Assigned seating or unassigned seating with catering

I would definitely recommend a seating chart

View Quoted Comment Where I'm stuck with that is I don't want people to be upset and cause a scene because of where they are sitting.

View Quoted Comment Seat people with others they know and reasonably like and you'll be fine. After dinner is done people can and will move around to visit with others. You're more likely to get drama if people are left to there own devices and want to squeeze in an extra chair or two at a table, or a couple comes in at the end of seating and can't find two chairs together

Go with a seating chart. No rational adult is going to cause a scene over where they're sitting.

Hopefully you are not inviting people who would make a scene if they didn't like their seating assignment.

Having assigned seating works best for the guests and the caterer. Left to their own devices, people do not seat themselves efficiently. They leave one empty seat between two groups of three at a table for eight. A family of 4 may not be able to find 4 empty seats together.

You don't have to assign the seat, just the table. Use escort cards that guests place in front of their setting to indicate their choice of entree.

View Quoted Comment I doubt they would, seat people with either other family or friends they know. That will help.

I definitely suggest a seating chart. This really helps the catering staff execute the dinner service. When you tell people pick their own seats there is a big chance things will get mixed up. What if a person starts in one seat and moves to another? That could be a whole mess.

I understand your concern about people complaining they don’t like who they are sitting with but that’s why you seat them with people they already know. Normally theirs only 1 maybe 2 table that have the odd groups (singles table or Colleg and Coworkers table). Also remember that you can’t please everyone but you can make sure they get the right food.

I think a seating chart—at least by table—is advisable. It makes it less chaotic. We did have place cards and one person swapped (for across the table...husband’s brother, who I made a special point of seating next to him).

I agree with most others who have said that you should at the very least have a seating chart for the tables. Otherwise, things can get messy, fast.

View Quoted Comment What she said.
I wasn’t going to do a seating chart but I think it will be necessary For the “middle school cafeteria” reason. People don’t sit with their SO , some leave early if they can’t sit together. People go in early to save spots etc. also to keep family that doesn’t like each other away from one another.

As a guest, I way appreciate a seating chart. It takes away so much stress. I don’t have to do the awkward song and dance of finding enough seats for whoever I’m with, asking around to figure out if seats are taken, etc. The dinner portion is only a small chunk of the night, so I don’t really care where I end up as long as I get some food!! Haha

Assigning tables is definitely necessary! Often times, caterers will have a list of how many meal selections at each table, along with the place cards of meal assignments. For example, they’ll know that table #5 has three chicken entrees, four beef entrees, and one vegetarian entree. Not assigning tables will make it so much harder on the catering team and will probably take longer for food to be served.

I would suggest at least assigning tables for efficient seating. I had to figure out tables for 25 people. My caterer asked if I wanted to reserve two specific seats for FH and I. We aren't doing a head or sweetheart table. I decided against it because then I would have had to assign seats for 1/3 the guests. It wasn't worth the hassle.

I am all for a seating chart.
I attended a few weddings and it was open seating. It was do unorganized and mass chaos!!

I would absolutely do a seating chart

We are doing assigned seating only for close family members, older family and the bridal party. Mainly because its two story.

I would 100% assign seating! I've been to unassigned weddings and it's kind of a nightmare, especially with lots of people. Generally, there are guests who are from out of town so they don't know anyone else at your wedding. So they feel awkward and don't know who to sit with. Then for larger groups that want to sit together (families, college friends, etc.) they don't know how to split up their group if it's too hard for one table. It takes WAY longer to sit down, and is just too much. I think you don't have to assign exact seats, but assigning people to a specific table is always nice.

Definitely not looking forward to it however will be assigning seating by tables.