Assigned seats?

Can you compromise on assigned tables? In general guests need assigned places to sit because otherwise they'll mill around and be uncomfortable. Assigned tables or seats give the sense of direction people need to move into reception correctly. Also in general you need 15-20% more seats if doing unassigned and if you're paying per chair that's a lot.

Tell him it will be more expensive to not assign tables because you’ll need more tables/chairs/place settings than guests.

Assigned tables is better. Because it's giving some organization but yet also letting people choose where to sit within the table

I agree with previous posters. Assigned tables is a good compromise. It's so awkward as a guest when you don't have any assignment at all. Then you are walking around hoping you find your friends but if that table is full you end up stuck at a random table of people who also couldn't find their friends. My literal worst nightmare haha.

I was originally going to assign tables, but then decided it wasn't worth the stress. So we let everyone sit where they wanted, and there was no chaos.

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Not always true. We didn't supply extra things and everyone found seats just fine.

It's very stressful for me when I don't have an assigned place. I was uncomfortable *at our rehearsal dinner* because we did not have a specific seating plan, and I did not know where/with whom I was going to sit (other than H). Save your guests the stress of figuring out themselves and assign tables.

View Quoted Comment I’m glad it worked out for you! As a guest it’s always been very stressful in my experience and I’ve seen people leave an empty seat between people they didn’t know.

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I had this same experience. At weddings I've been to without a seating chart and no extra seats, there was a lot of chaos. I've personally never experienced chaos at a wedding that assigned tables/seats.

I agree with PP about the chaos, but I think it can really depend. It depends on how much extra space you have, and what kind of wedding you're having. If you're having an informal more chill wedding with a buffet and lots of extra space for tables and chairs, then there's nothing wrong with no seating chart. If it's going to be a more formal event with more space restrictions then table assignments are best. Even tho they are totally stressful at the get-go, it makes things go more smoothly in the end

We're not assigning seat, and neither did the last two weddings I went to. It was not stressful for anyone that I could tell.

I was married once before and never did assigned seats there was no chaos and less stress on us. I'm also not doing assigned seats or tables for this wedding. Actually I have only been to one wedding that had assigned tables. There was never any problems.

You are getting mixed opinions here so I think what it comes down to is: how big is the wedding?

Mine is 250 and I still feel strongly it would be chaos trying to find seats.
My friend is having 75 and I think it would be fine.