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JBloggs

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For those who offer Elopement Packages, how do you handle any extra guests who show up for the ceremony?
lightbulb.gif

ie if you state Maximum 4 or 6 guests including the bride and groom, what do you do if 5 or 10 extra people show up? Do you charge per person? How do you handle this? Once they are there it would not be easy to send them away, esp since it is a special event. Do you restrict them to the outside grounds only, or ?
 
Been worried about that from day one, have not had it happen yet and not sure what I would do if they did.

What we do when someone ASKS is say that this is not an Elopement but is a small wedding. We do charge more as there is always issues with a larger group. 1) we must get a larger cake (our elope cake serves 4), 2) they arrive early 3)they stay late 4) they take photos messing up MY photos
I must plan and sometimes we have more than 1 wedding in a day. So as I am typing this I am trouble shooting this. I may just add a statement in our confirmation with a large fee for unexpected guests. Money talks!
 
Thanks Copperhead. They are not trying to be bad, but good. They want to be there and make it special, so it is difficult to penalize people, if they just show up. So I am thinking the wording needs to be stiff and of course the additional fee. But in reality we don't want the fee because we don't want the extra people at all, as you said, it becomes a small wedding vs an elopement.
 
How about similar to an extra person room rate? Restricted to 6 people. (more than 6 will be subject to an extra charge.) Then you can charge for the bigger cake and more coffee.
 
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
 
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom..
Click to expand...
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
I do not. My package includes the room for the night so they have a bathroom available. My package is limited to max of 4 so the bathroom for their room is THE bathroom to be used (unless I am feeling generous and no incoming to need the shared bathroom - it would not need that much).
 
TheBeachHouse said:
How about similar to an extra person room rate? Restricted to 6 people. (more than 6 will be subject to an extra charge.) Then you can charge for the bigger cake and more coffee..
Click to expand...
TheBeachHouse said:
How about similar to an extra person room rate? Restricted to 6 people. (more than 6 will be subject to an extra charge.) Then you can charge for the bigger cake and more coffee.
Click to expand...
We don't want to do weddings, only elopements. That is the whole things, weddings can be nightmares. Been there done that year one...We don't actually want an extra person charge, because it is an elopement not a wedding.
 
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom..
Click to expand...
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Which is why ours is limited to the two with the outside room entrances. But, again, we don't want more people.
 
Joey Bloggs said:
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom..
Click to expand...
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Which is why ours is limited to the two with the outside room entrances. But, again, we don't want more people.
.
Click to expand...
Joey Bloggs said:
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Which is why ours is limited to the two with the outside room entrances. But, again, we don't want more people.
Click to expand...
thumbs_up.gif

We'll reevaluate our 8 person max later this year and see if it's worth it.
 
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom..
Click to expand...
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
This is where I think problems might arise. Supposedly, food cannot be served in a place where there is no access to a restroom. Unless the person has a food cart which is totally self-contained. Around here food carts are required to have hand washing sinks. (Essentially a sink attached to nothing that drains onto the sidewalk. Most carts don't even provide the employees with water to wash with anyway.) Not sure where the dividing line is in re serving food.
 
Madeleine said:
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom..
Click to expand...
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
This is where I think problems might arise. Supposedly, food cannot be served in a place where there is no access to a restroom. Unless the person has a food cart which is totally self-contained. Around here food carts are required to have hand washing sinks. (Essentially a sink attached to nothing that drains onto the sidewalk. Most carts don't even provide the employees with water to wash with anyway.) Not sure where the dividing line is in re serving food.
.
Click to expand...
Madeleine said:
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
This is where I think problems might arise. Supposedly, food cannot be served in a place where there is no access to a restroom. Unless the person has a food cart which is totally self-contained. Around here food carts are required to have hand washing sinks. (Essentially a sink attached to nothing that drains onto the sidewalk. Most carts don't even provide the employees with water to wash with anyway.) Not sure where the dividing line is in re serving food.
Click to expand...
Yes we do, but we won't be offering it. That is what I am saying. If you go into the analytic side of doing anything you will never do it.
We aren't serving food other than purchased. But I digress. Nothing worth doing is easy.
After ten years we need to up the game and do something different. Step across the threshold and work smarter not harder. This is what I am all about. I will give anything and everything a try to see if it is compatible with our inn/innkeepers.
Throwing in the towel is not an option. We now have a new B&B opening in town a couple blocks from us (here is today's paper). I am sure they will use us to emulate on just about everything, I am expecting it. I hope we are apples and oranges, or I hope that they will put $ and effort into marketing so for once we can reap the benefits, vs this inn marketing for everyone else. :)
Either way, we don't want weddings, only elopements!
heart.gif

