Open seating or assigned seating?

Btw this is our layout -

I think it *really* depends on the size of your wedding and the size of the room. If you have 200 people, you pretty much *have* to do assigned seating so friends can find each other and the servers can bring the meals or the tables can be called to the buffet. With a smaller crowd (60) people can find each other and there won't be a rush at the buffet. Likewise, if your room seats 100 and you have 99, then you have to assign seating make sure every seat is filled without a lot of scooching around. If your room holds 100 and you have 60, that's not a problem.

Don't let people tell you you HAVE to do a seating chart. I fell in the second category twice over-- small wedding (I think we had 60 attendees) in a big room (could have sat 100), so we didn't have to use every chair, people could find each other, and there wasn't a huge crowd at the buffet. I have a thing against assigned seating, ever since I got seated at the 'reject significant other table' for SOs of the bridal party. While there were many people in the room I would have loved to chat with, I was seated with all of the SOs of the bridal party, none of whom I knew, while DH had a great time with more good friends at the head table. 8-/ But that's just me.

I'm not doing assigned seats. We have 102 confirmed guests and plan on having about 12 or so extra seats. I don't want anyone upset about where I decided to let them sit. I'm going to reserve 2 tables close to the head table, like you said, for family. Plus, that's one less thing I have to stress over!

As a guest, there is nothing MORE confusing that walking into a wedding reception and NOT having a table assignment. FHs cousin got married last year, and his wife-to-be didnt assign tables, so we walked in...stood at the door confused for a minute or two. Found a completely empty table and then sat down. Then FHs sisters sat down and we tried to move tables, only to not find enough empty seats available and headed back to our first table choice. We watched people do this during the entire cocktail hour so that many of the people who walked in half way through or later sat down to tables that looked like they were dirty or at least messed up. It wasnt very welcoming to a guest.

Basically what I am saying is take the time to do the table assignments. You're guests WILL appreciate it

I think it's REALLY helpful for guests to at least have assigned tables (and to be seated with other people they know). Otherwise, it can be difficult to find a table with enough seats for the whole family, or guests might get stuck sitting with someone they don't know, etc. But, if you are having a small wedding, and the guests all pretty much know each other, you can probably get away without a seating plan.

We are having very small only wedding party only 50 people all family so not assigned seating.

Assigned please

I don't think seating assignments are necessary, but I think assigning tables is such a HUGE help! I attended a wedding last fall that didn't have assigned tables and it was a mess! It wasn't even a huge wedding...I'd say 100 people tops. But your problem occurred when you'd have 4 or 5 people taking up a 8 person table and not having room for another group who wanted to sit together.There were tables all over the place with 1, 2 or even 3 seats available but larger groups didn't have a place to sit down because most tables were already over half full. So there were literally people standing and eating or resting their plates on side tables and other pieces of furniture. They had "reserved" tables for grandparents and the bridal party but the rest of the wedding was one giant cluster. I don't think it takes that much stress or effort to put together tables of friends and family who know each other and if you do simple print outs from your home computer, it's something that you can change right up until the last minute if necessary.

I hate going to weddings where there is no assigned seating. I would rather sit next to people I don't know than have to wander around aimlessly wondering where to sit. Please consider doing a seating chart.

We are doing assigned. i wasn't really that into doing assigned until we went to FH's brother's wedding. granted they didn't serve an actual dinner. since the ceremony was so late, the reception was basically just a buffet set up with little bites. but there were not assigned tables and there weren't even enough tables for everyone. there were some little cocktail tables set up around the dance floor but pretty much EVERYONE got a little plate to eat. people were hungry! so the people that were lucky enough to get a table, sat down. some stood at cocktail tables and the stragglers just had to stand there and hold their plates while they ate. it was a total cluster fuck. haha. that, among numerous other things, was definitely something we learned and took away from their reception.

so yeah. we are definitely doing assigned seats.

We are doing assigned tables. I just think it makes everything easier.

We're also doing assigned tables. FH and I recently went to a wedding that wasnt and it took us forever to find a table that had two available seats and we ended up knowing no one at the table

We are having 44 guests, but still assigning tables. We wanted to ensure our guests were comfortable and seated with friends and relatives they'd enjoy spending time with.

We are doing assign tables to much planning with assigned seating that's my opinion and there is always confusion at the host table to find your seat.

I'm a control freak. I thought about it for a long time, and I just couldn't imagine NOT assigning seats. How would my cousin and his girl friend and their five children be able to sit together? Would my grandfather with limited mobility always have access to a seat with an "escape route". After much agonizing, I decided that we will be doing assigned tables, but not assigned seats.

I am starting to think that the majority of this comes from what area you are from. Out of all of the weddings that I have been to not a single one had assigned seating. No one ever had issues of not finding a seat. People are adults and really should act like adults. The only seating I am doing is reserving 3 tables for the wedding party and their families.

Assigned tables is definitely the way to go. In Zoe's situation, what happened is that the bride and groom failed to work adequately on assigning the tables ... they could have asked family about their opinions/just thought more about what everyone would prefer.

I'm pretty sure everyone will be happy with the assigned tables we've set up. I got advice from my parents and my FMIL and FSIL, so everyone should be good.

If not assigned seats, at least table assignments.

We are doing reserved seating only for immediate family. Everyone else can get in where they fit in lol

I REALLY appreciate assigned tables!! I can't stress that enough. It's always awkward walking around table to table asking if these seats are open, or would you mind shuffling down a seat so my FH and I can sit together or you get stuck at the table with the weird Aunt and her 5 kids, or you get there early to get a seat but when you get up to talk to someone, then your seat is taken and then you are back at square one looking for a seat. More people appreciate a table assignment than those who will be annoyed! Shy people will thank you!