Open Seating

It is a bad idea. You don't need assigned seats bur at least assigned tables.

I'm having an open seating. Why waste the time to sit people with other certain people that maybe they didn't want to sit by? I'm reserving a couple tables for close members of our family (moms, dads, etc) just so they can sit closer to us. But no seating chart! I guess it could kind of depend on the size of your wedding also. We aren't having a huge wedding but maybe around 100 people.

We had 225 guests, with escort cards. With people socializing and moving in from the cocktail hour room, it was like herding cats. Without assigned tables, they might still be looking for a seat. Plus, a lot of sources say you need 20% more tables, chairs, linens, centerpieces, etc. so couples/families/groups can sit together, f you don't assign tables.

I only attended one wedding, in my life, that didn't have assigned tables. We got stuck at the one with uninvited kids, that were total brats.

Unless you have a very small guest list, like under 50 people, I would definitely assign tables. You'll wind up with tables where only a couple people are sitting and other tables where people will pull up chairs and overcrowd the table just to sit with who they want.

We are doing open seating. Our ceremony and reception are in the same space so once the ceremony is over we are going straight into dinner, so everyone will go stand in the buffet line while our venue switches over. It works for us since the majority of our guests know each other and are used to an open seating reception.

If you do open seating you need to have more seats than bottoms

Open seating stresses me out as a guest so we are assigning tables

I went to a wedding with open seating and people moved my coat and bag to a random table. Which turned out to be an elder table that I had to awkwardly walk over to and snatch my belongings and run.

I get way too much anxiety about those things.

With open seating you need to budget for at least 20% extra seating, which increases your cost in chairs/linens/centerpieces...

It is absolutely worth it for peace of mind to create a seating chart, at the very least with assigned tables.

We aren't doing assigned seats or tables and we have about 180 guest. And every wedding I've ever been to has been the same. And they've all ran smoothly

You're going to get wildly different opinions on this. I always thought it was necessary, but we ultimately didn't do a seating arrangement as most of our wedding guest were family who all knew each other quite well. It worked out fine for us. There were no glitches or times where people didn't know what to do. You do have to have extra seats though, as people won't section themselves off into neat groups of 8 or 10.

Think carefully about your guest list. You know them, we don't. I knew it would be fine for my group, but it wouldn't be fine for all groups.

Honestly, after attending a few and sitting with random people, awkward number of seats left at the table, and awkward conversation, I will definitely be doing assigned tables. Besides I have people attending my wedding that I want to ensure are comfortable and seated with individuals who are accepting of differing opinions and sexuality.

I've never been to a wedding with assigned seating. We're having 50 guests, ceremony and reception in the same room, and no family drama...I'll gladly factor in 10 more seats to not have to deal with assigning them. Even if I did assign seats I doubt my guests would sit in them!

We are doing a buffet and open seating. My original thought was that they are adults they are perfectly capable of sitting themselves. A lot of people on WW disagreed and gave some great advice why assigned seats or tables is a good idea. While I agree for a lot of weddings and events it completely makes sense assigning but with my group of guests it's just not going to work. I've talked with my family, friends, and coworkers about their opinions on it and they all expressed they prefer open seating. Most of them said: "I don't want to be stuck sitting by people I don't like." A few said they are offended by assigned seats for a buffet because it makes them feel like they are in kindergarten. Even though I'm confident I could assign tables without offending anyone I'm taking their concerns into consideration and just letting them do their own thing. I hope it works out :/ Only you know your guests.

I've been to 3 weddings in the last 6 months, all of which were open seating and buffet. There was no chaos and everyone found somewhere to sit.

I think it really depends on your guest list. In most cases, I think it is important to do a seating chart, but I knew my guest list would be okay without it. I can't explain how I knew or what qualifies your list to be right to do this, but it worked for me.

We had about 135ish people, people just filed in and fell in place. There was absolutely no confusion. There were no awkward seating arrangements. Friends and family were together without separation and there wasn't any mixing. It was actually really interesting.

I think seating charts are usually the answer. It worked for me, but not for everyone. I have been to weddings with no seating chart and it was chaotic and messy.

My FH was originally insistent that we not do a seating chart because he once went to a wedding where he ran into people that he didn't know would be there and wanted to sit with them.

After I started explaining it will take way longer for people to sit and start dinner, people might get left out and that we would have to reserve half the tables for family anyway (and then make sure the people they were reserved for knew they were reserved for them) he gave in and is letting me do a seating chart.

I think it is really dependent on your social group. If most weddings your friends and family have, have had seating charts, they will be expected and it will be chaos without. If these are not the norm in your group, you could probably do without.

I have always hated a seating chart, but I agree that with over 50 people, you need one. Guests get really freaked out and terrified without it.

If you're doing a cocktail style wedding, you can do without it and have lots of seatings with reserved tables for your family....

I went to a wedding with open seating. FH and i knew no one but the bride and groom, so we knew we would be sitting with strangers either way. it was fine!

everyone keeps telling me i must have at least assigned tables. IMO, adults can figure out how to seat themselves. but i do understand that extra,chairs will be required.

i will probably end up having to assign tables because my venue requires it at a certain guest count

I'm having open seating and I'm having a large wedding, over 300 people, that's typical for my area. I've only been to 1 wedding with assigned seating and all the rest were open seating. I had a family friend get married and she had about 500 people ate her wedding with open seating and there was absolutely no problem. I honestly don't see all the fuss about it?

I have no problem sitting with people I don't know. I can even eat my dinner with people I don't like (read: open bar). Seat me where ever, but please direct me to a table