We didn't reach our Minimum!

I'm so sorry to hear about that. Maybe you can donate the extra meals to a homeless shelter? It would be a nice thing to do, and who knows, might even be a tax write-off?

Thats terrible, I dont understand many so many no's. Maybe they feel they cant attend your wedding without a gift. So if the gifts arent really important to you maybe you can reach out to them and tell them not to let that deter them from attending.

WEll, you can donate the food to a homeless shelter, or you can start inviting people who you wanted to come, but didn't have room or money for,

What about co-workers, friends, let everyone invite more than one person. I had seen people let others come to their wedding and party for free for this reason. I wouldn't do that. I know some of your guests would love to bring couple of people or ask some of your friends about their parents, brothers etc.

That is crazy that your venue did not tell you to estimate 25% less. We are doing like 40% less and then we just pay $30 extra bucks for people that go above our estimate! I'm so sorry to hear that! I think it is also the time of year. I am doing summer so that everyone can take off and the kids are already off for he summer time!

I feel so rude now asking friends "Hey I didn't invite you the first time, but want to come now (it's next week!)?" Ug. We thought we would make 200 for sure. The venue suggests 25-30% say no, but we had 40%!

You could tell them that you were just able to invite more people and you're so excited that you can invite them now.

I don't think it's rude, we invited people at the last minute, and they were all so happy that we did.

Carol, I wasn't trying to be insensitive by not suggesting "b list" guests...I feel the same way about late wedding invites. There's something to be said about maintaining a certain level of etiquette....

Again, so sorry that you have to bear this financial burden.

Can't they give you an appitizer, ventien table or something- signature drink maybe? to make up the cost you're paying anyways?

That is absolutely stupid!!! every caterer i talked to, when i say "i have a guest list of 48 including us", they say "oh, about 35 will come"...#1-all of our guests have already said yes, only FMIL, and my dad are if's...so that only takes off 5 people...most of our guests, are people who have had a hand somehow in planning, so i HIGHLY doubt they won't turn out lol...also, i've always heard "75/25 rule"...and duh, that's the point of a caterer not giving accurate fees till an rsvp number is turned in! wow, maybe i'm dumb, but i have yet to meet a caterer who charges you according to what you "think" versus waiting for an rsvp count(that's the whole point of having an rsvp date, before a final head count date)...although, i def say you should go ahead and allow single guests to bring guests if you hadn't before...and ask about them instituting some kind of appetizer like a pp said, or adding that $ to your bar costs( if you have them)...so, i'm a little confused with your *cont'd*

Situation...did you have to have a minimum 200 plate count? wow, i've never heard of that either, unless it's a famous place, or a tiny place that requires a minimum in food and beverage...and dang, even with that many people, i'd imagine you met your food and beverage minimum?!!!

How awful!!

Is it the caterer or the venue offering the catering? I know some of the venues that force you to use their catering service have a minimum.

Like they mentioned, can you upgrade any of your services since you will already be paying for it?

I think the 200 number is her "minimum" as in she's contracted to pay for at least 200 people. Our contract is like that but for 100. So if you have any number below 100 for mine, we still have to pay for 100. So yeah, get calling some people!

Agree with Mrs Braddock. We were told at our venue if we don't meet the guarenteed number of guests that we can substitute other things in place of this to prevent a waste of money. Hopefully, your venue can do that for you.

Thanks for all your comments. I will see what happens during our final meeting, and I guarantee I will cry! Our venue also told us that on average 25% say "No," so we thought we would easily make our 200 minimum. I guess I was a naive bride. I wish I had heard that more like 40% say no and I would have chosen a location or a room with a 150 minimum.

That is crazy and I would do what a lot of other people have suggested and allow your single guests to invite a date or something like that. That really stinks though having to soak up the cost for that. Sorry! God Bless you though!

We are having a buffet style for that reason but we re planning on 150 max but I know we will only have 130-140. so then we have extra for the guest to have seconds if they like and to there is some left for us to have for dinner the next few nights we are home.

Hmmmm I'm stressed just reading this. I'm off to a 400-500 person Korean wedding...talk to you folks later

Libragurl I really wanna hear about that wedding!!LOL...post pics please!!

this should be a warning to ladies about the venue minimums. I purposely went with a venue that had a policy where if we didn't meet the minimum guest count we could make it up with other extras...so instead of paying for empty plates you actually get something for your money, like more appetizers or a signature drink butlered around....take into account the minimum requirements when researching venues...I instantly turned down any that said I would be paying for guest that weren't there!

Carol at your venue meeting maybe you could ask them this...tell them you are fine with paying the minimum total they require but you'd appreciate it if they could throw something extra in for your money since you don't have that many guests...can't hurt to ask!

I am actually anticipating our responses as well for this very same reason. The way our venue worked was on a food/drink minimum, not necessarily a minimum headcount. The way we figured things to be was that if we have at least 120 people attend then we will meet the minimum for food/drinks. However if they dont, we plan to add additional things like maybe a butler carving station, additional ice sculpture,etc that will help to eat up the additional needed to meet the minimum. So you may want to ask them if there is anything else that you can substitute for the "empty plates". Be sure to let us know how that goes.