I'm wondering if anyone else is experiencing this:
Our date is 10/31. Our venue has a capacity of 101. We *planned* for 80 + vendors so we could have a dance floor. Our list was just about set (I was preparing to do Save the Dates) when COVID hit. Our venue comes back and says the capacity has been cut to 50 total and we had to abide by social distancing...so we trim the guest list down to 42 (50 including the vendors and us). Made the change with the caterer, reworked our floor plan, and moved forward with that guest count. We bought PPE and other items for that number of guests, made plans with our bartender etc.
Then at the end of September, the Governor says we are ready for Phase 5 of reopening, and the restrictions on the venue are lifted as long as we can social distance. Most everything has been purchased and invites had already gone out with an RSVP date of 10/10.
Suddenly we are getting questions about expanding our guest list to "re-invite" those we had to cut.
I'm saying no because:
1) We still have to social distance
2) Who knows if we will stay in Phase 5 until 10/31 as cases in the state are on the rise
3) I've already used my PPE and Goody Bag (it will be Halloween) budget for those on my original list ( Our current mask mandate is set to expire Saturday, but I see it being extended again due to the increased cases)
4) While we don't meet with the caterer for our final meeting until today...we've already cut our numbers with them it wouldn't be fair to nearly double what we are contracted for.
Are others getting these questions, and I am a jerk for saying no? Yes I would *love* to have some of those we had to cut there, BUT I don't feel like its right to pick and choose from the "B list" and I can't pivot to expand it back to the original 80.