card letting the caterer know ok that pink sticker person wants fish. Do I just guess and if its wrong they can change plates? This would only be the case for families of course. 

Also, my dad has this irrational fear that people are going to move my place cards around and there's nothing I can do about it. I have placecards for a reason because my venue's space is not just wide and open so it will flow better without having gaps in tables and with people who want to sit with each other. Is this something anyone experienced? 

3. Timeline- We have an L shaped room with everyone on the long side of the L, including the dance floor, and the cake and gifts on the other side of the L. When should the cake be cut? Mainly the question comes because everyone would be leaving from one side of the room to the other to see the cake. We are doing dinner first, then toasts, and we will eventually have first dance and fauther/daughter dance and dj for the rest of the night. Just not sure what is the best time to throw the cake in there. People might be pretty full after a 3 course meal to go directly to cake. 

Sorry for the length of the questions, it's just so many questions coming in a short amount of time. 

Maggie0829

Again, agree with Edie on 1 and 2.

I have been to weddings where the cake was cut right after the couple was introduced, right after dinner, and close to the end of the night.  Honestly it is up to you as to when you want to cut it.  But if you are having the cake plated and served your best bet is to cut it right after you are announced so that the venue has time to cut it up and plate it before dinner is over.

Kate61487

Also ditto Edie on 1&2. 

We cut our cake immediately after our entrance - it was placed in the middle of the dance floor during cocktail hour, so it was enjoyed visually for a little while.  After we were announced we cut the cake before going to our seats; that way they could take it back into the kitchen and actually cut and plate it.  It was served pretty much immediately following dinner.

Will you be having a cocktail hour where you could cut the cake before everyone takes their seats? or re-arrange your layout plan to have the cake on the dance floor like we did; then cut it before the dance floor opens?  Otherwise I doubt you'll have much of a crowd for the cake cutting.  I probably wouldn't leave my table / the dance floor to go watch a cake cutting unless the DJ/emcee totally killed the party after the announcement that it was occuring.