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Dedicated June 2021

Open Seating v. Assigned Seating

User2574599655703, on July 5, 2019 at 1:41 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 21

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Let me preface this by stating we are having a formal and traditional New Orleans style wedding with a second line band.

We are getting married and having our reception a a hotel. The hotel will allow the band the meet us and our guests outside the ceremony room, lead us around the block for a parade, lead us back into the hotel and into the ballroom. Very fun.

Well, now I don’t know what to do about the seating. The hallway leading into the ballroom is pretty narrow. It will be hard for the band to leave once inside the ballroom because there will be 50-80 guest walking to get inside. Traffic jam. I am trying to do dinner in an hour. My wedding planner suggested we do open seating. I think that makes sense because having people stop to look at the sign for the table number will add on unnecessary time and contribute to the traffic jam issue. We already are having a buffet against our will, so it will be like herding cats in a small area.

When I told my mom we were thinking of having open seating she freaked out and said the wedding planner is trying to make this a free for all. I have a bit more faith in my guests that they will figure it out, but I want to know if I am missing something. My ultimate goal is to get people through the buffet line, seated and fed as fast as possible. What do you think? Open seating or assigned seating?

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21 Comments

Latest activity by Jennifer, on July 10, 2019 at 11:50 AM

Dedicated June 2021
User2574599655703 · on July 5, 2019 at 1:42 PM
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Sorry for typos. Just very annoyed
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Master September 2019
Sarah · on July 5, 2019 at 1:45 PM
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Honestly I’m with your mom, and if you’re having a formal wedding, I think you should have a seating chart. If not, you run the risk of it being cafeteria-like where people grab their food and then have to find enough open seats for them/their SO/their friends or family members they want to sit with. That just doesn’t sound very formal to me.
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Dedicated June 2021
User2574599655703 · on July 5, 2019 at 1:47 PM
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Good point. I do not want to diminish the formality of the occasion. I just don’t know how to get the band out of the ballroom while everyone else in walking INSIDE the ballroom.
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Legend March 2017
Pirate & 60s Bride · on July 5, 2019 at 1:48 PM
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Yikes, open seating is usually more chaotic! And often couples or families get separated. What about a seating chat AND two hosts who can look up guests’ names and tell them which table? Maybe the hotel has two employees you can hire just for 1/2 hour?

More yikes. Can you extend dinner to 90 minutes? Why the rush? 60 minutes feels very rushed for dinner, especially with a buffet. Can you cut something later in the evening to give your guests more time to enjoy eating?
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Champion October 2018
Kelly · on July 5, 2019 at 1:49 PM
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You would need 20% more tables/chairs/place settings than people for open seating. Also expect for it to take more time because rather than just finding their table number people are going to be scrambling to find open seats with their friends/family.
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VIP October 2020
Kelly · on July 5, 2019 at 1:50 PM
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Formal wedding includes seating chart typically.
If it was 50 guests you could wing it but closer to 80 is where I think it'll be a bit too many people and they'll start milling around awkwardly without a seating chart.
You could assign seats at the ceremony and place their seating card for the reception on the chair so it's a two in one.
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Super October 2019
Kelly · on July 5, 2019 at 1:56 PM
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Is open seating standard in ur area? I’ve only been to assigned seated weddings, but I have heard that open seating is normal in the south. Do you think that ur guests will like open seating?
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Dedicated June 2021
User2574599655703 · on July 5, 2019 at 1:57 PM
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I want to start dancing and the hotel has a hard deadline for when we have to cut the music.
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Dedicated June 2021
User2574599655703 · on July 5, 2019 at 2:00 PM
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THAT is a good idea!
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Super October 2019
Brianna N · on July 5, 2019 at 2:03 PM
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Also, could you have the band stop at the doors and let the guests walk through first? Just an idea! I definitely agree with assigned seating for a formal event
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Dedicated June 2021
User2574599655703 · on July 5, 2019 at 2:08 PM
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I am beginning to consider the band not coming inside the hotel on the way back but will keep playing as the guests enter the hotel. It seems like assigned seating is the way to go, but whether I add a table chart sign or if I give people their name cards at the ceremony, I haven’t decided which will be faster. It may not matter if the flow of traffic issue is resolved by moving the band out of the way.
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VIP August 2019
Futuremrsk · on July 5, 2019 at 2:31 PM
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I think having the band play outside as guests enter the hotel is a good idea! It will eliminate some of the traffic jam. Are you having a cocktail hour or going straight into dinner? If you are having a cocktail hour, a seating chartnor escort cards will be fine since guests will have time to come in, grab a drink, get their table, sign your guestbook, leave their card and mingle!
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Super October 2019
Sara · on July 5, 2019 at 2:35 PM
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I think this would work well - have them lead everyone to the hotel and stop at the door. I'd think giving people their table assignment at the ceremony would be best - if you're having programs made, you could even arrange them like escort cards with each person's name and table number at the top (or on the back, and have them upside down). If you give out seating assignments at the ceremony, I'd still make sure you have a clear and easy to read seating chart at the reception in case someone loses theirs or misses it.
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Master September 2020
Nicole · on July 5, 2019 at 2:36 PM
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I think having escort cards or a seating chart at the wedding is a great compromise. I think an open seating plan would end up being more chaotic and time consuming in the long run.
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Dedicated June 2021
User2574599655703 · on July 5, 2019 at 2:40 PM
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I totally agree! Thanks, ladies!

This has been extremely helpful!
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VIP April 2019
Nikita · on July 5, 2019 at 2:49 PM
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I'm never for having open seating. It can often take even longer for people to get to their seats (and more of a bottle neck) as they try to find their closest friends/family to sit with. There's always an odd man out, and worst case scenario sometimes people end up next to each other who you don't want at the same table.
That being said, you've gotten a lot of creative and great ideas from PPs, and I think as long as there are at least assigned tables your fine.
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Super April 2020
Emily · on July 5, 2019 at 2:58 PM
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I agree, you will need 20% more tables and chairs to avoid the risk of couples/families getting separated.
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Legend July 2019
MrsD · on July 8, 2019 at 2:44 PM
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I think any traditional/formal wedding should have a seating chart. I really think all weddings should have them personally, it sets the tone for the entire wedding reception so it should be set up correctly.
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Savvy September 2019
Amanda · on July 8, 2019 at 2:48 PM
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You could do assigning people by tables but not specific seats so that they just have to head to a table rather than an exact seat. And if you’re having programs for the ceremony, you could put a layout with assignments on the back or something so people can prepare
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Master October 2020
Mandi · on July 8, 2019 at 2:48 PM
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I've only been to one wedding with a seating chart. People know how to seat themselves.
That being said the wedding that I went to, as well as my own, may be at capacity for the venue. That's the only reason they had a seating chart and the only reason I'm considering one myself.
You might consider escort cards. Listing the name and table number on them?
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