So first off, we're idiots, but no judgement, please! Slightly stressed....
When we booked our venue (not a registry office), they said that we could have 70 guests at the ceremony, no problem. Sent out our Save the dates etc.
Our supplier, who we are renting chairs from, flagged to us that it wasn't just how many people could fit into the room physically, but there would be a capacity number on the venue licence that we'd need to stick to.
Spoke to the venue "it will be fine! But we'll follow up". A few months later. "Oh, it says 56....well we don't mind, stick with 70, the registrar won't check".
Now we are getting closer to the day, we are really nervous. We have to tell the registrar office the number of guests!
My research suggests the number on the licence is to do with fire regs, which the venue are happy to flout.
What I'm not clear on is:
-does the registrar care and will they check numbers? Or is the venue responsible for this. I know registrars are strict on their own premises. But I'm not clear if they will check in approved venues or leave it to the venue.
-has anyone been at a ceremony at an approved venue and seen a registrar count guests or has anyone been at an approved venue where guests have been asked to leave the ceremony room?