Venue wants all guest's names

I have never heard of this. Have they given you a reason why?

View Quoted Comment No and I'm honestly uncomfortable with it

View Quoted Comment I would be also! It feels like an overstep/invasion of privacy. Plus, most people don’t have a definitive guest list a month out. What happens if people are added or drop out after the 30 day mark? The only thing I can think of is maybe they want it for security purposes? - Like if a crime happens, they will have a list of witnesses. Or if there’s a fire and the venue has to be evacuated, they will know if anyone is missing, etc. But even if that’s the reason, it still feels really odd. I would definitely question them on why they need that info.

Yeah I’ve never heard of that. That would make me uncomfortable also

Do they want it in conjunction with a seating chart or list of dietary restrictions? That's the only way it would make sense to me

I see from your profile your venue is in the Caribbean. This could be for national security if guests are foreign nationals on the property. If this is not your native country, you could check with your country's embassy along with asking the venue for more details.

View Quoted Comment Nope it's in NJ, our ceremony was in the Caribbean

If you were having a wedding at the White House sure, but a typical catering place? I’ve never heard of that. Is it a privately owned facility?

View Quoted Comment

Okay then, I have other ideas on American venues, privacy, and suspect business practices. Check your contract, chamber of commerce, and contact the venue. Is this a private house?

View Quoted Comment Nope it's a wedding venue. They only do weddings

Does the venue make a seating chart? Are they an exclusive club/by invite only? That's so absurd to me, why do they need to know so far in advanced.


Does the contract say anything about needing names?

Get clarification on why they want the information that badly. That is normal or ethical. Be prepared to look for an alternative venue last minute.

I'm wondering if they check IDs. One option would be if you gave everyone new names for the wedding reception. The problem with that would be if people didn't have that new name with them. With an alphabetized list, it seems like the venue would use that to verify each person is on the guest list. Some people planning their weddings might like that "feature." Is the venue also responsible for the catering?

My venue/caterer (same company) needed my guest list mainly for if guests need help finding their table (so they had a list of names and table numbers and can show them to their seats) and for serving dinner if a guest had allergies/dietary restrictions and needed a modified meal (we did plated, so when they got to a specific table, they could ask who John Doe is so they could hand them the correct dietary-friendly meal).

Nope I have never heard about this. I say reach out to them asking why. If they can't come up with good reason it will make me feel like they are to strict/picky and want to know too much.

That’s odd. Our wedding was in NJ and all we had to provide is the guest count for each table.

This seems weird, definitely ask why they’re requiring it. Our church requested guest names 1 month in advance as an option if we wanted guests to be able to enter the church without going through the security table/metal detector (it’s a famous church & that’s their normal security protocol on any day). The church didn’t require the list though.

My wedding planner is doing everything but I also have to have a guest count a month before. She said it's due to pricing. I can add more people on no more than a week before but we're unable to downsize the guest list after 30 days before. But I don't have to do it alphabetical either.

I have never heard of this. Maybe it's one of those deals where as the guest arrive and they give their name and security checks it off the guest list as the guest arrive. So as if someone shows up and they aren't on the guestlist they don't come in kind of thing. That is the only thing I can think of but I would sure ask some questions as to why they need the names of your guest. Good Luck

Weddings on military bases/installations do this for security reasons. Landmarks often will as well. Other than that, I've never heard of it.