Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

Hello, Ladies. Just wanted to give you a heads up on being careful when giving the catering hall your final count. I am getting married at the Watermill this Saturday and I met with them last night to give them the rest of the money. The Watermill had requested that I give them the final people count the week before. I actually miscounted and told them we had 186 people when in fact we only had 185. When we went to pay last night, the manager refused to take off the extra person. He said there was nothing he could do about it and that we still had to pay even though I had made a mistake. He said it was company policy and he had no control over it. I have to say I am a little disappointed in the Watermill but I guess in a way it is my fault. Fortunately, my aunt called us last night and said my cousin who is away at college was actually going to make it home for the wedding so now we do have 186 people. Luckily, it will all work out but don't make the same mistake I did. Always low ball them because in the end - they will always add people on because that means more $$ to them but they will never take people away.

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

Thanks for the heads up

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

That's good to know. Thanks for the advice. I will be sure to share with some friends, especially my one friend getting married at the watermill.

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

nice tip! I am not getting married there, but I am sure that it applies to most halls.

thanks!

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

Great Tip!

We got hit at our cocktail hour for an extra plate - they said we gave the wrong number of people at one table or some such nonsence. When I told them that there were a couple of no-shows they said it didn't matter!!! At the moment, I was like what ever, I just got married 15 minutes ago. Later on I got really annoyed about it and don't think that we made the mistake. We went over everything pretty carefully!!!

So to add on here - double & triple your table counts to be on the safe side.

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

How rude!! I am getting married there too, thanks for the warning but that is just petty

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

I am going to be a bit sneaky & invite a few extras to my cocktail hour only,hey its free food & drinks for them&they already know who they are so they know they cant stay the whole time but will come out later that night to party with us we have a very tight budget so we cant pay for everyone

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

That's not really uncommon. Most contracts won't let you change the head count once it's given.
My site wanted the final headcount and payment 10 days before the event and it stated on the contract that this number was not subject to reduction.

I had 10 people cancel within the 9 days after my final headcount. I ended up inviting other people, but in the end we still ended up paying for about 6 extra people.

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

That is rude too.....know anyone who can invite a guest last minute, or see if you can take a meal to go. You are entitled to that meal.

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

One of my friends is getting married there - I will let her know!

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

I had heard about this problem before I signed my contract so i added a clause that said we retained the right to make changes to the final headcount until three days before the wedding...i don't know if it is enforceable but...they signed it

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

Wow, that is too bad... thank god they don't do that @ Sand Castle where my brother is getting married this week. Sand Castle's as well as Floral Terrace (they are owned by the same company) policy is that as long as you meet the contract minimum, for my brother it is 130 and final count was 168 guests. They were told that if some of the guests, especially at this time of impending war and terrorism alert (brother is a cop and 9 of his guests are cops)wouldn't be able make it, their money will be refunded.

Message edited 2/13/2003 4:25:46 PM.

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

I DO NOT agree with what happened. It was only 1 day after you gave your count. That was poor customer service. I expect more from the Scotto family.

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

I got married at Fox Hollow and they have the same policy. With that in mind I decreased my total head count by 6 people. It all worked out in the end, I think we had 1-2 no shows and about 2-3 last minute add ons, but no one asked me for more $$$........I think it is a good idea to verify the policy with the hall, and also low-ball it a few if you have too!

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

How do you lowball a count? I mean, do you honestly give them the number of yes' you received? Or are you supposed to go lower. What if everyone shows up? Do they just add plates to tables that don't have enough seats or something?

I'm confused.

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

Someone advised me that if you're paying for your vendors to eat don't include them in your final head count and use them for the no shows or last minute cancelations. Just a tip!!

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

That stinks. I would think 1 day later and 1 person would be ok.

My hall let me add people but not take away from the final number I gave 1 week befor ethe affair. I gave my final number 2 people less than what I had and would up 2 people cancelled in that last week and one person was added. All I had to do was pay for an extra person and switch around the table arrangements. I didn't bring my placecards until the day before and just gave them a new floor plan the day before. They were really good about it.

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

I got married at CB and the BM told me to make sure my count was correct before giving it to him. He said that after I gave it to him I could not change it. Before I gave my final head count I was given paperwork explaining the same thing.

Edit to say: They told me I can add as many as I wanted but I couldn't take away.

Message edited 2/13/2003 7:27:05 PM.

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

I'm getting married at the Watermill too- thanks for the advice!!!!

Re: Beware when giving the Final count, especially Watermill brides

Thanx for the tip! & be careful if you ask for extra plates to go - my friend's MOH got to the reception late (don't ask!), missed dinner & asked for her plate to go - they charged the B&G like another $25! Not to mention when extra guests arrived instead of seating them at empty seats, they set up more tables & charged her for those too! Needless to say, B&G were pretty ****ed.