Hi All!
Our venue for the rehearsal dinner comfortably fits 50 people and can accommodate 60 people. I think 60 is fair to go for since we have a lot of people we want to come. We already put down the deposit. It's going to be a classy sit down meal with some harp and violin music. It is a destination wedding but within our state.
Right now we are at 78 people on our guest list and that includes close family, relatives and wedding party. Originally we didn't have this many people, we were in the limit of 60 but we ended up using his sisters wedding list from her wedding and now we realized the number all of my fiance's family counting their S.O's and kids. We have family from all over, out of state, etc.
If we say "no kids" we can bring our guest list to 72, still 12 over.
Invitations haven't gone out yet and we do have time but all my family is pretty much confirmed since we are close knit, 27 including close family, relatives, bridesmaids and their S.O.'s, perhaps 1 or 2 S.O.'s wont come which will bring me to 25.
My Fiance has 51 including close family, relatives and groomsman and their S.O's. Many unconfirmed relatives because he really hasn't seen some of his relatives in many many years and doesn't communicate with all of them. Otherwise we would have a better idea on their intentions.
My fiance said he can't pick and choose between his aunts/uncles/cousins and has to invite all of them in his whole family. I really feel for him and understand this. His mom said not everyone will come, so we will be fine to invite them all and probably really only have 50 guests rsvp and show. Is this true in your experience?
Our hotel coordinated advised us to try to cut it down though...
But Is that okay to invite people who cannot fit? It's a small long area. I worry my fiance would have to call people up, and say they cant come which is even worse right then just not invited them? or that we have people show and they will not have a seat or space and people will be surprised about our lack of space and we will be fumbling to accommodate something that just wont work.
What is your best advice? Just go with the flow and of course most likely 12 guests wont come and we will be fine.
Or really we need to be careful because this could get difficult if we are over our limit?
Thank you in advance!