 
Joey Bloggs said:
Madeleine said:
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom..
Click to expand...
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
This is where I think problems might arise. Supposedly, food cannot be served in a place where there is no access to a restroom. Unless the person has a food cart which is totally self-contained. Around here food carts are required to have hand washing sinks. (Essentially a sink attached to nothing that drains onto the sidewalk. Most carts don't even provide the employees with water to wash with anyway.) Not sure where the dividing line is in re serving food.
.
Click to expand...
Madeleine said:
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
This is where I think problems might arise. Supposedly, food cannot be served in a place where there is no access to a restroom. Unless the person has a food cart which is totally self-contained. Around here food carts are required to have hand washing sinks. (Essentially a sink attached to nothing that drains onto the sidewalk. Most carts don't even provide the employees with water to wash with anyway.) Not sure where the dividing line is in re serving food.
Click to expand...
Yes we do, but we won't be offering it. That is what I am saying. If you go into the analytic side of doing anything you will never do it.
We aren't serving food other than purchased. But I digress. Nothing worth doing is easy.
After ten years we need to up the game and do something different. Step across the threshold and work smarter not harder. This is what I am all about. I will give anything and everything a try to see if it is compatible with our inn/innkeepers.
Throwing in the towel is not an option. We now have a new B&B opening in town a couple blocks from us (here is today's paper). I am sure they will use us to emulate on just about everything, I am expecting it. I hope we are apples and oranges, or I hope that they will put $ and effort into marketing so for once we can reap the benefits, vs this inn marketing for everyone else. :)
Either way, we don't want weddings, only elopements!
heart.gif

.
Click to expand...
Ready to go by May...good luck! The place looks like it needs tons of work. They must be dreaming..or can pay really big bucks for contractors. I don't know about your part of VA, but here it would take that long to get someone to come out and even give an estimate :-(
 
Joey Bloggs said:
Madeleine said:
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom..
Click to expand...
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
This is where I think problems might arise. Supposedly, food cannot be served in a place where there is no access to a restroom. Unless the person has a food cart which is totally self-contained. Around here food carts are required to have hand washing sinks. (Essentially a sink attached to nothing that drains onto the sidewalk. Most carts don't even provide the employees with water to wash with anyway.) Not sure where the dividing line is in re serving food.
.
Click to expand...
Madeleine said:
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
This is where I think problems might arise. Supposedly, food cannot be served in a place where there is no access to a restroom. Unless the person has a food cart which is totally self-contained. Around here food carts are required to have hand washing sinks. (Essentially a sink attached to nothing that drains onto the sidewalk. Most carts don't even provide the employees with water to wash with anyway.) Not sure where the dividing line is in re serving food.
Click to expand...
Yes we do, but we won't be offering it. That is what I am saying. If you go into the analytic side of doing anything you will never do it.
We aren't serving food other than purchased. But I digress. Nothing worth doing is easy.
After ten years we need to up the game and do something different. Step across the threshold and work smarter not harder. This is what I am all about. I will give anything and everything a try to see if it is compatible with our inn/innkeepers.
Throwing in the towel is not an option. We now have a new B&B opening in town a couple blocks from us (here is today's paper). I am sure they will use us to emulate on just about everything, I am expecting it. I hope we are apples and oranges, or I hope that they will put $ and effort into marketing so for once we can reap the benefits, vs this inn marketing for everyone else. :)
Either way, we don't want weddings, only elopements!
heart.gif

