NOT Doing A Seating Chart

I've never been to a wedding without table assignments. I can't imagine the free for all that will take place with 250 people....

What is happening with those outside tables if it rains?

Nope. Its easier on your guests. I hate when I get to a wedding and there isn't a seating chart. Then you have to walk around until you find a table that fits your whole party, some people have to split up, some tables are left half empty.. Its just a mess. ETA especially with 250 people!

Nope.

250 people trying to find a table seems like utter chaos to me.

You can't use Kansas as your rationale. That's not the norm. The only time I've been to wedding with no seating chart, it was a huge venue with way too much seating (aka extra cost for wasted decor) and even though there were lots of extra seats, we still had trouble finding seats anywhere near people we knew. At least assign tables.

We recently went to a large wedding that had professional wedding planners (I counted at least four) and no seating chart. It wasn't until people were standing with dinner plates at the back of the room before the planners noticed there wasn't nearly enough tables or chairs for everyone.

At another big wedding the rehearsal dinner and reception both had seating charts and it made an otherwise potentially stressful situation (trying to find seats together with a bunch of people we didn't know) actually fun and comfortable (we got to sit with old college friends we hadn't seen in years).

I wasn't going to do a seating chart until these experiences. The first wedding was extremely frustrating, and I don't want my guests to have the same experience. The second wedding was a blast because we were able to find people we knew among the masses.

250 guests and no seating chart? That's not going to be easier on anyone. Here's a few things to consider:

1. Where will VIPs sit?

2. Seating charts guarantee that couples and families can sit together.

3. You'll end up needing more tables, because people will move chairs and squeeze in at tables with other people, meaning you pay for more chairs, tables and centerpieces.

4. It's stressful for guests to have to immediately claim a seat so that they can sit with a date or friends.

5. If you have a VIP guest who needs assistance (ex my grandfather and H's grandmother), how can you guarantee they have a seat near you as they are an honored guest, and that they will have easy access to a chair. We even reserved a cocktail hour table for H's grandma so she had a chair to sit at.

Just please consider these options before you place your responsibility on your guests.

You have plenty of time to decide so don't stress yet! I have been a bridesmaid 12 times and not one wedding had a seating chart. They ranged from large to small and there was never an issue. I think you know your guests the best and should take in mind what would work best for them.

No assigned seating with that large of a guest list is going to be a cluster.

In my hometown no one does seating charts and many people have weddings the size you are talking about. I still haven't decided if we will. I think I'm going to wait until we get all of our rsvps back and see how tight it will be - if there is plenty of extra space / little risk of people not being able to sit together, we skip assignments. If it looks like we will be near capacity though I may do table assignments.

Also where I'm from most people push two 8 foot tables together to make one table at the reception, so you either fit 16 people (long table) or 12 people (square). I think this would be more of an issue with round tables that seat 8, but I've never seen family/friends not be able to sit together with the longer seating arrangements.

Don't do this,honestly. Assign tables.

I did a wedding for 250 last night, and the venue had three staff helping people find their cards and their tables. I can't even imagine what it would have been like without that.

Oh yeah. I can. The Hunger Games with sequins.

Do it. It's a grace note, and it assures that families will be together, your grandma won't be next to the mens room and there aren't single seats all over the place.

It's a bad idea, but sounds like your mind is made up. Good luck.

I went to a wedding 2 weeks ago with 300 people and no seating chart and it was a mess. People were leaving one chair here, one chair there open. The people who showed up at the end had to split up from their dates because there was no room.

And then when it came time for the buffet, it was like Russian Roulette with what table got to go because no one was releasing tables.

It was a mess. Please do not do this.

I went to a wedding just like you are describing in July. They had seating inside and outside. No one wanted to sit outside. People scrambled to "hold seats". Chairs were upended on the tables to "save" a seat. Of course that left everyone else standing awkwardly. It was so chaotic and so many people left early because of it.

Please reconsider a seating chart for your guest convenience.

I'm in the minority but I didn't have one, and it went just fine!

Didn't post this for everyone to get all pissy over it. I was just wanting to know if anyone else wasn't doing it.

I have reserved tables for close family members and that's it.

I have been to only one wedding that had a seating chart and it was probably the worst wedding experience I've ever had.

I also refuse to seat certain people outside away from everyone else or towards the back of the room based on what I think. It's selfish and not my place to tell them.

Edit: I've also already accounted for needing several extra tables. Just because it's inevitable that there will be spaces between people. It just is what it is.

This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen

The only way I would not have a seating chart is if only our parents and siblings and grandparents attended. I don't care if 50 people show up, you should assign tables to make it easier on everyone.

@Celia The hunger games with sequins **snort** hahahaha!!!

I've been to only one wedding without a seating chart & DH & I ended up having to sit at separate tables because we were some of the later ones getting in to the reception area after waiting in line at the bar during cocktail hour. Not fun.

As far as etiquette goes, you'd be far better to assign tables for the comfort of your guests.

But good luck with that, the good news is that as the bride, you'll never hear a complaint.

Sounds like you've made up your mind. May the odds be ever in your favor.