Open Seating With Reserved Tables?

I feel like for a guest list of 100 guests, you should probably still have a seating chart, to be honest. Just so that everything runs smoothly. You can still put the immediate family closer to you during the reception, have the seating chart reflect that. If some tables are labeled and some not, I don't know, to me that would seem a bit strange and impersonal ! Just my opinion

Just assign tables. If all your friends want to sit together and you know which family members would be sitting together, it sounds like creating a seating chart is going to be pretty simple for you.

That can possibly get chaotic, I would recommend doing a seating chart and if your guests decides to move around during the reception then that would be up to them. At least they would have a designated seat to begin with.

I would assume you’ll have more friends in attendance than just those two tables? That seems a little confusing for the friends who aren’t important enough to get a reserved table. Sounds like assigning tables for everyone would be your best bet.

I am on team assigned tables. I think what you're saying is pretty much table assigning already anyway

If you do decide to do an open seating chart I’d very clearly reserve the tables for the family. I know Most people would see a reserved sign and go get a different table, but I went to one wedding with open seating and 2 reserved tables. Well people did not respect this and by the time the grooms family came in there was only one table open and it was all the way in the back... I’m close with them and they just didn’t want to make it a big ordeal so they just sat didn’t say anything. However I’d reserve tables just because people can socialize with everyone after the dinner portion and it’ll just be more organized and quicker.

I did open seating for a wedding of 125. There was no chaos and no one had any issues. People actually thanked me and thought it was a great idea. I didn't have round tables though I had long farmhouse tables that sat 8 people at each. It was a laid back relaxed wedding, I think it depends on how your wedding is.

If you're going to reserve some tables then i would do a seating chart for everyone.

There are exceptions to this rule, but the only two weddings I've been at without assigned tables (about 80-120 people at each), there was general confusion and many "overfilled" tables (people pulling up a bunch of chairs to cram into one table, sitting next to all the people they knew), and quite "underfilled" tables (literally 2-3 people, mostly grandparents and older relatives, sitting alone at big tables).

It is just so. much. easier. to assign tables.

I would just do assigned tables for all guests and make this a lot easier on everyone. Labeling only a couple of tables "friends" will be very confusing, as everyone invited to your wedding will assume they are you or your fiance's friend.

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This is my biggest fear and nobody else seems to understand it. I say, "OK, so we have a family of 4 and they have kids. Suddenly there is a table with 3 openings and a table with 1. Who gets cut off?" Or "One table is full except for one, open spot, and another table is empty, and people just pull up chairs or stand around like crazy people."

Assigning tables can be pretty easy to do - much easier than assigning seats. Just group everyone together who gets along or families so that nobody's separated.

If you’re reserving like 5 out of the 10 tables you may as well just assign tables lol

We have 60, but I am still assigning tables. I wasn't going to, but we also have families attending and I do not want people to have to split up or honestly to have to put more tables out than guests.

I would just make a seating chart if you are reserving that many tables. It will save you drama and stress in the long run.

Not doing a seating chart either. We've been together 16 yrs, went to the same high school have all the same friends, and last summer my aunt met his cousin and they got married after 1 year of dating. My mom has been best friends with his aunt for my entire life. My deceased father was besties with his cousin for over 30 yrs. Our families are completely intertwined and are good sitting wherever they want.

My fiance and both of our parents are against doing an actual seating chart. Our families are kinda rowdy country folk and they won't listen, even if I try to tell them where to sit. Most of our guests already know eachother and will probably intermingle.

After reading the comments here, I think that I'm just going to do 2 reserved tables up front for our immediate family and let everyone else sit wherever. I don't think I'm going to stress over it any more. I'll just setup an additional table for the overflow since people aren't great at seating themselves.

Thanks for the input everyone. I know i'm not listening to the main suggestion of doing an actual seating chart, but I feel like this will work better due to the personalities of our guests.