assigned seating vs open table concept

There have been many topics on this. The general consensus is that assigned tables works best. Otherwise guests are going to be ambling around wondering where to sit. And you have those awkward gaps where no one wants to sit with people they don't know. It's just easier on your guests to assign tables and then they can sit wherever at that table.

We are having assigned tables, not assigned seating. With the amount of family drama that will probably ensue at the wedding, we are better off putting people with whom they will probably not start any drama with. Our guest count is approx. 100.

Also, this will eliminate that hassle of having extra tables/seats. Guests are not going to fill every seat at every table if you leave it up to them on where to sit.

Personally, as a guest, I hate to go to a wedding with open seating. It tends to create a lot of confusion among the guests as to where to sit. Also, if you watch at other weddings, when there is open seating there are always a few people who sit down at a table, get messed up and end up moving to a new table anyway, leaving a not so pretty and welcoming table for the next to sit there.

I am not doing assigned seating. I have never been to a wedding with assigned seating. I would not want people to tell me where to sit. I am pretty sure that my fh's friends would sit wherever they wanted anyways. The only thing I am doing is reserving the 1st table for my mom, dad, and brothers. (Just so people dont think I am a bitch, lol) his mom is unable to come.

Definitely assigned tables at least for a wedding that large. You don't want people feeling like they are walking around in a high school cafeteria. You don't have to do assigned seats unless you are giving options for a plated dinner.

Oh and we r having about 120.

Assigned tables.

Bare in mind, there will still be some folks with a "dur" face not knowing how that whole thing works.

Don't cater to the "dur" people, cater to the "of sound mind, normal people that have been to a wedding at least twice in their lives."

Ok

So assigned tables not seats.

How do i go about letting guest know its assigned by table?

Ive seen a few idea on pinterest where you just write it on a chalk board but how will they know to look at it?

Also where i do start on assigning tables?

Assigned tables. As a guest, it is super annoying to go to a wedding where there is no assignment.

What if you have that one b word aunt who thinks she is better than others.

Start by grouping people together, like work friends sit in the same table, family friends in another. People you think may know each other or find things to talk about should sit in the same table.

As far as how people will know, I think you should place whatever you end up using either by the entrance or by the tables where you know people will for sure see it. If you place table numbers that should let people know that they should probably be looking for a table chart.

I like these ideas from Pinterest, different than the chalkboard charts you always see.

Lol wish i would have put more thought into this alot sooner!!!!

Also my other problem there is a few who said they might bring dates they may or may not bring a kid. So if i seat according to them bringing extra guest or what not and they dont show i have huge gaps

We didn't assign anything. it was a blast and turned out great. we did reserve tables for family and that was it.

I think assigned tables is the best way to go. No need to assign everybody an individual seat, but knowing what table to sit at is definitely helpful.

I'm all for assigned tables. Hubby was best man in his best friend's wedding a few years ago in Dallas and they had a head table and there were no assigned seats. At the end of the ceremony, one of the groomsmen's wife ran up the aisle (yes, she ran) to go into the reception space to get a table so all us wives could sit together. Would have been much simpler to just have an assigned table for guests. It wasn't too crazy, but would have been easier. lol

We're only having approx 45 guests and we're doing assigned tables

You don't have to get super fancy. I DIYed our seating chart. I used the Wedding Wire Seating Chart app on here. I inputted everyone's name (yes, that parts a pain in the butt) but the result was fantastic. I was able to drag and place people to tables, and even name the tables. It was super easy. I used that to then DIY a seating chart. I then printed it on a regular piece of 11x17 paper, and mounted it. I printed/mounted three copies of it, and bought some easels from Bed Bath and Beyond (back near the picture frames/entertainment stuff) to display the chart in random areas of the venue. It worked out fine, and it wasn't expensive.

The top said, "Find your seat and Bon Appetit!" It was super cute. Check out Zazzle or Pinterest for ideas. Most people know now that seating charts are the things they need to find in order to know where they will be sitting.

I am 100% in favour of assigned tables! I can't stress that enough!

Just make a chart of tables and list the names under the table number. Just prop it up on some foam board from Michaels. It's about $3.

Group like people together. Your capital B aunt can sit with her other family members.

Good luck with everything!

We are most definitely doing assigned tables. We have people (the in laws) who need to be sequestered from the normal guests, and we want to make sure that everyone sits with people they know and like. I've been to weddings with open seating, and I'm not a fan. You definitely do feel like you have to RUSH into the reception hall to get a good seat and make sure you save seats for your buddies. It feels very high school cafeteria.

Went to a wedding this weekend that had assigned tables and it worked great! They had a cocktail hour before the ceremony so they had signs up where we could locate our table number. After the ceremony the signs were relocated just outside the reception. It worked so well. This is what we're doing as well!

To answer your question of where to start...the wedding wire seating chart makes it SO easy. You just have to put people at tables and you can more them around until you're happy.

I have little cards that will say each couple on them and they will be in alphabetical order for guests to find on a table when they get there