Guest list of 700!

plausten · October 2009

We have finished our guest list and it has come too about 700 individuals we absolutley want at our wedding. We realize that it's large and goal is to make the day easy for ourselves and well as our quests, any ideas to make the day flow easily with that many people would be great! Excited to hear any info!

jackelbride · October 2009

This is awkward. You better be very wealthy or get use to the idea of hot dogs at the park.

cromero49 · October 2009

Yikes, 700 people! I've actually never heard of a wedding with more than 500. I don't even know what kind of a venue you'd be able to get to accomodate that many people. Since this is a new one for me I'm not sure how you could make the day flow easily for such a large number of people...I'll have to think about that one.

Lindze75 · October 2009

Wow! If you plan on thanking everyone for coming individually or going around to all the tables be sure to have a little longer of a reception so you still have time to dance and enjoy yourself. I think my venue might accomodate that many. It's around there (Villa Ragusa) but I wouldn't have the ceremony there just the reception. Buffet will be out of hand with that many people waiting in line so maybe seated dinner will be best but again all of the serving will take much longer than it typically would. Have multiple bars set up to avoid lines. Good Luck - I think I would need to take a pill LOL!

jackelbride · October 2009

I think this is made up.

bekijoy · October 2009

I think YOU'RE just made up jackekbride!

)Can you tell it's a really boring day at work?

jackelbride · October 2009

Beki - you busted me! I'm just a lonely lady that likes to post on wedding boards. I don't even have a boyfriend, I don't even know any boys. So so sad. Crying now. bady daddy

bekijoy · October 2009

I KNEW IT! Ohhhh...I'm telllliinnnnnnnnn!

hmschults · October 2009

7oo people that you have to have there...how do you have time! I have heard of Indian weddings having this many people..maybe ask on that board..I believe that there is one under customs

future mrs.riva · October 2009

wow... i dont think i even know 700 people to invite... just out of curiosity, have you found a venue to hold all 700 people?

cromero49 · October 2009

haha, Ruthie, did you say "baby daddy" just for me? =P

jackelbride · October 2009

Oh Claire! You caught it!

KH1123 · October 2009

Really? 700 people you have to have??!! I can't imagine 700 people that someone knows well enough or sees often enough to have to invite to a wedding. I am going to have to agree with pp regarding trying to get around the room to say hi to everyone and to get everyone fed and you'll definitely need to invest a TON of money into a planner. Wow, for that many people, your planner budget would be a typical bride's total wedding budget! Crazy. I'd start looking into convention centers and similar types of places. This size wedding is like the size of corporate events so most of the pretty wedding venues don't have space or enough employees for this. Just trying to find a place that could accommodate the parking could be hard too. Some really large hotel chains can handle it too I bet. What part of CA are you looking for? I'm curious---what kind of budget do you have? Hopefully well into the six figures. Good luck on this one.

Lilleybug · October 2009

I thought vendors werent allowed on the boards.....

StefandTodd · October 2009

Wow! We had a venue minimum of 120, so after our initial "intimate wedding" guest list was only at 100, we basically invited everyone we knew and were related to, and let whoever wanted to bring a guest, and we ended up with 170 or so. So yeah, there's no way I could come close to even knowing OF 700 people to invite. haha. Good luck! I'd love to check out your bio when your wedding is said and done. I'm sure it'll be one huge, outrageous, memorable party! Enjoy!

plausten · October 2009

Thank you for the postive sharing! This was my first post to the forum and I was truly looking for advise from well wishers. I see now that maybe the forum idea isn't such a great idea...wasn't expecting some of the posts but ,thats partly becasue I need to explain myself more . My husband-to be and I have been together for 14 years. We are very social and active in many community actvties and gatherings. We both have large families and in the last 14 years have made a whole lotta amazing friends who we cherish. We are very busy people, but yes we do see and gather with them all. Now that we have finally decide to get married, we want the people that have loved and supported us to share in the day... Obviuosly 700 aren't goona be able to make it on that day, but we wanted to invite them all and for the to know that they are important to us that we wanted them there to share our speacial day with us. So even if its 602 that make it..I was just looking for advise to accomodate the 602 in having a comfortable and fun day... I know our day can be perfect and I know it's do-able! Best wishes ladies with your weddings!