.
Click to expand...
"After ten years we need to up the game and do something different. Step across the threshold and work smarter not harder. This is what I am all about. I will give anything and everything a try to see if it is compatible with our inn/innkeepers."
My sentiments exactly! After stepping back and analyzing what to do differently, we came up with these Elopement/Small Weddings. Will it work? I don't know, but I have to try. Not only to bring in revenue, but to keep things fresh for us as innkeepers. Times change, and so must I.
 
Birdie said:
Joey Bloggs said:
Madeleine said:
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom..
Click to expand...
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
This is where I think problems might arise. Supposedly, food cannot be served in a place where there is no access to a restroom. Unless the person has a food cart which is totally self-contained. Around here food carts are required to have hand washing sinks. (Essentially a sink attached to nothing that drains onto the sidewalk. Most carts don't even provide the employees with water to wash with anyway.) Not sure where the dividing line is in re serving food.
.
Click to expand...
Madeleine said:
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
This is where I think problems might arise. Supposedly, food cannot be served in a place where there is no access to a restroom. Unless the person has a food cart which is totally self-contained. Around here food carts are required to have hand washing sinks. (Essentially a sink attached to nothing that drains onto the sidewalk. Most carts don't even provide the employees with water to wash with anyway.) Not sure where the dividing line is in re serving food.
Click to expand...
Yes we do, but we won't be offering it. That is what I am saying. If you go into the analytic side of doing anything you will never do it.
We aren't serving food other than purchased. But I digress. Nothing worth doing is easy.
After ten years we need to up the game and do something different. Step across the threshold and work smarter not harder. This is what I am all about. I will give anything and everything a try to see if it is compatible with our inn/innkeepers.
Throwing in the towel is not an option. We now have a new B&B opening in town a couple blocks from us (here is today's paper). I am sure they will use us to emulate on just about everything, I am expecting it. I hope we are apples and oranges, or I hope that they will put $ and effort into marketing so for once we can reap the benefits, vs this inn marketing for everyone else. :)
Either way, we don't want weddings, only elopements!
heart.gif

.
Click to expand...
"After ten years we need to up the game and do something different. Step across the threshold and work smarter not harder. This is what I am all about. I will give anything and everything a try to see if it is compatible with our inn/innkeepers."
My sentiments exactly! After stepping back and analyzing what to do differently, we came up with these Elopement/Small Weddings. Will it work? I don't know, but I have to try. Not only to bring in revenue, but to keep things fresh for us as innkeepers. Times change, and so must I.
.
Click to expand...
I saw this today, as a matter of fact:
What everybody ought to know about comfort zones
the final lines along what you just said Birdie - -
Get strategic.
Embrace change.
Seek improvement.
Work smarter.
Just don’t carry on doing the same things, expecting things to magically improve. To paraphrase Einstein, insanity is repeating the same experiment and expecting different results.
 
