Not meeting the minimum

Laura0612 Posted: Jul 10, 2012 07:15 PM

Not meeting the minimum

sooooo...when we booked our venue, we guaranteed a 240 minimum since we had a guest list of 300. Here we are a month before the wedding, and most of my fiancee's family and both of our co-workers have for the most part rsvped no. We're looking at 170 if we're lucky. I don't really know what the precedent is for this and I'm terrified to speak to my venue about it...i'm also deeply disappointed and depressed. anyone have this happen? any advice? what mgiht i expect from the vanue?

Diorprincess Posted: Jul 10, 2012 07:29 PM

Re: Not meeting the minimum

that's my biggest fear since my mom's whole family lives either down south where she lives or in Cali and they are all cheap! I wouldn't be surprised if most say no because they don't wanna waste money on coming to Ny just for me. anyway I would try to talk to the venue about it. maybe they will throw something in? I'm not sure they will make the minimum lower but you never know. maybe ask parents if they have anymore people to invite? or if any siblings have friends.

my moh when her sister got married about 20 people at the last minute didn't feel like coming in the snow so they started asking siblings to bring friends basically anyone who wanted to come lol and they gave nice cash gifts! it's better to have strangers then to waste all that money. they also threw things in for them because they felt bad.

Laura0612 Posted: Jul 10, 2012 07:36 PM

Not meeting the minimum

unfortunately i think we invited everyone we and our parents know, but i will pass along to my siblings that they can bring friends if they want...its just such a waste of money. im hoping the venue will lower the minimum and whatevers left over apply towards add ons.

pjt212301 Posted: Jul 10, 2012 07:59 PM

Not meeting the minimum

I wouldn't wait to have the conversation with the RH, 70 people short for the minimum is alot. Have you included your vendors in the count?

6weekstobliss Posted: Jul 10, 2012 08:00 PM

Not meeting the minimum

i would def. talk to them about add ons that they can do..2 of my friends got married there, and they seemed very accommodating

scottsbride Posted: Jul 10, 2012 08:19 PM

Not meeting the minimum

I would talk to the RH. Dont forget to count your vendors.

JulesMarie27 Posted: Jul 10, 2012 08:49 PM

Re: Not meeting the minimum

Posted by scottsbride

I would talk to the RH. Dont forget to count your vendors.

Def include your vendors in the min headcount! Do you have any extra B listers that you can invite? Maybe parents co-workers?

youmewe Posted: Jul 10, 2012 08:50 PM

Re: Not meeting the minimum

Definitely talk to the venue but I have a suggestion to a different approach. They probably aren't going to take much off or allow you to lower the minimum to much. However perhaps you can suggest to them that because you can't meet the minimum and the number is a large difference that you wanted to know if they would donate those plates to a local charity in need (shelter etc). My family had this issue a few years ago and this is how they resolved it; the venue ended up splitting the difference with them and they set up to give 25 dinners a few days before the wedding to a local family shelter and the venue only charged my family for 10 and they did throw in a few things because they felt bad.. It stinks but at least there was some good that came out of it!!

Good luck and sorry this happened!!

Laura0612 Posted: Jul 10, 2012 09:24 PM

Not meeting the minimum

oh wow youmewe that is a GREAT idea! Ill be sure to talk to them about that...as for a B list, we sent out to everyone...counting the vendors takes maybe 10 plates so thats something...my parents dont want to invite coworkers...i think theres a few people my fiancee invited who are unaccountes for...im going to make an appointment to meet with them next week and get this horrible conversation over with :( i cant believe this happened. let me be a cautionary tale to you ladies. a lot of the people who rsvped no swore up and down they were going to come :(

DB2013 Posted: Jul 10, 2012 09:35 PM

Not meeting the minimum

I love the idea of donating dinners!!! That thought never crossed my mind. Also, I have seen other ladies mention they need seat fillers. If the day is getting closer, this might be an option too.

Laura0612 Posted: Jul 10, 2012 09:40 PM

Not meeting the minimum

what do you mean by seat fillers?

DB2013 Posted: Jul 10, 2012 10:03 PM

Not meeting the minimum

A couple months ago I saw a bride or two wasn't meeting their minimum and they posted asking if any other brides wanted to go. I didn't see what the outcome was but it is an idea.

Laura0612 Posted: Jul 10, 2012 10:57 PM

Not meeting the minimum

hmmmm i might do that, its an idea

renrico Posted: Jul 10, 2012 11:01 PM

Not meeting the minimum

whip out that 'b' list baby! haha and if that's not enough, the 'c' as well

cconaty94 Posted: Jul 10, 2012 11:30 PM

Not meeting the minimum

In addition to the other girls suggestions-- My venue told me that if I couldn't meet the minimum, they would count children and teens. At this place, teens and children are lower prices, so I would basically be paying for an adult's plate for children. I don't know if that helps you at all. Good luck, but just remember that if you were once ok with paying for 240, thats the worst of it. You will pay for 240 people and of course its like throwing money away but that number never changed for you. The venue doesn't care how many people are there. Its your wedding, they are getting paid, and they are just going to have to make you happy on your day!

db276952 Posted: Jul 10, 2012 11:44 PM

Not meeting the minimum

They may work with you, call them asap at the very least ask for some upgrades, raw bar, viennese, after party, maybe an additional dinner option that kind of stuff so you are least getting something for your $. Good luck!

barbeik005 Posted: Jul 11, 2012 08:57 AM

Re: Not meeting the minimum

Ugh, I'm so sorry. We invited 256 guests, and we're getting a lot of unexpected nos just like you. Right now it looks like we're going to barely hit our minimum if we're lucky (and our minimum is only 150)! It's such a depressing things to me. Someone here already mentioned seat fillers - basically some girls ask other LIW girls to come so that the plate is not wasted. That's what I plan on doing if it's only a few people. I think the best idea is to talk to your RH and see what your best options are.

MarryTheNight24 Posted: Jul 11, 2012 09:13 AM

Re: Not meeting the minimum

Someone a while back asked the ladies on here to be seat fillers. I would talk to the Woodlands ASAP to see what they can do (upgrades to menu, etc), but if you end up looking for fillers I may be interested since I'm having my reception at the Woodlands also!

lboogie77 Posted: Jul 11, 2012 09:16 AM

Not meeting the minimum

Definitely start talking to the RH right away with your concerns. My hall would not budge on the minimum (200) even though we expressed that FH family was all in California and it could be hard to meet that. What they did for us was to keep adding free add-ons. Then they said that when the date is closer and I have a better handle on an exact headcount, they would still work with us on what they could do to help with the difference. Talk with them and ask for everything that you can...