Open versus Assigned Seating

As always, I echo Kris S. (Curse you woman, get out of my head!) Count me in the assign tables camp as well. Frankly, it's less stress for me and I agree that it's less confusion for my guests as they wander around trying to decide where to sit. And as for people not liking their table....there are always people who will gripe. You cant solve all problems and sometimes those problems are people! In our case, I want to keep certain people away from each other as much as possible so again--must less stress for me and for my guests. But if it works for you--do it!

Haha Sharron, I feel the same way anytime you post! Sometimes I don't even post in threads b/c you've already said what I was going to say.

Meagan - Are you having a plated, buffet, family-style, or something else? Are any parents or other close relatives divorced and both sides are invited? Is your wedding on the more formal or casual side? Consider the other weddings in your family and circle of friends that you've been to - What did they do and how did it go?

We had about 150 people, formal, plated meal and had a very successful open seating. We had a few reserved tables for immediate family. I made cards with the guest name and meal selection that they placed in front of them. It ran smoothly and I didn't have that added stress. Adults really CAN seat themselves.

I guess I am a bit confused. Doesn't every large wedding(over 100) that's in banquet room of some sort or another have at least assigned tables? A couple goes to a wedding and finds out via the escort card or a seating chart, they are sitting at Tabe 6(or whatever else you are naming the table). They go to that table and choose their seat. Hence, there are no place cards at the tables. The guests just put their escort card on the table.

I can't imagine having over 100 and not at least assigning tables.

We had 60 guests. I allowed my guests to choose what riding destination they wanted to sit at. It worked because it was only 60 people.

I don't want any added 'planning' so I'm just having open seating lol. Less stress on me..and my FH doesn't have to listen to be complain cause I have out where to put everyone. But we are also probably having a buffet style meal with only children having a "plated" meal (meaning they are getting a chicken strip basket while the adults have more 'adult' aka messy food).

I have been to many large weddings that werent assigned seating (buffet or plated) and it only works if you have EXTRA seats. FH and I slid in at the last minute to a co-workers wedding and if my boss hadnt held seats for us we would have been far away from anyone we knew... and probably not had as good of a time and probably not see the awesomeness that was her DJ--and booked him!!!

@Kris: Thank you. I think I will just assign tables. I think it makes sense to assign everyone & not only the families.

@Katie Bug: I am having a buffet, FH's parents are divorced, but they get along ( I still would NEVER put them at the same table) It is a formal, church, evening wedding. I am the first of my cousins to get married, having a formal wedding. FH's sister got married last April & hers was a laid back, backyeard wedding. So as to other weddings in "my circle", I have nothing to compare to.

I am all for the open seating (120 guests, buffet style) we will have the tables reserved for parents n grandparents, but people know who they like and who they don't like and can seat themselves. Granted I would not be mad if a wedding I attended had assigned seating but FH and I went to 4 weddings last summer, none of them having assigned seating, and I actually liked getting to know some of the people we didn't know and everybody seemed to be happy ad have no issues because they weren't told where to sit. Who am I to try and decide where someone wants to sit, IMHO I just see the problems of someone getting sat too close to the dance floor and irritated because they dont wanna be by all the commotion or not sitting over there and wanting too and problems like that. This seems to be another one of those what is your norm topics though. I have full confidence the open seating will go off without an issue for us. Less stress is never a bad thing!

We are either going to have open seating or assigned tables. (Haven't decided yet and it will depend on what venue) I want the guests to have a good time at our reception but also think that it is a really good opportunity for our families to get to know eachother so mixed up seating might be a good way to do that. Most people in our group get along so I think it will be ok...also we are only the second couple "in our circle" to get married and are having a totally different feel to ours than our friends who got married before us.

Assigned seating...

Mostly cause we are having 3 choices of food and it's not a buffet so we need a way to organize where everyone will sit and what they will be eating.

Plus I want a special table by Sweetheart table for Grandparents and parents.

I honestly would hate open seating! I see all the reasoning behind it, but as a guest I could see myself as that one person that didn't get a seat saved with people she knew and ended up sitting with all the kids or something!

We're having 150, buffet style, but I'm assigning seats. I pretty much know my guests and know who they will or wont get along with so I don't think this will be a problem.

We are having a buffet style so we will not be doing a seating chart works for me bc i wouldnt know where to put everyone!!

I'm glad to see that some other people are on my side of this...I honestly thought that most people would completely disagree.

@Carole - Clearly, in your circles, open seating doesn't happen. Sounds like Kris. But yes, there are weddings where you literally walk in and find a seat. No seating chart. No escort cards. No table numbers or names. And you can pick your jaw up off the floor I like your table names...very unique and creative!

@Meagan - It sounds like most of the characteristics of your wedding are leaning towards at least assigning tables, which it sounds like you're doing!

While reading this post (during the superbowl) my FH and his two sons were discussing this. I just thought that we would do the open. So I asked my FH what his thought on this was and he said open except for the parents.. Then his boys was like..no no you need to assign seats.. then one of his other sons g/f come in and she was like.. def.. assigned seats.. I will have close to 100 people coming. several of my friends are from different states and knows no one in our families or each other. I don't want them coming in to wonder around looking for a seat. So the more we talked about it then the best choice will be assigned seating. Both of are parents are still married so we will seat them all together. then there will be siblings, cousins and friends.. So there may be some confusion that I really didn't give alot of thought to.

Open seating for us with dinner served buffet style for 200 guests. It's all close friends and family so anyone who doesn't know someone will be getting to shortly anyway! I've never been to a wedding with assigned seats and I would not like being told who I had to sit with.

Wow Heather...never?! I have figured out as much that in the South, open seating is very common, but I see that you are from Ohio. I am intrigued by these regional differences.

We are having around 175 people with a plated dinner (same meal for everyone, except those with dietary restrictions) and are assigning people to tables, but letting them choose their own seat at the table.

We assigned tables for everyone. We had around 120 people and it was buffet style meal. But we paid for tables, linens & centerpeices so an extra table would have cost around $60. Besides, when I think of open seating I start having flash backs to the first day of school trying to find a seat in the lunch room. We had cancellations 3 days before the wedding so I was redoing the chart and it was stressful but I wasn't willing to pay for extra tables. I've been to open seating weddings and there were quite a few tables empty. Centerpeices and favors were all set out on those tables too, and never used.