Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
LauraPete
Posted:
Member since
Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
What do you do i a case like that? Should I be nervous about booking a hall that requires 125 minimum and I only have 135 on my guest list? Should I not be even considering this location?
LisaT
Posted:
Member since
Re: Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
you should ask the hall how they handle that situation. Some places will through in extras if you come up short - so you're not just wasting money.
With a guest list of 135, its highly unlikely that you'll get 125 guests. I think on average 20% decline.
Re: Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
is your heart set on this hall?
you can invite more people from work...have mom and dad invite more friends...
sometimes the hall will throw in extras...my sister was about 10 under and they threw in a sushi bar at the cocktail hour
ss2002
Posted:
Member since
Re: Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
You should definitely invite more people. Do you have a B list? Did you invite anyone without dates?
We fell about 10 below our minimum. I just met with our banquet manager, explained how we were going to fall short and asked for a couple of extras. They ended up adding a cocktail hour station and pastry/cookie trays on the tables for dessert.
HeatherandNick
Posted:
Member since
Re: Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
Definately talk to the hall and explain your situation. See if they will be willing to work with you. They should throw in extras. My GF is getting married next year and her hall told her if she falls below they will pack up the extra food for her to take home!
LauraPete
Posted:
Member since
Re: Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
I will definitely talk to them about this today but I am also worried about the way the room will look. I don't want to look lost in the room. I am talking about the Carlyle on the Greene - anyone seen it? Oh, and no, I don't even have a B list!!!!! Like, there is no one i can think of to put on it!..... The Carlyle is closest to my house so family (Dad) will love this.
My two other choices are the Hamlet Wind Watch (much smaller room so I won't have to worry and they will throw in extras if i don't meet the 125 - but I didn't like the place as much as the Carlyle. And the Bellport Country Club which I loved but is undergoing construction that won't be done until end of 4/04 and my wedding would be in 7/04 - do I risk the work not being finished? - Also, this site is about 1 hour from my church so 2 negatives right there).
Any opinions from your experiences? I am at the end of my rope here and every family member (FH as well) have banned my from looking at any more places (I spent 8 weekends in a row travelling from NY to L.I. to search about 30 places in total so far). Help!
Novembergirl
Posted:
Member since
Re: Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
My wedding was at Carlyle this past November and I fell about 10 below my minimum. I ended up feeding the band, photographers and children who would have been extra and instead were used against my minimum. They totaled 16 people or at half price the equivalent of 8. Had I known this would happen I probably would have invited more people but it was too late by the time the replys were in. I did end up calling some people who weren't invited with guests and telling them they could bring a guest if they wanted. Other than that there wasn't much else I could do. I am shocked that Carlyle would even do a 125 person minimum. My minimum was 200. What day of the week is your wedding?
KarenG
Posted:
Member since
Re: Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
Re: Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
you might be best off with Bellport CC...b/c they are under construction they will offer you better deals and maybe a lower minimum?
as for will he construction be done? yes...it has to be May and June are busy season for weddings...they will not let it run into that time...and most contracters have to pay fines if it takes them longer...
have you looked at the Vanderbilt Mansion? that is smaller and has lower minimums...
LauraPete
Posted:
Member since
Re: Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
Yes, I loved Vanderbilt but my FH didn't. I am so stressed out at this point that i seriously just want to take a few months off and not think about it. Imagine that! And I am only on phase ONE of this whole wedding process.... why is this not fun?
Olgaki
Posted:
Member since
Re: Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
Don't worry Laura!!! I have a super small wedding - 100 people MAYBE and we are booking with a place that does a 100 minimum so we're tight too but we can use the photographers and band against the count so we should be ok!!! Once you book the hall, everything else will fall into place!
070502
Posted:
Member since
Re: Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
We were short about 30 and that was due to military obligations. Our hall didn't care.
But we signed a contract and they had the majority of the money and dealt with our postponment and rescheduling. Plus they gave us a discount to start... but I'm telling you it ****ed moeny wise to have to do it.
Bellport CC is run by a great family and they will take care of you 100%!
LauraPete
Posted:
Member since
Re: Anyone fall REALLY below their hall's minimum headcount?
Laurie- I am so glad you said that about Bellport b/c that was my gut with them but I needed back-up. Are you from that area? Have you been to a wedding there? Do you know them? I am sure that wouldn't f*** me over on purpose but ya know, things happen and I looked at their books for June and July of next year and they were completely EMPTY! At least if they had like 6 other weddings lined up, they would be more worried about scorning 6 brides and messing up their weddings with constuction delays. But maybe not so if all they have is one wedding. Am I worrying too much?