Joey Bloggs said:
Birdie said:
Joey Bloggs said:
Madeleine said:
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom..
Click to expand...
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
This is where I think problems might arise. Supposedly, food cannot be served in a place where there is no access to a restroom. Unless the person has a food cart which is totally self-contained. Around here food carts are required to have hand washing sinks. (Essentially a sink attached to nothing that drains onto the sidewalk. Most carts don't even provide the employees with water to wash with anyway.) Not sure where the dividing line is in re serving food.
.
Click to expand...
Madeleine said:
Birdie said:
JB, do you have a common area powder room/bathroom?
We decided that if they have any guests at their elopement/small wedding, then the bridal couple must book an overnight stay with us because we don't have a bathroom for them to use to either change before the wedding or if their invited guests need to use a bathroom. The guests will have to use the bridal couple's room if they need to use a bathroom.
Click to expand...
This is where I think problems might arise. Supposedly, food cannot be served in a place where there is no access to a restroom. Unless the person has a food cart which is totally self-contained. Around here food carts are required to have hand washing sinks. (Essentially a sink attached to nothing that drains onto the sidewalk. Most carts don't even provide the employees with water to wash with anyway.) Not sure where the dividing line is in re serving food.
Click to expand...
Yes we do, but we won't be offering it. That is what I am saying. If you go into the analytic side of doing anything you will never do it.
We aren't serving food other than purchased. But I digress. Nothing worth doing is easy.
After ten years we need to up the game and do something different. Step across the threshold and work smarter not harder. This is what I am all about. I will give anything and everything a try to see if it is compatible with our inn/innkeepers.
Throwing in the towel is not an option. We now have a new B&B opening in town a couple blocks from us (here is today's paper). I am sure they will use us to emulate on just about everything, I am expecting it. I hope we are apples and oranges, or I hope that they will put $ and effort into marketing so for once we can reap the benefits, vs this inn marketing for everyone else. :)
Either way, we don't want weddings, only elopements!
heart.gif

.
Click to expand...
"After ten years we need to up the game and do something different. Step across the threshold and work smarter not harder. This is what I am all about. I will give anything and everything a try to see if it is compatible with our inn/innkeepers."
My sentiments exactly! After stepping back and analyzing what to do differently, we came up with these Elopement/Small Weddings. Will it work? I don't know, but I have to try. Not only to bring in revenue, but to keep things fresh for us as innkeepers. Times change, and so must I.
.
Click to expand...
I saw this today, as a matter of fact:
What everybody ought to know about comfort zones
the final lines along what you just said Birdie - -
Get strategic.
Embrace change.
Seek improvement.
Work smarter.
Just don’t carry on doing the same things, expecting things to magically improve. To paraphrase Einstein, insanity is repeating the same experiment and expecting different results.
.
Click to expand...
Joey Bloggs said:
I saw this today, as a matter of fact:
What everybody ought to know about comfort zones
the final lines along what you just said Birdie - -
Get strategic.
Embrace change.
Seek improvement.
Work smarter.
Just don’t carry on doing the same things, expecting things to magically improve. To paraphrase Einstein, insanity is repeating the same experiment and expecting different results.
Click to expand...
thumbs_up.gif

 
Joey Bloggs said:
Thanks Copperhead. They are not trying to be bad, but good. They want to be there and make it special, so it is difficult to penalize people, if they just show up. So I am thinking the wording needs to be stiff and of course the additional fee. But in reality we don't want the fee because we don't want the extra people at all, as you said, it becomes a small wedding vs an elopement..
Click to expand...
Joey Bloggs said:
Thanks Copperhead. They are not trying to be bad, but good. They want to be there and make it special, so it is difficult to penalize people, if they just show up. So I am thinking the wording needs to be stiff and of course the additional fee. But in reality we don't want the fee because we don't want the extra people at all, as you said, it becomes a small wedding vs an elopement.
Click to expand...
Yes, stiff wording to the couple. They are the only ones that could blab it and so being strict and adding a very high fee for over the max will hopefully do the trick.

It is amazing just how many do not know what an elopement is. You may consider adding the definition of elopement to your website (if it is not there).
 
I have died and gone to heaven...
I can order Special Order CAKES online at my local KROGER store! "Build a cake" 8 inch round is the smallest size.
I will go over there and see how they are, they have a great bakery.
 
This is why I would like to allow dogs OFF SITE - this is so adorable!
PS follow that board on Pinterest for photography ideas...and more
 
Joey Bloggs said:
This is why I would like to allow dogs OFF SITE - this is so adorable!
PS follow that board on Pinterest for photography ideas...and more.
Click to expand...
Ok, now you've done it...I'm going to blame you the rest of the day because I've gotten sucked into looking at all the fabulous pinterest pictures!
 

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