On inviting guests...

[cheezums]

I think this is the most stressful part of wedding planning.
5 months to go before our wedding, so hindi pa polished yung guest list namin. 150 guests kami, pero almost 10 pax yung sobra sa list. For sure naman not ALL will say yes, so as it gets closer we are sure we can slot in yung sobrang guests. Are you inviting the yaya's? We are not, sa friends and family pa lang hirap na kami pagkasyahin eh.   We have kiddie tables for our 8 kids entourage which came in for free na from our caterer, other kids not invited. Kami na rin magprovide ng kiddie meals nila (Mcdo Kiddie meal w/ toy) so it can be served in advance, suggestion din ng caterer yun.

Sa ninongs & ninangs naman, we might have 6 ninangs and 5 ninongs lang, it is ok kaya? Wala na talaga kami mapipiga hehe. And a spouse of one of the godparents we need to place sa VIP table din, though hindi sya godparent. It's so complicated! Hayyyy.  Wala pa kami sa seat assignments, nakakaloka.

[belle_v2g]

^sis, it's advisable din na all the partners (wives/hubbies) of PS should seat beside them sa vip table.

Ok lang din to exceed the count. Madaming nag ye yes sa rsvp na hindi dumadating on the day. Kahit oo ng oo sayo sa chat or text.

[Purple_Power]

^I totally agree, nangyayari yan. Yung tipong you are already expecting na yung nagsay YES will surelly go pero magugulat ka na lang minsan ilan pa silang gumawa nun? Nag organize ako ng eyeball at talagang nasanay na rin ako dyan na sasabihin pupunta biglang sa mismong araw na yun hindi pala.

cheezums that is the importance for having reserved seats indicated and this is to limit to invite Yayas. In fact you are not even obliged to invite the kids but because you want it, inviting Yayas are not necessary ni hindi nga recommended eh! Kasi wedding naman yan not children's party.

I am planning a bday party at hindi wedding kahit ako I didn't consider Yaya or like a third person kasi I am confident naman na one of parents can feed the kid. Unless the spouse is not available then that is the only time I can consider Yaya.

[corpse_bride]

I'm seriously irked when people bring along their yayas in events na alam naman nilang may headcount (weddings, non-kiddie parties). Buti sana if part sila ng immediate family na mag-aasikaso ng guests or may role sila (entourage, offertory). Ok lang din if wala yung isang parent, alangan naman iwan mo sa seatmate mo diba. How would you decline (plain) guests if they asked?

[yannuh]

medyo off topic mga sis. I have a question lang, kasi sa mga guests ko ay may mga kasamang 1-3 yr old babies sila. Since hindi kasama sa headcount, pano yung chairs nun? Kasama ba sila or ikakandong lang sila? HAHA. Wala akong kids table kaya parents pa din nila kasama nila. Sorry ang noob ng question. Thanks:)

[bonzaigirl]

medyo off topic mga sis. I have a question lang, kasi sa mga guests ko ay may mga kasamang 1-3 yr old babies sila. Since hindi kasama sa headcount, pano yung chairs nun? Kasama ba sila or ikakandong lang sila? HAHA. Wala akong kids table kaya parents pa din nila kasama nila. Sorry ang noob ng question. Thanks:)

Do they have a pram or stroller where they can be placed?  If and kung hindi kayo nag avail ng kiddie table just ask your caterer if they can bring high chairs as well. The last wedding that i've attended,  no kiddie tables were also provided, but it was a good thing that they didn't fill the whole table with guests. Yun lang talaga na magkakakilala. Then they took the extra chairs and placed the kids there. Mahirap kasi ang mag kandong ng kids lalo na kung medyo malaki and makulit na. If kung baby pa, pwedi pa yun ilagay sa pram.

[yannuh]

Thanks sis, yung mga 3 yo bagets, wala na sigurong stroller. Can i request for extra chairs (not necessarily high chair) na lang sa caterer kahit 150 pax lang ang nireserve ko? TIA!

[bonzaigirl]

You have to speak to the caterer about it sis. Ask as well if there are any additional charges for extra high chairs. at least hindi ka masurprise for additional payments on the day of your wedding

[yannuh]

Alright, sige I will ask my caterers about these things nga. Thanks sis bonzaigirl!♥

[Maxim04]

Mga sis ask ko kayo, is it our responsibility to book the hotel for the guests na manggagaling sa malayo? Reservations? Shuttle? 

[sparklingjewel]

Wala pa kami sa seat assignments, nakakaloka.

Sis i was advised na hindi naman talaga fully magagawa to ng maaga. Kasi it will depend on the final RSVP and who is going and how they are related to the others who are going hehe kailangan ok pagsamahin sa table. This will keep changing if you plan it this early all the way until you get the final RSVP. And true, sometimes yung nagYES hindi parin pupunta magsasabi only days before kaya shuffle ka ulit...
5 months to go din ako pero we'll plan this after we get the RSVPs in November. Will start sending out the invites in October. I wanted nga earlier kaso they said the farther it is from the actual date the more people are uncertain of their response sa RSVP.

Mga sis ask ko kayo, is it our responsibility to book the hotel for the guests na manggagaling sa malayo? Reservations? Shuttle? 

Tagaytay bride here-- I'm providing 2 nights accommodation & shouldering all meals sa hotel of my female ento, immediate relatives, cousins and friends, only people I am related to and/or close to. Choose a value-for-money hotel, i think they will still appreciate it kesa wala. Laking inconvenience na kasi sa kanila to go far so i think expected nadin naman to. Im providing vans for my balikbayan relatives as they have no cars here, but the rest like my ento have their own naman.

