Not going to meet the minimum....now what?

Re: Not going to meet the minimum....now what?

• schrutebeets

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  Do your vendors count as some? Can you invite more "b-list" people...i believe the venue will either make you pay for the rest or increase your overall price per person.

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• DoubleAS

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  Def ask if vendors count toward minimum, they totally should.

  

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• colmckenn

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  we were fifteen ppl short of our minimum. our venue added shrimp cocktail and crablegs during cocktail hr., grooms cake, filet mignon instead of flank, and an hr. of desserts.  we were satisfied  with the upgrades.

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• mbcdefg member

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  You're going to have to pay for whatever number you guaranteed, even if you get less than that amount. We guaranteed 125 and had to pay for 5 empty seats since we only had 120 people show up (thanks to some people who canceled within the last week and even a few who canceled that day, grrr).
  
  Ask the hall if the vendors can count toward the minimum. If you didn't invite singles with dates, reach out to them and ask if they want to bring someone, even a friend. If you have siblings, ask them if some of their friends want to come.
  
  Or open it up to Knotties. A lot of brides have done this in the past and either opened it up to the board or PMed a few people they were particularly friendly with ... they all sat at the same table and most came back here and said they had a great time. It's especially good for those who are considering your venue or who've booked it already and want a preview for their own weddings.

  

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• RamsKR01 member

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  I am going to check with the reception site (once I get all the RSVPs and know exactly where we stand) to see what they'll do.  According to the contract the vendors will not count toward the minimum and it says "they have the right to charge for the guaranteed minimum" but not that it's a definite.  We don't really have a "b" list - we just invited everyone we wanted to be at the wedding and I feel like at this point it's just rude to invite someone (they'll obviously know they weren't originally invited).  All of our guests (including some of my younger cousins) were invited with a guest.   
  
  I'm hoping that we'll be able to do something like colemckenn said - get a few upgrades that would cover the cost of what we have to pay anyway. 
  
  I'm not freaking out as much as I was earlier - if we have to pay more, we have to pay more.  It's nothing my fiance or I could have expected and no matter what I'm hoping to have fun with whoever is there!  Thanks though for everyone's ideas - I just needed to vent a little and see what others had to say.

  

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• Laurms15 member

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  They contract probably says that vendors don't count because they don't want you to think you have to include them however since you are below the minimum it might be ok for them to be included in this instance.
  
  If we had my sister invite a couple of her friends who I am friendly with because I've known them since they were kids but they never expected an invite nor were they bothered with a last minute invite they were happy to come dance and eat and drink free! lol I also added the parents of a couple of my friends last minute since we had a couple of empty seats again they never expected an invite but were happy to attend and knew that we were short a few guests! One was the mom/stepdad of my bridesmaid. She mentioned that we had about 10 fewer guests then expected and her mom said something like oh if she needs a seat filler let us know and we did so it was easy.
  

  my bio ~Laurie~
  
  
  

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• cindyn9178 member

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_not-going-meet-minimumnow?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:9d59f7da-7c1f-40a5-bcf7-0d39b04dadf0Post:81645e03-1a17-4f05-a3e8-4eea5b3a5c57">Re: Not going to meet the minimum....now what?</a>:
  [QUOTE]I am going to check with the reception site (once I get all the RSVPs and know exactly where we stand) to see what they'll do.  According to the contract the vendors will not count toward the minimum and it says "they have the right to charge for the guaranteed minimum" but not that it's a definite.  We don't really have a "b" list - we just invited everyone we wanted to be at the wedding and I feel like at this point it's just rude to invite someone (they'll obviously know they weren't originally invited).  All of our guests (including some of my younger cousins) were invited with a guest.    I'm hoping that we'll be able to do something like colemckenn said - get a few upgrades that would cover the cost of what we have to pay anyway.  I'm not freaking out as much as I was earlier - if we have to pay more, we have to pay more.  It's nothing my fiance or I could have expected and no matter what I'm hoping to have fun with whoever is there!  Thanks though for everyone's ideas - I just needed to vent a little and see what others had to say.
  Posted by RamsKR01[/QUOTE]
  You shouldn't really look at it as having to pay "more". When we signed our contract, we agreed to paying for a minimum of 120 people at $85 pp. So we knew we'd have to pay that $ amount no matter what. Yeah, it sucks if you don't actually have that many people showing up to fill the "per person" charge, but you are basically paying that amount to have your wedding at that place, on that day, in that room, with that package, etc... the venue doesn't really look at it as "per person" but more as the minimum they need to make that night.

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• Reilly626 member

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  I dont know how many times I stress get a super low minimum!! I just went to the wedding at Seasons because she didnt have enough people. Start inviting more people! Like coworkers and friends, why let plates of food go to waste!

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• dalm0m member

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  Our plan was to invite the adult children &/or siblings of some friends.  
  
  As others have said, many venues will give you some upgrades but you will still pay the amount in the contract.   

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• mmontroni

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  I just went to a wedding on Friday night that I was invited to on Monday, because she was short of her minimum.  We're work friends, and we became close this year but after she had sent the invites out.  People are always willing to go to a wedding!

  

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• HobokensFury member

  

  June 2011 edited December 2011

  My cousin got married last Sunday and was 23 people short of the minimum.  They went around and offered people seconds.  It worked out pretty well.

   
   

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