Worried about no-shows on the day

We had four people drop out in the week leading up to the wedding - one couple with an absolute airtight reason, and then two others with ridiculous excuses. All I can say is this: don't worry about it. On the day you really won't care! One of ours was so last minute dropping out that her place was still set at the table, but it was really not a big deal. It just meant that her boyfriend got 2 glasses of wine with his meal ?

If people don't turn up on the day without a good reason they will be getting an invoice!

Ha ha. This!

Owing to a sudden illness associated with a longer term problem, my Boy's parents had to drop out very late - we only knew for certain they weren't coming a couple of days before. One of my friends and her husband had dropped out a couple of weeks before - they were late on in a difficult pregnancy. Things like illness and emergencies can't be helped and you simply can't let it ruin your run up to the day - that's a little self-absorbed, to be honest.

My venue were brilliant. We had managed to change the table plan cards for my friends but not for my PILs. The venue made sure there were no gaps, no awkwardness. And some lucky people got extra dinner (although that in no way makes up for the absences!).

People not turning up on the day, well, you are right to feel annoyed if that happens (although, again, it could be for perfectly valid reasons so try not to stress). However, you won't notice (for too long, anyway) and, in my experience at other weddings, venues are very quick to re-lay tables, remove chairs and so on, especially when prompted by the guests at the table to do so (nobody wants to have an empty chair at dinner). I wouldn't worry about trying to fiddle with a table plan at that late stage.

I knew some people who had accepted wouldn't be coming as people did start to drop out in the immediate run-up. I didn't really care (although obviously was sad for the people who had illness/death in the family etc), and certainly didn't bother changing the table plan. There will be 'gaps' anyway as people tend to mingle between courses and swap tables etc to chat so it's far less noticeable than you think. People just used the empty chair to put their bags etc on and enjoyed the extra food/wine rations!

No-one showed up as an 'extra'... or if they did, someone else dealt with it, I never noticed!

Thank you for the reassurance, particuarly around the venue covering up the empty seats, that's good to hear.

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Just a response to people dropping out before the day and thus, ruining the run up. I meant, although it wasn't clear, that people dropping out in advance are likely to have informed you and likely to have legitimate reasons (or, at least, invent a legitimate reason). Therefore, if it ruins the run up, it's because you aren't giving them the benefit of the doubt.

It wasn't intended to be harsh.

There may be a few no-shows, but people don't usually pull out without a good reason, and it's not something that should ruin your day.

My OH's grandparents were "maybe" right up until the day of the wedding - we just didn't know if his Gran would be well enough to come, and his Grandpa couldn't leave her on her own. We made two different versions of the top table plan to accommodate this. In the end they couldn't make it, but sent a letter with OH's parents, which our BM read out as part of his speech.

Then one of our ushers was not sure for most of the final week whether she would be able to come as she was having a lot of relationship difficulties and didn't think she could face being around on such a happy occasion. So we had to draft in a back-up usher (OH's ex...) and again make two sets of table plans, but in the end she did come, which was great.

Then finally, on the Friday afternoon, I got a text from one of my friends saying she was sick and might not be able to make it. Turns out she'd been in hospital half the week with hyperemesis gravidarum, but hadn't told anyone she was pregnant yet! Fortunately, she did manage to make it although they left early as she was knackered.

We had a full house!

This is my worst nightmare!! At my MIL wedding there was a whole table of people who just didn't bother turning up!! I'm hoping that our family and friends will be from a list where we mean more to them than free food and drink so will make every effort to turn up! The thought does scare me though

We had a few drop out. One of the most laughable reasons was the husband had a fly bite on his leg the day before and it had swollen up... I KID YOU NOT!!!

Grrrrrrrrr

Nat