Too many guests?

Maybe it's a little to early to worry about this but I'm organizing my guest list, again. (okay and maybe venting a little)

My wedding date is a little less than 2 years away and we asked both of our mothers for guest lists before we booked the reception hall. We added the amount of people they gave us, as well as our friends and booked the hall based on that number with a little cushion room. Now our guest list keeps expanding based on 'opps i forgot about' so and so.. and also because we became close to a few people lately that we never considered close friends in the past. Most of the people our parents are adding are not people we see/ talk to often but are considered family and our parents talk to them now and then.

Looking at my list now ,and even more if it keeps growing, I don't think we will all fit in the room by the time my invites go out, even if 20% don't show

Has anyone else had something similar to this? Or has anyone tried to get the larger room after booking a smaller room? Is it easy to do?

If I can't get the larger room does anyone have any sugestions? Should I tell the family 'opps' i forgot to send so and so an invite since they weren't important enough to remember the first time around? I would feel horrible not inviting the people we've been hanging out with but invite these others that I hardly know.

Right now i'm praying that as fast as people are being added, there will people who can be taken away based on just growing apart or what not.

Thanks

The same thing happened to us. But I just kept telling FH's Mom 'the room only holds 250!!! so I'm sorry if people won't fit'. I said it enough that she eventually, eventually, cut her list down from 200 to 180. That's only his side (not including my side or friends!)

I sent out the invites and hope for the best. But I don't recommend doing that. Maybe come up with a 'b' list. Or, you could send out 'save the dates' to those people you really want to come, but don't send to the others. You can always invite them later.

Your list will evolve over time . . . ours has even in the past five months. You need to cut it to fit the room you have, not expand it to fit everyone else's idea of who should be there.

When it's time for invites to go out (or rather, a few months before) it will be clear who needs to be there and who should be there. All the 'I'd like to invite them's' and 'They'd like to comes' are NOT the priority. You have to explain to the parents that they have a certain number, and to plan accordingly.

For every ten people, you're looking at over 1000 dollars more (that's five couples, so really five more invites!!). Stick to your guns, and perhaps start laying the groundwork now to keep your limits intact.

Yes, start now and make a B list~everyone has to make a B list, there second list. Most important FIRST!

I had ALOT of oops we forgot people luckily we came in just over our minimum.

I will be honest, right now I would NOT be worrying about your guests list. There will be people who come and go from your lives over the next 2 years unfortunately, during planning you find out who is your friend and who isnt. Dont stress yourself out. I would say about 1 year prior start cuting people to a B list.

HTH

thanks guys for the info. I think I'll call the hall just to see if it is an option to change rooms and what that would entail just in case, but the save the date idea is good b/c then maybe some people will all ready have plans.

As for the list A and B, how does that work? I would assume you invite all of A at once but then when do you invite the B list? Do you make invites with different RSVP dates or just send them out a few at a time when you receive a bunch of No's. How many weeks before is it too late to send out a B invite?

Thanks again for all your help

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Posted by bubberflys

thanks guys for the info. I think I'll call the hall just to see if it is an option to change rooms and what that would entail just in case, but the save the date idea is good b/c then maybe some people will all ready have plans.

As for the list A and B, how does that work? I would assume you invite all of A at once but then when do you invite the B list? Do you make invites with different RSVP dates or just send them out a few at a time when you receive a bunch of No's. How many weeks before is it too late to send out a B invite?

Thanks again for all your help

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i see that you are in the briar fox room at fox hollow. is there any way you can up your guarantee to get the garden terrace room? i believe they say it can hold 300..