mamabow · October 2009

Hmmm, this could be a hard one. I would think that you would have more of a chance of finding a place that you like if you do more of a cocktail and appetizer and dessert reception instead of a sit down reception. I bet more places can fit that many people if you don't have to do tables and chairs and can do more of those cocktail tables. Plus, it would be way cheaper. I don't know of any unique place that can hold that many people. I guess an outdoor location with acreage could work. I agree with getting someone who can help you plan this because you don't want to think about the details on the wedding day. Can you cut the list in half so that you have a lot more places to pick from? What area is the wedding because if it is the bay area, I'd check into the big museums there. I'd do simple centerpieces since that cost can add up quickly if you needed something like 88 centerpieces. Maybe candles instead of flowers for centerpieces would be better and cheaper. I'd definitely do valet parking to make it easy on the guests. Before anything though, I'd figure out your budget because that may make everything easier. Hope it works out for you. I can't imagine knowing that many people!

jackelbride · October 2009

Plausten - much apologies if you are a real bride! Everyone once and awhile a vendor or a "troll" (people who post out of boredom and aren't even brides or just to stir drama and nothing else) appear. The mix of an outrageous number like 700 and the fact that you only had one post on your bio would make most people question what's going on. If you're looking for advice on a wedding party of that size you are going to have to look for a venue that can hold that many just in case they all show up! And you will need a good wedding planner to keep costs down and manage your guest list, rsvps, seatings, and the other wedding guest craziness.

plausten · October 2009

Thanks girls..Still a real bride and a very excited one!! After much discussion, we have decide to have it on our families ranch which is large enough to accomodate that many people...Originally we didn't want to have it there because we didn't want the family to have to work so hard getting it ready but, they are excited and are on board to do so. Looks like its time to roll up my sleeves and get some work done...Thank you for your suggestions!!... My bridemaids and I are all getting together for brunch and there dress fitting next month and I can't wait. Should be a fun filled day... things just seem to all work out as you go! Take Care, Pam

kikipania · October 2009

That's not a wedding, that's a zoo. Good luck to ya

turleyec · October 2009

Plausten, Forget about the judges, do your own thing. I think the ranch sounds like a great solution, and I happen to have some advice... My sis got married at our parents 26 acre home and a few things came in handy; 1. They rented very classy, high-end portable bathrooms (don't think porta-potties). They were the size and shape of a trailer home (got 2) but looked very finished. Inside counters were marble, beautiful hanging mirrors and light fixtures; you would never know you weren't in a hotel lobby bathroom and they smelled good. A truck brings them in that morning and picks them up the next day 2. Don't forget to consider the size of the dance floor... my sis put four together to accomodate a large number. 3. It was VERY helpful, and VERY important to mark off unsafe areas... the darker it got, the less guests could see where the path dropped off, odd rocks in the way, etc. You can buy stage tape (it glows in the dark) which looks like masking tape in light, but glows bright green in the dark. You'd be surprised... we lost 2 guests down a grassy hill. 4. I agree that several bar stations would help. 5. I know it might not sound romantic, but consider a mic for the vows... it really stinks when your guests can't hear the ceremony. 6. Pay for as many servers as you can swing. A wedding planner is great, but nothing is worse than guests waiting an hour for dinner, or half the guests having finished the meal before the rest have even had salad. Trust me... waiters are worth every penny! 7. Have fun with the rustic setting... use camping lanterns to light a path, or hay bales for relaxed seating areas... you would be surprised how well high end can blend with a little bit of rustic charm. 8. As for parking, we found a field nearby (or you could strike an agreement with a local business which doesn't use the parking lot much at night, and hire a shuttle (or 2) to bring people the mile or so to the site. Check references on the shuttle service... in our experience these are the least reliable vendors. Have a fantastic wedding. I hope all of your friends show up and it all comes off without a hitch.

Lorita · October 2009

For that size I would definately invest in an event planner. Especially if you don't want your friends and family to have to do set up and take down. They can coordinate everything, and are well worth the cost.We had a large wedding, and they were worth every penny....

jwelsh31580 · October 2009

If you are still looking, I heard that the Ferry Building in SF can be rented out for large wedding, as well as the Bentley Reserve. I'm sure it won't be cheap but they I think they both can accomodate groups over 1000.

plausten · December 2009

Thank you for ALL the great advise! It has been very helpful in planning! Which is going well by the way. The bathroom ideas were great. I mentioned it to our parents and my father -in-law and my dad ended up building a bathroom facility one for men and one for women with couple stalls each. Since were going with vintage coutry theme, I picked up some great old furniture at a yard sale and we put it in the ladies bathroom so that women could sit and primp while looking in the mirror. Our fathers said there gona pimp out the dudes bathroom themselves for me not to worry... I can only imagine with there since fo humor. Little scared but thankful. The womens turned out so cute... who knew the bathroom would be one of my favorite parts of the wedding...Anyways...Again thank you for the ideas. I truly appreciate them..

P.S. Also never would of thought about the roping off area for people not to go in...I don't need people driving the tractors around during the reception..

Hope your doing well,
Pam

Guest list of 700!

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