Unexpected Cancellation

I am learning a very pricey lesson in wedding planning. I was so certain on the number of guests coming to the wedding, as both Tom and I have confirmed and reconfirmed and 3rd time confirmed on who is coming and who is not. This week, I had 6 guests cancelled on me. I have no problem with the guests who experienced death in their own family. Of course, it is sudden; of course, it cannot be help; of course, we understand. But for those that are not life and death reason, it is very difficult for me to accept this type of flakiness.

It is one thing to not RSVP and not reconfirm, but why wait until five days before the wedding to cancel out on me with some lame excuse. Who in this world doesn’t understand the fact that the wedding couple must submit a minimum number of guests to the venue two weeks prior to the wedding and bound by contract to pay for this regardless of show or no show??? Sure, if it is a buffet style, or something less casual, it may be fine.

But when it is a 4-course full meal white gloves service, at $200 per person, with table setting for a small group of only 60 guests, that is just plain inconsiderate. What am I suppose to do? Leave the seats empty or try to find last minute guests to backfill. It isn't like I can just grab someone off the street to do this. So now, I am still working on the sitting chart, and rearrange the table assignment when I should be wrapping up the loose ends and wait for the big day.

It never crossed my mind that I would encounter this kind of difficulty. I didn’t think I would need to reevaluate the kind of friendships I have at this point in my life, but apparently I should. It isn’t like I am just throwing a birthday party, it is a wedding. And I don’t plan on doing it a second time!!!! Yes, I am still fuming.

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P.S. 3 hours later after this original post. I am feeling more OK now and not as mad. Of course, it helps that I have some single friends that are finding a psudo-date to fill those spots rather than going to waste.