Weddingbee boards

So annoyed right now. I have 3 friends who live out of town that RSVP'd a month ago they'd be bringing their husbands. One was also bringing their child. Ok good. Well this week they've all called or text me saying the husbands have to work and aren't coming. They now to plan to carpool and have it be a girls weekend. Ok but I've already paid for these people! The one girl is also not bringing her kid now so there's another empty seat.

FI's cousin's wife also wrote me on FB yesterday saying she couldn't get off work so he'd be attending alone. They also RSVP'd for both of them. Oh and another friend who was suposed to bring her husband and 3 kids. Now she is either coming alone or maybe bringing her brother. Ugh.

We are already having a small wedding. Our final count to caterers was 70 adults. I also know we will probably have a few no shows. I feel like our tables are gonna look so empty. I had this bday party in the 4th grade where no one showed up, not one kid. I'm secretly paranoid it'll be like that.

I get that work stuff comes up but really people, can't you plan ahead? You're figuring out you have to work 3 days before? Plus we already paid for these people! This is just a vent. Of course I'm grateful for all friends who come to celebrate with us.

@CupCakeMeg: No "B" list. FI has a lot of family out of state that can't make it. My family is super tiny. FI isn't very social, his only friends coming are groomsmen, so it's mainly his in state family attending, my immediate family and my friends. We don't have anyone else to invite. It's just annoying the money is wasted and I know there will be empty chairs because I was gonna do 10 tables of 8.

What a frustrating situation. I'm sorry people are so inconsiderate, and that you might lose money on them. 

However, if it's any consolation, I don't think your reception will look empty at all. Even during dinner, all your guests are never going to be seated at the same time. There will always be a few empty chairs for people going to the bathroom, getting a drink, etc.

One of my husband's uncles did this.  We were so annoyed.  We spent easily $250 on food/bar/favors/etc for him, his wife, and child, and they didn't even have the decency to tell us they weren't coming (from Texas!) until we directly asked them what hotel they were staying at for the OOT bags the week of the wedding.  And they never sent a gift (yes, I know gifts aren't required, but I would feel a little less like I was ripped off if they had sent us something).  I honestly don't know how I am going to manage to be civil to them at the holidays. 

Oh, and like chexmixDC said, we did our best to fill the empty slots.  We asked a few of my husband's friends who lived nearby if they wanted to bring their girlfriends, and I invited the roommate of a friend who was attending (someone I was friends with, but not close enough to invite to a small wedding originally).  It was tough for us, because really less than 10 of our guests lived within 2 hours of our wedding destination, but if you have more guests in the area, just let them bring dates, or start inviting less-close friends (particularly if they are dudes, they won't care about not getting invites, it's still a free party).  At least then the food/expense is not wasted.