worried about my guest count

jordanm27 · October 2012

So my save the dates just went out. We ended up inviting about 155 people BUT our venue only allows us 125 guests. This makes me really nervous. About 40 of those people were invited because we thought they should be (out of town family) but we don't think they will be able to come. In my opinion we should have only invited 125 people because thats how many we are allowed but my mom and fiance's family think we will be okay and that enough people will decline to make our guest count low enough. Like I said though, the STDs have already been mailed so I was just wondering what some of your experiences were. Did you invite more then you were allowed? Did it turn out okay? Like I said, just looking for something to ease my worries!

maggieandrey · October 2012

Sorry, never a good idea to invite more people than actually fit. How will you turn people away if they all can / will come?

Our venue holds 325, and we're inviting 305, and even that is going to be tight if we have everyone. Usually, it cuts into the dance floor or other "open" spaces if you have to fit everyone (at least that how capacity works around here.)

I'd talk to your venue and find out if even at capacity if it's going to be tight, and seriously consider a bigger space. But that's just me. You could be fine.

banana468 · October 2012

Ditto PP.

When a venue can hold 125 that's often a busting at the seams capacity limit that isn't so comfortable for guests. I'd seriously reconsider holding the event there if you've already over invited.

JoanE2012 · October 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_worried-about-my-guest-count?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:0ddbece4-9cce-4924-a25a-ae7c3f23c44dPost:b2c7cca8-bed0-459d-b471-95eb20d2bf86">worried about my guest count</a>:
[QUOTE]So my save the dates just went out. <strong>We ended up inviting about 155 people BUT our venue only allows us 125 guests.</strong> This makes me really nervous. About 40 of those people were invited because we thought they should be (out of town family) but we don't think they will be able to come. In my opinion we should have only invited 125 people because thats how many we are allowed but my mom and fiance's family think we will be okay and that enough people will decline to make our guest count low enough. Like I said though, the STDs have already been mailed so I was just wondering what some of your experiences were. Did you invite more then you were allowed? Did it turn out okay? Like I said, just looking for something to ease my worries!
Posted by jordanm27[/QUOTE]

This is a big no no. I've seen too many times where brides think OOT guests won't come but end up surprising them by coming! I think you need to seriously look around for another venue that will accomodate your guest list at its max.

aamoyer89 · October 2012

i read somewhere that like 20 percent of the people you invite wont be able to come- but im not sure how true that is. im also worried about the same thing. our budget allows for about 90 people. we invited 115 because my fiances mother insisted on inviting a lot more people. is it bad to hope some people dont come? . . . lol!

amymaysa · October 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_invites-paper_worried-about-my-guest-count?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:cd062f89-8272-496a-b0ab-225e1f87acecDiscussion:0ddbece4-9cce-4924-a25a-ae7c3f23c44dPost:aa2864ca-306e-45a3-81b3-e02f16d313ce">Re: worried about my guest count</a>:
[QUOTE]i read somewhere that like 20 percent of the people you invite wont be able to come- but im not sure how true that is. im also worried about the same thing. our budget allows for about 90 people. we invited 115 because my fiances mother insisted on inviting a lot more people. is it bad to hope some people dont come? . . . lol!
Posted by aamoyer89[/QUOTE]

I can tell you that you cannot go on this. Like PPs have said, it's never a good idea to invite more than your venue holds. We only had 5 No's...we expected many more not to come

Ali092011 · October 2012

Eek, this is not a good situation. I had a guest's plus-one fly in from California to attend my wedding, and I'd only met her once before. Oh, and she RSVPed "yes" five days before the wedding when she had previously RSVPed "no."

Don't assume people won't make the trip, even if they're not close family. It's a recipe for disaster.

MyNameIsNot · October 2012

You were right to be worried about this.

You should have ignored your mother. She was wrong. At this point, it's time to line up a plan B in case you do end up with more than 125. Once you've sent STDs, you can't cut them from the guest list, and you certainly can leave 30 guests to eat in the parking lot. You're going to need to line up some kind of back up venue.

jordanm27 · October 2012

Wow, sounds like I really should have gone with my gut! I was hoping this would make me feel better, not worse! I'm going to start researching my plan b now. Thanks for the insight!

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