My final headcount!

marisa39 · August 2009

So, I a m giving my final headcount today. My venue suggested that once I get the final count, to add 10 to it so that I would have an extra table just in case, people would have more freedom to move tables.I'm hesitant to do this first because obviously it will add more cost but second because people have told me that people who rsvp'd yes will not show up.So I am just wondering how everyone else's experience has been when estimating the final headcount? Should I add an extra table? Or will no shows and unexpected additions reallyjsut even out in the end?

MissIntentional · August 2009

i wouldn't, but i've never been married.

danieliza1127 · August 2009

Our venue set up two extra tables for us for free. We didn't have any no-shows but we did have two people show up that weren't invited. It worked out though anyway, we had room. Are you doing assigned seats or assigned tables or just open seating? If you're doing open seating, then yeah you probably do want one extra table so people can spread out and be sure there's room for them to sit with the people they want to sit with. If you're doing assigned seating, then I don't think it's necessary.

C W · August 2009

I think they are trying to get more money out of you if you are having to pay extra for meals, linens, CPs, etc etc. I think 1 seat per guest is enough.

tigger9922 · August 2009

I plan on adding 5 to my final count, just in case. Worst case scenerio, we have extra food to take home....best case, everyone has plenty to eat. I would hate to have extras show up and eat all the food before someone who did RSVP gets to it. Just a thought.

jasmineh7777 · August 2009

And now The Final Countdown is stuck in my head.

MiniSteph · August 2009

Agreed Jasmine. Have you ever watched Arressted Development? The scene with the magician coming out on stage to the song? Yeah, that's what my FI wants to do. More power to him. And to respond to the post, I probably wouldn't do 10, maybe a few more but no more than 5.

ring_pop · August 2009

I am paying for the exact number of guests that have RSVPed yes, and that's it. But it's not a huge issue to me because our food is being served family style so there will be food available for crashers, plus my venue can still bill us for last minute extras or refund us for last minute declines afterward.

SwedishChick2011 · August 2009

I wouldn't add any to your final headcount, especially not that many. More people have the opposite problem happen of fewer people showing up than expected. I think your venue is trying to make a little extra money off of you.

danieliza1127 · August 2009

About taking food home, most venues are not allowed by law to let you do that, just fyi.

imgettingmarriedinoctober · August 2009

I wouldn't add any extra thus having the point of rsvp'ing. If someone shows up that shouldn't or didn't reply then it's up to their own embarressment to handle the situation.

betrothed123 · August 2009

I wouldn't do it. Like PPs have mentioned, it sounds like they are just trying to get more money out of you. We were short a couple of people becuase some people RSVPed yes and didn't show and then some people RSVPed no and did show.Also, our venue wouldn't let us bring home any food.

marisa39 · August 2009

Thanks for everyone's advice. It's funny how you find out more things about vendors as the time to the wedding draws near. For this particular venue, I have noticed they try to charge more $$ at whatever they can get away with. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on my RSVP count (after I called about 1/2 the people on the list, but that's a vent for a different post!) so I will probably just round up to make it an even number and then not worry about it.

My final headcount!

Re: My final headcount!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards