Buffet dinner; really need a seating chart?

Most people make a seating chart for buffett. However, it is not necessary. Allowing your guests to chose their seat is okay.

Like any other kind of event you have to think about how many guests that you are going to have. I would think that if you have any guests that have conflicts with each other that you might want to think about pre arranged seating. That way these people arent forced to sit with each other.

I know it's a hassle to assign tables but I 100% definitely recommend it. I've seen it done w/o assigned seating lots and it can be a mess.

Okie doke, guess I'm going with the seating chart. Thanks ladies

We're doing a bit of a mix of both - we're doing table assignments, but not seating assignments that way people can choose their own seats but we can iron out the possible kinks of drama!

I am assigning a able but not a seat. Otherwise, I know there will be one of those tables with 15 people crammed in since they all know each other and then a table with just 5 people sitting there looking like outcasts. (people love to move chairs!)

Like the two brides above me- i'm assigning tables but not seats.

A- I don't like going to a wedding were I know no-one and being expected to find my own place. It's awkward.

B-Families or groups of friends ,may have a hard time finding seats together if a whole bunch of smaller groups are already seated at tables.

C- By doing just tables and not seats it saves me a little work.

I have only been to one wedding with assigned seating. I think it makes the event run more smoothly, but there wasn't any chaos at the weddings where you chose your own seat. I have made a chart for my buffet reception, but I'm not sure if I'm going to use it. I might just reserve tables for family.

Oops, dbl post

Agree with other ladies. We are assigning tables, not seats. I don't think the type of dinner really makes a difference. Actually - I would think at a buffet it would be even more important for guests to have assigned tables, b/c people will be getting up/down from their seats once they find them. I would be stressed if I returned to "my" table with a full plate to find that someone else was sitting in my chair.

We had a buffet reception for 200 guests, and did not do a seating chart. It felt like a lot of extra work to me, and we had the space to set up a few extra tables so people wouldn't have to worry about being separated. Also, seating charts for weddings is not the norm in either of our families. In fact, I can remember when one of my cousins got married and had assigned tables, a lot of my family members complained about not being able to choose their own seats.

So, I'm going to go with my standard piece of advice for these kinds of situations - you know your guests better than we do. Are most weddings in your circle assigned seating? Maybe ask your mom, FSs mom, other family members what they think. If no one seems to have a problem with it, and you have the space to set up a few extra tables, then by all means, skip the headache of assigning tables.

Hi- We are having open seating inside or outside with around 100 guests. We know our guests are laid back and casual, so we feel confident in making a decision that is a little non-traditional... I think tables assignments but not seats is the best idea for a semi formal affair though.

We did only because we didn't want people trying to find seats for 20 mins we just did tables

We are having around 300 people and now that I've read this I'm thinking twice about having a seating chart. Do you all think it will be weird if there are more "reserved sections" than the norm? I mean maybe instead of having maybe 4 or 5 reserved, have like 10 or so? Or should I just do a seating chart?

Thanks CrystalS-Maybe I will assign tables. More than likely I will just assign seats. My parents want the seats assigned and his parents said to assign reserved tables so I was trying to compromise but I would rather deal with chaos prior to the wedding and arrange the seating versus dealing with chaos AT the wedding-thanks so much for your clear input

I've seen people create a seating chart just to ensure that certain individuals end up at the same table, and that it's organized. Can you imagine some of your guests having to walk around to find empty seats? "Is this seat open? No? How about this one?" lol I think the chart is a great idea.