Assigned Tables, Extra Seats

My only advice is that if you are needing to make sure there is a backside in every chair to utilize space, then you absolutely should have assigned tables other wise you are going to have a family or two come in at the end and have no table. They will have to set each at separate tables. IDK about you but I would probably leave. That said if I misunderstood and you have room for a few extra tables I say go for open seating. I do not understand the panic on WW. I have been to so many family, community, church, wedding, etc events that did not have assigned seating. You literally find a seat and be done with it. Your guests will be adults or chaperoned by adults so they should be able to figure it out, but all of these events have in common that there was more than enough seats and tables.

Also if you must have assigned seating, can you look into rental differently sized tables? Maybe have a row of long tables at the back and a bunch of the standard sized tables in front of those.

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We are really trying to use the provided tables for budget reasons. However, we probably will have to rent additional tables to fit everyone. There are a few large groups I can do this for, but I'm still stuck on how to fill those tables with one seat left over. All said and done, we won't have the extra space to add tables for last minute show ups....so that is another reason why I am leaning towards assigned tables.

I've been having the same issue, but if you think about it those people will probably only be actually sitting at those tables for first dances and dinner (FH listened to me rant about this and said this to me). After that they will be dancing and mingling so it wont be a problem. I've been to weddings where I don't sit with people I know but its fine because I literally eat dinner and then go find familiar faces on the dance floor. I also don't have to fill every seat because we are under the max guest count I was planning on having odd numbered tables ( some with 7 people some with 10 or maybe 8).

As inconvenient as it is for you, it’s good that you’re taking it on because it would be even worse for your guests to figure it out. If there are one or two tables of 8 where you have large groups with one opening, just add one more seat and put a couple there, for a total of 9. People may have an inch or two less of elbow room, but it really won’t be a big deal.

Each one of my tables has between 6-8 people. I don't find it that much of an issue. So there's one less chair or an empty seat, that's not a problem. Someone will probably just use it for their handbag! The key for me was having tables that 'fit' personality-wise. Everyone should have at least 1 person they can talk to/relate to at the table.

I started planning my seating chart by first creating categories: family-group, friend-groups, age-bracket, etc Then, anyone who didn't fit cookie-cutter (whether they don't know many people or could easily float) were separated into the "misc.' category.

After creating categories, look for natural divides. For instance, my FH had 6 cousins from the same side of the family. That filled up 1 table easily; same thing with my mom and siblings. After I created the 'easy tables' I could go into the headache of tricky friend groups.

The system was very easy when using an excel spreadsheet. I could click and drag names around.

I would split big groups in half and fanaggle from there. This is what I’ve been doing.

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That is a good suggestion, I was just worried about crowding the tables.

We had similar issues but I think everyone does. We just filled tables and sometimes we had to split groups of families between two tables. Also, some tables we put 6, 8, or 10. It depended on the size of the groups. It's only for dinner, then people will be dancing, walking around and talking, etc. As long as people can be comfortable for an hour to eat the rest they will do as they please. Even if we had to split large families we tried to sit people at tables where they knew each other.

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That is very true.

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Unfortunately, having less people or an open seat is not an option for me. We have to fill every table. But creating groups and breaking it down will definitely help.

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How big were your tables that you put 10 people at? Our venue told us our tables will be 60" round tables that comfortably fit 8 but can go up to 10. I'm just nervous sitting 10 to a table, and them being super uncomfortable. How did it look with your guests?

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Our tables were the same size, and the tables we fit ten people at (not to be rude) I just made sure there were no overweight people at the table. It did not seem to look uncomfortable and I didn't hear any complaints. Again people got up and moved around throughout the night so it wasn't an issue.

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That is good to know. I feel a little less bad about increasing some of the tables to 10.

We had a couple of tables of 9 or 10 using 60-inch tables, although most of those involved smaller children. We tried not to put more than 9 adults at a table so they could be comfortable.

I recommend putting the names in Excel and highlighting different groups that must be seated together. That made it much easier to spot groups that might be seated well together by size and interest. It simplified the process so much that it only took 1-1.5 hours to put together my plan for 100ish person wedding. It ended up going really well during the actual wedding.

Have you gotten all of your RSVPs back? I have a preliminary one set up with some open holes and some people not seated that don't exactly fit nicely into 1 group or another (ex: my brother's wife's parents who are "babysitting" my 1 year old nephew and hates our family and I don't even want there). Once I do get the RSVPs back, I can remove the no's and stick the straggler in. This way most of the work is already done and I'll only have to worry about a couple of small adjustments so close to the end when I'm already stressed out of my mind. For those big groups that don't quite fit at a table, I think splitting them in half and having them at 2 separate tables is the way to go. That way they will have people they know but it also helps encourage everyone getting to know new people too

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This is the stage I am at. Plan to send out invites in March, so we have a ways before we finalize RSVPs. I just wanted to get a start on it, so I can get a general idea. I'm currently in a planning stall, so I had to fill my wedding brain with something, lol.

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Thank you, that is what I am doing with Excel now after reading responses. Having the 10 tops be tables with children is a great idea.

Not to throw a wrench in the in the situation or cause confusion but I think people may be getting 60" and 6'0" (6 feet) mixed up. A 60" round table seats 8 people. A 72" round table (or 6 feet diameter) seats 10 people. I don't think it's a huge deal to add 1 more seat to make 9 at a table in some places if you have to get a couple seated, but I just wanted to bring this to your attention.

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YES... I would not have more than eight people at a 60" table nor more than 10 to a 72"/ 6' table.

I also would wait to do the seating chart until you get your RSVPs back. I know people here say 100% may come, or 80% come and 20% don't is the rule of thumb, but you might be surprised that some couples may come single (we have a few that didn't want to pay for child care) and some people might decline. It all worked out for us after getting the RSVPs when it comes to tables. I know it's hard to wait, but just wait, b/c now you're creating a problem that doesn't need to be solved!