Assigned Table vs. Assigned Seat

I was just planning on assigning tables. I think we're going to do a buffet so I'm not sure if that makes a difference for your purposes.

Assigned tables all the way. We are also doing a buffet which makes that easier.

Either is fine--as long as you have a seating plan of some sort!

We did assigned tables, mostly because we did a buffet style dinner, so it didn't really matter. If we did a preselected entrée plated meals, i'd have probably assigned seats to help the caterers.

I think assigning seats is far too micro-manage-y. It is important to assign everyone a table so they don't have to wander around like a kid on the first day of middle school, and they can be assured of a place to sit together with whomever they came with. But they can arrange themselves at those tables however they choose.

I'm not sure what you mean by pictures of what we have done. Are you looking for photos of escort cards/place cards/seating chart signs?

We're doing assigned tables. I don't want to micromanage people but I do want to make sure everyone has a spot. We're doing buffet so seating is not really an issue.

Even if you do plated, you can still do assigned tables with escort cards. Usually there is a coding system with pictures or colors on the cards to indicate who gets what dish. Your venue can help you figure that out if you are doing a plated meal.

We're doing seats, it's what our venue prefers for plated meals. Our tables are pretty small as well, 4-5 guests per table so it's mostly families together.

Just assigning tables, we are doing a buffet so assigning seats aren't necessary.

We just assigned tables

Tables .. too much of a headache to assign seats!!

I would definitely assign tables.

I wouldn't feel the need to assign seats unless your venue required to for dinner purposes to know who is getting what meal (but even that can be easily accomplished via color coded table settings or a something similar)

If you're having a buffet I would just assign tables and not worry about it.

I am planning on assigning just tables too.

@StPaulGal, yes, I was referring to escort cards/seating chart signs/methods.

Tables

Thanks everyone! I would really prefer to do assigned tables, but I wasn't sure if one way is more popular or was seen as the "gold standard." My venue was pretty strict about knowing exactly where any minors would be seated (for alcohol serving purposes).

We will assign tables and the escort cards will indicate choice of entree. I think it should work out fine as most all weddings I have been to have only ever had the table assigned (not seat).

Assigning tables for sure!

Our colors are shades of gray and a sunflower yellow. I did the first 3 "VIP" tables in yellow and the rest on the 3 shades of gray - the table numbers and place cards are color-coded to reflect that as well as our little seating chart that shows where the tables are (since there is an upper level).

So for example, my dad is sitting at table one. Table one is colored yellow on the seating chart, the numbers on top of the large pinecone is yellow, and his name card is also yellow.

Hope that helps with visuals

Assigned tables

@Kelsey K., those are amazing! What an incredible idea! Thanks

Just tables for mine. I did recently attend a wedding where there were assigned seats and while I didn't mind it (mostly bc I didn't know anyone there), some people were open about not liking it and thinking it was too detailed.

I think just tables is fine.