There are just some wedding guests who do not understand the RSVP policy. Yes, it’s a sticky situation when a guest, who did not RSVP, shows up to your wedding. It’s even stickier when that guest brings a date. Where will they sit? Will there be enough food? What do you say?
Take a deep breath because there is a brilliant way of avoiding the awkward encounter: an overflow table. A wedding planner’s secret weapon is only to plan to decorate one extra reception table and add a couple of people to your caterer’s headcount. That way, when Cousin Frank comes and brings a date you’ve never met in your life, they have a place to sit and a dinner to eat.
Also, keep in mind that the last few weeks of planning a wedding are stressful and mistakes are bound to happen. You may forget to add your fiancé’s one friend from high school onto your seating chart. All is fine and dandy until he comes up to you asking where he’s sitting. With an overflow table, all you have to do is apologize, blame the pre-wedding madness and seat him. Even suggest some of his buddies move tables, so he isn’t alone.
The last great benefit of the beloved overflow table is that there are plenty of open seats so people can feel free to move chairs if they find their table is too crowded. Or there is always that one aunt who thinks the music is too loud where she is seated, and finds the night far more comfortable on the other side of the room.
So, let’s face the facts. The overflow table may cost you a little extra, but the ability to avoid all sticky seating situations with your guests makes one extra table worth it.
