Post # 1
Member
60 posts
Worker bee
I’ve been desperately trying to find a reception venue large enough to hold our "massive" guest list (our list is about 275, we’re expecting 225 at the most).
With the help of an incredibly valuable (and free so far) resource in the wedding industry, we’ve gotten two potential places. Venue #1 will hold our guests comfortably, but is sadly booked for our weekend and possibly the weekend after (we can’t do it the weekend before).
Venue #2 will hold all of guests reception style, will probably cost us a little more, but is available on our weekend of choice.
From your experience at weddings, would you think it better to try to get venue #1 where everyone will have plenty of seating at a table, just a different date, or should we stick with venue #2 where not everyone will have a seat at a table the entire night, but is available on our weekend?
Post # 3
Member
116 posts
Blushing bee
It depends on if you have already booked other vendors for your original date — will those vendors be available if you change dates? If you haven’t booked other vendors yet or they won’t have a problem switching dates, I’d probably go with venue #1 because I really want everyone at my wedding to have a place to sit.
Also, does the date you chose have special meaning? If so, maybe consider why it has meaning to you and if you will really regret having to change it. If so, then go with venue #2 on your date, or keep looking for another venue that would be available then and has more space for seating. If your date doesn’t have special meaning, I’d still stick with venue #1. Â
Good luck!
Post # 4
Member
8 posts
Newbee
I wouldn’t want a seat for only part of the evening. Out of curiosity — why are you locked into that date or the week after only?
Post # 5
Member
291 posts
Helper bee
I think it depends on what style of reception you want and how devoted to your date you are. We did not have 100% seating, but it was done "cocktail style" with lots to eat and drink, but food stations and passed trays (so plates were small or completely unnecessary). We did make sure that there was physically a chair for each guest, but many did not bother — they jumped from table to table and stood around in groups, and a lot were on the dance floor! We also made sure to have 2 reserved tables for our parents to host, where the older guests had a reserved place. If you are dead-set on a formal sit-down dinner, or full-on buffet, then you probably need the full seating at regular tables.
Post # 6
Member
64 posts
Worker bee
Princesskitty- It’s so awesome to read your comment above! We have a stations type reception planned and I’ve been worried all along that our guests will be upset that there aren’t enough seats for everyone. Glad to see it worked out for you!
In regards to venue choices, the ladies above have pretty much covered it. A lot depends on how much your date means to you and if you’ve booked other vendors. I chose my location based on price. I knew it would not have enough room to seat my 200 guests, but I couldn’t afford the other places! As you can see from Princesskitty’s comment, the venue that is available on your weekend but doesn’t have enough seating could work out fine.
Good luck!
Post # 7
Member
337 posts
Helper bee
Personally I would switch the date so you could have the better of the 2 venues. Unless you have a very good reason why you want that particular date.
Post # 8
Member
60 posts
Worker bee
Thanks everyone. The Fiance has decided that we should stick with our date and choose the venue option available to us. I’m going to visit it in person tomorrow and take pictures of EVERYthing I can… I REALLY want to slide down the spiral staircase and it will take every ounce of self control to not do it!