Do you give the amount of people are on your invite list? Or do you give an approximation of how many you think may come? So far we have 145 on the list, but I really thinkwe are going to wind up w/ more like 100-120. How do you do this?
jill13bean
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Re: Question about booking the hall
what do you mean? usually you have to guarantee a certain number to have the room.... if you dont have it then i think most halls make you pay anyway
Blu-ize
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Re: Question about booking the hall
I would give them the lower number. You can always add, but if you give them the higher number they may make you guarantee it which means you would have to pay for the extra people even if they didn't come. Some places want a guarantee but not all.
september2004
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Re: Question about booking the hall
we figured we would have ~100
we guaranteed 80 shooting for 100 will pay for up to 125
we sent out invitations to ~150 who could potentially come. we sent total to about 175, but those included people overseas we knew would not be able to make it... 1/2 our guest list is OOT...
take a good look at ones you 'know' will be there and subtract 15-20% (or more if many are from OOT)
so far our count is 98 + 9 vendors, we have only a few delinquent RSVP's.
Wintersbride
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Re: Question about booking the hall
Sorry, I'm really new to this. Okay, so I will give them the minimum then...which is 100. Here is another stupid (i mean really stupid question) I have to include the vendors? No one is guiding me...that is why this board is helpful.
MegLehner
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Re: Question about booking the hall
usually the hall tells you want the minimum is. For different nights/seasons its a different number or people - you can usually negotiate this by just asking or adding some xtras onto your menu to lower min. Say they tell you the min is 100 people. You have to pay for 100 even if 100 dont come. If you have over 100 you pay person over. Some halls allow you to make up your minimum with vendors (note whether or not you hall gives you vendor meals for free, 1/2 price or full price)
september2004
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Re: Question about booking the hall
Posted by FutureMrsH
Sorry, I'm really new to this. Okay, so I will give them the minimum then...which is 100. Here is another stupid (i mean really stupid question) I have to include the vendors? No one is guiding me...that is why this board is helpful.
it's not a stupid question, and keep in mind all places have their own set of rules...
vendors and kids tend to be 1/2 price but may not be included in the minimum guest guarantee amount. some halls let you count them towards your minimum if you come up short, but i don't believe mine would have. i am paying 80 full price, vendors and kids 1/2. make sure to clarify this with the venue when you book!
Blu-ize
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Re: Question about booking the hall
Negotiate with the hall for the meals for your vendors. They never get to eat what your guests eat with limited breaks like your DJ or band. Some halls have a vendor priced meal.
lillian771
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Re: Question about booking the hall
How many you think will come. You wouldn't want to tell them a minimum number higher than reality...most places can accommodate more, but you'll be paying for your minimum no matter how many show.
SoInLovexox
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Re: Question about booking the hall
You tell the hall how many you're anticipating inviting and they'll estimate how many will show up. If I were you I'd say a little less than the actual number b/c that way when they are giving you a quote, they will make you guarantee less. I am inviting 285 and most halls made me guarantee 250 when they quoted me. The NRC (where I booked) guaranteed me only 200. That was awesome! You can always add more, you can't go less cause they will charge you.
nov2004bride
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Re: Question about booking the hall
We went lower on our guarantee. We guaranteed 225 but invited 316. Vendors are $50 at Flowerfield are not included in our minimum.
bluetank
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Re: Question about booking the hall
The vendors are 1/2 price so they are not part of the total. Just ask them what the minimum is? I am a fellow east wind bride. Welcome. I have te southhampton ballroom and i have to guarantee 160-dont know about country gardens
Wintersbride
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Re: Question about booking the hall
Country Gardens is 100 people. I think that's probably will show. We are going down friday morning (2yrs from our wedding day) to put the down payment down.
kissy27
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Re: Question about booking the hall
Posted by Blu-ize
I would give them the lower number. You can always add, but if you give them the higher number they may make you guarantee it which means you would have to pay for the extra people even if they didn't come. Some places want a guarantee but not all.
When we went, we explained we had 135 on the list....We may have more, but we definately would have 135 at the wedding...Some places told us off the bat that we did not make the minimum...Others worked with us on the minimum because we are getting married in March...