[bonzaigirl]

Mga sis ask ko kayo, is it our responsibility to book the hotel for the guests na manggagaling sa malayo? Reservations? Shuttle? 

Personally, no.  Accomodations are not your responsibility.  Unless very close family and friends.  Even sa close family and friends, if you have the means, and you think na you can give it to them as  a treat that's good.  Transportation, maybe. If you are having a destination wedding, preferably especially if they are not familiar with the place and have no local transport.  What my friends did was    that they scouted for nice and affordable hotel accomodations near their venue, then they asked for a discounted rate. They included the hotel accomodations in their invites plus the rates. So claro na guests will be the looking for their accomodations.
For our wedding, it's a 3day 2night affair.  We will be shouldering board and lodging  for our our immediate relatives and my best friends who are part of the entourage. They also did that to us during their respective weddings. Pero sa iba I've already given word na they will be shouldering their own. I will provide transport to and from church and vice versa until nighttime for those whose hotels are nearby.

[kayce]

Hi sis bonzaigirl!
Your reception will be in Balay Indang, right? May I know the hotels near Balay so I can recommend them to my guests as well?
Thanks!

[anneshirley]

Mga sis ask ko kayo, is it our responsibility to book the hotel for the guests na manggagaling sa malayo? Reservations? Shuttle? 

Hey Maxim04, it largely depends on your wedding and how much you think it'll be needed by your guests. I wouldn't call it our responsibility per se, but it's more of a nice gesture. Like what bonzaigirl said, you can scout around for hotels in the vicinity that offer group rates.

That's what I'll be doing for my wedding: the church and reception venue are relatively close to one another and thankfully there are a lot of hotels in the area. I'm requesting for group rates from the hotel we're holding our reception in and a less expensive hotel chain so my guests have options. But for my family, I'm definitely footing the bill for their accommodation.

Transport-wise, we will have shuttles going to the church and to the reception venue for everyone but this is mostly because no one has their own car.

[bonzaigirl]

Hi sis bonzaigirl!
Your reception will be in Balay Indang, right? May I know the hotels near Balay so I can recommend them to my guests as well?
Thanks!

Are you also a Balay Indang bride? hehe.. so you're also a kooky bride hehe.  Actually there's not much hotels that are quite nearby, like walking distance near. But if they have transport, the nearest ones would be those in the vicinity of Mahogany Market. Taal Vista hotel, Summit ridge, Joaquin's bed and breakfast.  Or they can also stay in Balay Indang. They can opt for a dinner and breakfast or the most expensive one. The only problem with Balay Indang is that it's a per person rate. Kaya it maybe more expensive. hehe.

[kayce]

Yes, sis bonzaigirl.
Feb 2016 wedding in Balay.
Thanks for the suggestions. I will actually suggest to  my guests na magstay na din sa Balay. Para less hassle sa pagtravel. Pero for those who don't feel like staying there, it would be nice kung makakapagbigay din ako ng other options. 
Thanks again!

[Maxim04]

Sis sparklingjewel, actually napaisip lang ako kasi yung isang family ng relative namin will be coming from manila pa, somewhere antipolo ata yun. Yung anak nia ang nagprisintang abay ko, edi sige nalang. Then nung hotel booking na, initially she said they will book their own. Then last week medyo parang d "maganda" mood niya nung sinabi ko na hindi ko sila binook ng hotel na overnight as they are expecting. Sort of miscommunication naman.

Sis bonzaigirl yun ang term correct ka diyan! Nice gesture siya hehe. Pero kasi naisip ko na kung yung ibang relative ibobook ko, might as well i should book for everyone na coming from the province, na hindi naman afford na sa budget..  actually they "invited themselves", and i dont know how are they gonna come to my wedding since alam naman nila na limited seats ako. They are 2nd degree relatives pa nga and pamangkin sa pinsan pa yung iba.  stress talaga n guestlist! tee hee!

[sparklingjewel]

^True, it is not your responsibility sis. Pero mukhang sa Pinoy culture, pag close relatives and OOT wedding, they tend to expect that they will be billeted in a room. Depends nalang sayo if this is what you want to do or not. Ako, sa close relatives lang and ento.

[Maxim04]

^agree sis. Nasa pinoy culture. I opted not to book an overnight hotel nalang para fair na rin sa iba na hindi ko mabobook. Surely magkakaron ng tampuhan yan kapag yung isang family nagprovide ako then sa kabila hindi. Being invited naman sa wedding is 50-50, if you really want to go, ikaw na gagawa ng paraan para hindi magcreate ng hassle sa couple. Papakainin ka na nga, sila pa magprovide ng bed and transpo plus plus. Sabi nga nila e test of friendship na din, hahaha! Mahalaga, makapunta. No buts, no maybes. 

[belle_v2g]

Mga sis ask ko kayo, is it our responsibility to book the hotel for the guests na manggagaling sa malayo? Reservations? Shuttle? 

are you having an oot wedding sis? my wedding is in manila, I only shouldered the van for my immediate family and other guests from my province. hubby's from manila and we also shouldered his family's van. for other guests coming from far away lands (quezon province, bataan, bulacan, tuguegarao) apparently they have their own auto naman. but for the comfort of my entourage esp for the ones na malalayo, we booked a separate hotel room for them.