Assigned seating or open seating is the ???

I'm 100% pro assigned tables. You don't need to assign exact seats. Unless you are having like 10-15 people, open seating can get very chaotic. People never seat themselves evenly, so you need extra seating, and you also just generally run the risk of families and friend groups getting separated. Also, if different drama situations are making it difficult to arrange the seating, open seating can make it a powder keg.

Nearly all of the past posts on this topic suggest assigning guests to a table and let them pick the seat. Otherwise you will have pandemonium and guests experiencing ptsd from the high school cafeteria.

View Quoted Comment At this point I’m over it and I dnt want the headache …I’m gonna sit Saturday and finish it …

I honestly can't stand open seating. I can't begin to describe the anxiety of being a wedding guest and searching for all my friends (if I know anyone) there and then trying to find a table with enough vacancies for us all. Even worse when you don't know anyone at a wedding!

Our wedding is in December and I am going to start doing my seating charts as the RSVPs come in to avoid this exact thing happening re last minute stress - it seems to be quite common and very unnerving! Good luck!

View Quoted Comment What I did was write every couple (or single person) on an index card. Then, I organized each card into groups of people who know each other. With the people that didn't really fit into an even table group, I put them with people that I thought they may get along with. It took my husband and I about an hour to organize it that way. Don't overthink it. Sit people with who they know. If they don't know a lot of people, sit them with those who may have a common interest or two.

I know it can be aggravating and stressful creating a seating chart, but I highly suggest you keep at it and make one.

We went to a wedding that had open seating and it was a nightmare. Us and our whole friend group didn't get to sit down once, from the ceremony till the sparkler send-off.

I'm all for open seating all day every day. I've never been one to like the option of assigning seats because you don't know how every guest is going to feel sitting with people you assigned them to site at a table with. Then always end up with that couple who is uncomfortable because they are sitting at a table with people who you thought they'd hit it off but actually didn't. I'd much rather my guest make their own choice in the matter.

Assigned seating/tables hands down! If you do open seating then that may also end up costing more because you will need more tables, since guests won't be able to magically break themselves up into groups of 8 or however many fit at a table.

Assign tables. You don't have to assign seats (although I found it super helpful to place guests in seats to visualize how the tables might work) but you should give them a general guide as to where to sit. WW's seating chart tool is super helpful!

Depending on your venue layout, table options, and number of guests, you also might find it easier to have one or two extra tables and have tables with some open spots or uneven numbers rather than trying to make your 100 guests fit exactly at ten 10-person tables for example. It can help avoid splitting up groups or making awkward groupings when you have a little bit of leeway to add an extra chair here or have an open seat there.

This was the worst part for me as well. Once it’s done you will feel so relieved. I did seating chart and place cards at each seat. We are serving plates dinner (chicken and fish) and I wanted the servers to know exactly where the people with dietary restrictions sat. good luck!