Guests who don't show up

cmelliott · September 2013

I know this is a question for my venue but I just wanted to ask on here and see if I could get any input. If a guest doesn't show up to the wedding, since you've paid the caterer for that specific amount of meals, do they just send you home with the ones for the guests who didn't show?

MobKaz · September 2013

Typically, no.

bitney17 · September 2013

Yeah I've never seen this. What I have seen is that they may adjust the price of the non-attendee (like charge you $15 instead of $40). This will allow them to still pay their staff, but since they didn't have to actually prepare and serve the food..

cmelliott · September 2013

I was assuming it was already going to be prepared that day of? Cause we gave our caterer a head count of how many for each option.

Maggie0829 · September 2013

If you want the meals that are not eaten due to guests not showing up then that is something that you need to discuss with your venue prior to your wedding.

I have also never heard of a caterer down grading your price for a no show guest because they will still have to not only pay their staff but also pay for the food that was purchased and prepared for that no show guest.

simplykayla · September 2013

Maggie0829 said:

If you want the meals that are not eaten due to guests not showing up then that is something that you need to discuss with your venue prior to your wedding.

I have also never heard of a caterer down grading your price for a no show guest because they will still have to not only pay their staff but also pay for the food that was purchased and prepared for that no show guest.

This.

I don't think I've ever heard of a caterer letting you take home the leftovers from no shows, or letting you pay less if somebody doesn't show up.
As far as I know, typically, you just have to suck up the loss if somebody that was in your final headcount doesn't show.

southernbelle0915 · September 2013

Generally not. It has to do with liability. Check with your caterer/venue - they'll for sure have a policy on it.

I've never heard of a caterer/venue not charging you for no-shows. They go based on the headcount you give them and that's what you're charged.

Jen4948 · September 2013

I'm never heard of a caterer or venue not charging for no-shows either, because they've usually asked for a headcount in advance and prepared based on that headcount. They have no way of knowing any more than you do whether someone will no-show.

allispain · September 2013

Not that I've ever heard of.

We got sent home with a ton of leftovers - enough to last DH and I for a week - but that's something that our caterer apparently does whenever there are leftovers from the buffet.

hyechica81 · September 2013

of all the weddings i went to the people that were no shows had told the bride/groom the week before that for whatever reason they could not make it it was enough time to let the venue know and adjust. do you know or feel like some of your guest will be no shows?

cmelliott · September 2013

hyechica81 said:

of all the weddings i went to the people that were no shows had told the bride/groom the week before that for whatever reason they could not make it it was enough time to let the venue know and adjust. do you know or feel like some of your guest will be no shows?

I've had two people tell me they aren't coming after I gave the head count and I believe it's too late to change it since I'm getting married in 5 days.

Giaspo · September 2013

I had four people drop out after I gave my final count. The venue packed up four entrees and we took them home (it was actually great to have that food the next day). But we didn't ask for this and it was only four... I'm not sure what a caterer would do. On the flip side, my sister is getting married in a few weeks and she is well under her minimum. The venue won't give her 10 meals so she is feeding her vendors instead. I think every venue is different. Good luck and congrats on your wedding as I just realized it was last night!!

Maggie0829 · September 2013

Giaspo said:

I had four people drop out after I gave my final count. The venue packed up four entrees and we took them home (it was actually great to have that food the next day). But we didn't ask for this and it was only four... I'm not sure what a caterer would do. On the flip side, my sister is getting married in a few weeks and she is well under her minimum. The venue won't give her 10 meals so she is feeding her vendors instead. I think every venue is different. Good luck and congrats on your wedding as I just realized it was last night!!

I hope she was planning on feeding her vendors anyway since it would be really inconsiderate not to.

Guests who don't show up

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