need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

AdriandSteve Posted: Jan 16, 2009 02:21 PM

need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

so... how did u girls figure it out and decide on what you were guaranteeing for the halls.

Here is the looks of things...

If my FH and I invite everyone, even our maybe's we would be inviting 261 people.

If we invite just our def it would be 215

So... lets say we go with the 215. Of that # about 10 are children and about 5 co-workers i can count as vendors also, so they couldn't be included for my guarantee. So now i'm down to 200.

I am realistically looking at my list and trying to figure out who will be saying no, such as people out of state, elderly or handicapped traveling from out of state, people who might be away at college, or family members who might not want bring their children (ranging from 7 and up by that time).

What # should i really be thinking?
My FH and i went through our list last weekend and of the people who we figure would attend its abuto 150. I'm sure it would be more then that but we wanted to play it safe.

thoughts? lol

KerriJohnS Posted: Jan 16, 2009 02:25 PM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

I wouldn't stress myself out too much over this. Most girls who don't make their minumum usually get a ton of extras thrown in.
We took the amt we were inviting and subtracted about 40. So from about 246 we did a min of 200.

jonsgirl04 Posted: Jan 16, 2009 02:55 PM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

We invited 275 people. Guaranteed 150 and had 140 show. Not sure if this helps. Our hall Printed all our menus out for free. They were supposed to be $1.00 each but instead threw it in to cover the 10 who didnt show..

JJC Posted: Jan 16, 2009 02:58 PM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

i would go under with the minimum...i wouldnt want to pay fo rmore people just to get some thing that may not be worth too much for free.. I invited 296 and said 200 guranteed. 'they' say anywhere from 10-30% say no but you never no...like you said out of towners and such can change that number...
i would low ball

squeekietoy Posted: Jan 16, 2009 03:01 PM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

What is your minimum?
Our minimum was 190, we invited 280 and we JUST hit our minimum with one person over. We didn't have a B List. We just invited everyone we could think of. We also had about 15 people that never RSVP'd at all.
I remember reading somewhere that there is a 20% no rate for weddings these days. So, I would invite 20% more than your minimum, atleast.

JACK808 Posted: Jan 16, 2009 03:04 PM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

You are definitely being smart by playing it safe, and you should try to negotiate your minimum guarantee to be as low as possible. You can always add guests, but it would be a shame to have to pay for unneccessary meals.

M_J Posted: Jan 16, 2009 03:26 PM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

agree with above... go as low as you can go. 140-150 is safe.

lilmartha59 Posted: Jan 16, 2009 03:31 PM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

i agree try to stay as low as you can...but remember that in order for you to get a specific room at a RH you need to have a specific min. sometimes so keep that i mind

sharivera Posted: Jan 16, 2009 04:27 PM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

Posted by squeekietoy

What is your minimum?
Our minimum was 190, we invited 280 and we JUST hit our minimum with one person over. We didn't have a B List. We just invited everyone we could think of. We also had about 15 people that never RSVP'd at all.
I remember reading somewhere that there is a 20% no rate for weddings these days. So, I would invite 20% more than your minimum, atleast.

I don't think I know 280 people!! LOL!!!

trophywife Posted: Jan 16, 2009 04:39 PM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

i think 150 is very reasonable. we have the same - and we are inviting around 230.

ELluvsMB Posted: Jan 16, 2009 08:40 PM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

we're inviting about 200 and after going through the list of who will come and who wont we think about 160 will show. We guaranteed 140, i'm hopping we won't go below that.

FutureMrsG Posted: Jan 17, 2009 12:54 PM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

My BM told us to expect 20% to decline if most of your guests are local and 30% if you have a lot of OOT guests. We went with a 150 person minimum our guest list is 273 but most of Fhs family is from OOT.

dutchessev Posted: Jan 18, 2009 12:59 AM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

Whn you go to rh places just make sure you guaranteed the least amount as possible. That way you won't stress if you meet it or not.

Ella and Ben Posted: Jan 18, 2009 06:47 PM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

From all the parties of thrown or from my friends weddings it seems 20% of the total guest list say no. I would go with your lower guest list number (215) and guarantee 150-175 ppl. If you end up inviting more than 215 you know you'll make that number. Just make sure your room can hold your max number of ppl (265).

squeekietoy Posted: Jan 18, 2009 06:57 PM

Re: need help with guest list $'s and guarantee (same as on 2010 forum)

Posted by sharivera

Posted by squeekietoy

What is your minimum?
Our minimum was 190, we invited 280 and we JUST hit our minimum with one person over. We didn't have a B List. We just invited everyone we could think of. We also had about 15 people that never RSVP'd at all.
I remember reading somewhere that there is a 20% no rate for weddings these days. So, I would invite 20% more than your minimum, atleast.

I don't think I know 280 people!! LOL!!!

Haha! I know that my side of the family wasn't a lot. Most of that number was from DH's side of the family. Crazy.