My wedding planner said a seating chart is not necessary...

View Quoted Comment

This. You, as the bride, probably won't hear anything about it - but you will have guests who are extremely uncomfortable because of a lack of seating chart. You need to at least assign tables.

I think a lot of it depends on your group. in a small wedding with only one friend group, it wouldnt be necessary but for anyone else, it is absolutely necessary.

I am not a fan of weddings with no table assignments. The reception seating sets the tone for the entire wedding. If you don't have a seating chart, you have to plan for extra seats and settings because people don't sit themselves efficiently and it's awkward for large groups or people that don't know anyone else.

I did the same thing. i'm just doing table assignments. i wanted to be sure everyone was comfortable with who they were with. i know they won't be at the tables that long, but it will be for dinner and i'd like to keep people together.

idk if you've used it, but the seating chart on WW is awesome. i literally downloaded it and sent it to our coordinator.

My fiance and I have chosen to ditch the seating chart. It saves time so people aren't wandering around for 10 minutes looking for their seat. It seems more orderly to me. We are putting up a sign (that I am making myself) that will say something along the lines of "Choose a seat, not a side. We're all family once the knot is tied". Also, people can choose to either sit with those whom they know or sit with new people. No awkwardness here,

I am ALWAYS pro-seating chart. It's so much easier for your guests.

Not having a seating chart is extremely awkward. You do not get to sit where you want, you sit where there is room. You may approach a table and be told all seats are being saved. OP has kids and babies, which are better seated with family or very close friends.

Unless you want people to act all cliquey like a high school cafeteria, give people a table to sit at. Guests expect it and it lessens anxiety on the part of the guests.

View Quoted Comment

I agree! It definitely gives me anxiety to attend a wedding without an assigned tables.

Odd. What was your wedding planner’s reason for not doing the seating chart?

You need a chart. We had 75 guests. It took time and effort but we needed it.

ive been to two weddings with no assigned seating people got trampled. Honestly those weddings stunk.

So I agree with everyone’s post on having a seating chart. Our wedding coordinator suggested it to us when I asked about having a more casual style. However, that was when we thought we have right at the max seating (so every seat was necessary). Now though, we’ve upgraded to a much larger room thAt will fit more than double our guest total. So I’m wondering if this would be a situation where no assigned seating would be okay. We could do extra tables so people don’t feel crammed and let them sit with whomever they choose? Or would everyone still do assigned just do less per table?

I am having between 50-63 guests. I am not doing a seating/table chart. I figure people will find a seat and get ready to eat, drink and be marry!

Also, I am not doing one because some people are still up in the air about coming or not being able to come. So there is not an issue we called for a number of chairs and those that are there can have a seat.

It's your wedding do what fits best :-)

Doing table assignments saves you a ton of money as well as less stressful on the wedding day. If you don't have at least table assignments you'll have to get more tables than you really need, which also means more linens, rentals, decorations, etc.

We are DEF doing table assignments. seats I could care less, but if my mother were to sit with my father, something is bound to explode!! Our wedding is similar, We have a lot of people flying in and some do not know each other which makes it awkward, so we plan on seating someone together who knows someone else at the table. Then conversations are much easier. Either way, both work. I've been to weddings with and without one. and they both work!

I think you should do it. She just suggested is not need it because is a small wedding but based on what you just mention is need it. I’ll explain all that to her and tell her you do want to have sitting arrangements.