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"Spare" table?

jaime232jaime232 member
First Comment First Anniversary Name Dropper 5 Love Its
in Wedding Reception Forum
Hey there,
For the reception, is it customary or acceptable to have like one empty table for any random people who inevitably won't RSVP but may still show up?  
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Re: "Spare" table?

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    atlastmrsgatlastmrsg member
    5 Love Its First Comment First Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited October 2014
    Due to the expense (everything from the Chiavari chair, the linens, the open bar fee, the caterer's per plate fee, the favor...) I didn't do this.  My DOC had a list of people I was expecting, if you didn't RSVP, you didn't get an escort card, so you didn't get a seat.  I simply wasn't willing to spend an extra $900-$1,000 to have another table for "extras."

    Although, behind the RSVP list, she had a few table numbers where someone's plus one cancelled, someone was sick...I think I had about 5 chairs spread throughout my reception in case there truly was a problem and I needed to have a seat for a person.  I didn't end up needing any of those though.
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    jaime232jaime232 member
    First Comment First Anniversary Name Dropper 5 Love Its
    Ah okay, I gotcha.  We had to contract a certain number of guests, so we've already paid.. and it looks like our RSVPs are going to come in under that number, so we wouldn't have to pay for anything extra at this point, if that makes sense.
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    MobKazMobKaz member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    jaime232 said:
    Ah okay, I gotcha.  We had to contract a certain number of guests, so we've already paid.. and it looks like our RSVPs are going to come in under that number, so we wouldn't have to pay for anything extra at this point, if that makes sense.
    You might want to consider speaking with venue management. Rather than just "lose" that money, the venue might be willing to negotiate some food or beverage upgrades for you..
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    OliveOilsMomOliveOilsMom member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    Also, if you are past your RSVP deadline and you have not heard from all your guests, you should call each guest to confirm if they can attend or not.  Just because someone didn't send an RSVP back doesn't mean they are not going to attend.  If you truly have extra spots and your caterer won't let you upgrade any food, you could always call your single guests and offer them a guest to bring.
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    jaime232jaime232 member
    First Comment First Anniversary Name Dropper 5 Love Its
    Ah man I wonder if they would do that for us... because we over-estimated by quite a bit, and it makes me sad to think of how much we overpaid.  
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    theartistformerlyknownastheartistformerlyknownas member
    First Comment First Anniversary First Answer 5 Love Its
    jaime232 said:
    Ah man I wonder if they would do that for us... because we over-estimated by quite a bit, and it makes me sad to think of how much we overpaid.  
    Normally all they're worried about is earning the contracted dollar amount - they don't actually care how many people are there. Upgrade that bar! :)
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    JoanE2012JoanE2012 member
    First Anniversary First Comment First Answer 5 Love Its
    Ditto PPs, see if your venue will let you upgrade.  Are there things offered with higher priced packages that you might be able to add in?  Perhaps a Viennesse table?  More apps during the cocktail hour?  Upgraded bar?  
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    jaime232jaime232 member
    First Comment First Anniversary Name Dropper 5 Love Its
    I asked... venue said no.  BOOOO.  I mean, the difference wasn't so extreme that we'll go into horrible debt or anything, but it is just an annoyance.  It's a bummer how crazy the wedding industry can be.
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    MrsMarendeMrsMarende member
    5 Love Its First Comment Name Dropper
    I am really surprised! Our venue has a certain amount of money we have to spend, regardless of people, so I could have 300 people and spend X$$$ or 10 people but I have to spend the same amount of money. :(
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