Assigned tables?

**assigned seating v. Open tables for available seats**

I always prefer assigned tables. It’s easier for guests and it keeps things more organized. It also keeps couples together and alleviates people from feeling awkward if they don’t know many people.

I think from an organization perspective, it may just help with the flow of foot traffic and flow of convo, hard interests etc. Thinknofnyourself like a conductor, where all pieces need to go smoothly. Although you may not necessarily care where people sit (I'm the same), it will likely just keep things smooth when people know where to go at least at the table. Once they sit down since it's not plated, they can choose their seat wherever at that table

My caterer said there needs to be at least assigned tables, or it gets hectic/wonky

You probably want to do at least assigned tables. People naturally like to spread out and that can lead to larger families not being able to sit together. It just leads to less confusion overall

I am all for assigned tables. It just makes it easier for everyone because having to find seats would be hard in that case

I would definitely assign tables. There are so many issues that could come up that could be avoided by having assigned tables.
You never know who is going to think they deserve a seat next to the brides parents, or a family of 5 could come and there could be no more room for them to sit together. They also say you need to have 20% extra space for guests because they won’t sit evenly at tables.
Do yourself a favor and assign tables, they can figure out their own seats but definitely assign tables

I've been to two weddings now with assigned seating. And countless others without.
As a guest, I prefer to choose to sit with my friends and move around more. But the last wedding i went to, some girl got super offended that my friends and i sat at a table because she staked an imaginary claim on it. She was wearing cowboy boots and a jean jacket, so I guess she parked her invisible horse next to the table. 🤷‍♀️

As a bride, I'm planning to do assigned tables. My venue holds a maximum capacity of 240, and we have 106 coming, and we are waiting to hear from 134. If we have fewer guests than 240, then we can take down some tables and allow for more space. And I really like that idea.

I was going with more of a casual vibe but realized it would mean more table (5 people sit at one table, then 3 who don’t like those 5 sort of thing) and I’m doing assigned tables. When doing a buffet, so people don’t have to stand in line, call in table numbers. Table 12 & 13 please feel free to join the buffet sort of thing. Otherwise it feels like ur at old country buffet looking for the last piece of shrimp.

Most venues say that without assigned tables you’ll need at least 20% more chairs because people will leave gaps at tables. That’s a cost I don’t want to incur. We’ll be doing assigned tables and folks can pick their specific seat at the table.

I would assign tables. When doing open seating, you run the risk of couples or families not getting to sit together.

We're doing a buffet too, and having a seating chart. It'll just help everything flow better.

I agree with the assigning tables. I just went to a wedding a few weeks ago where they only assigned immediate family to tables and the rest was a free for all. My fiance and I only knew one person (besides the bride and groom obv lol) and it was very awkward looking for a table =) And like a few people mentioned here - open seating leaves a good chance for gaps at tables.

We did a plated salad & bread, then buffet entree. We had assigned tables & assigned seats. If the wedding is more formal, you should assign tables at least. I personally hate open seating chart weddings, it's super uncomfortable if you don't know very many other guests or if you are a large group that has to split up in between other tables.

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Right, this makes sense to me. Lol.... I don't want anyone bringing an 'invisible horse' to our wedding.

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Good point! Thank you!

Thanks, everyone!! I really appreciate your feedback.

Always assign tables!

I think it's personal preference. My FH and I are doing a buffet and decided on doing assigned seating. We made our decision after one wedding we went to where it was seat yourself and it just looked off. People were dragging chairs from one table to another, one table was just completely empty, another had three people at it and another one had 11 people squished at a table set to 8. We decided to do assigned seating b/c we liked the look of that better.