Seating arrangements- assigned seat?

We assigned tables but not specific seats. Our venue gave us a form to fill out specifying any dietary restrictions, etc. I think people are more comfortable if they can at least pick the specific seat they want.

I've seen it a bunch of ways. Most of the time the easiest is Escort cards at assigned tables vs assigned seats. We had a buffet so we did a sign with guests alphabetically and their table number. Our venue just required us to state who at each table had what dietary restrictions.

We assigned tables, not seats. We knew that if we assigned specific seats, people would still swap places with other guests at their table. If you have a pre-requested plated meal entrees like we did, have escort cards to assign them a table. In the bottom corner of their card, place the symbol for the entree (ie beef gets cow symbol, chicken gets chicken symbol, vegetarian get carrot symbol and so on.) This is super easy for wait staff to see and serve guests accordingly. Also you should be letting the staff know per contract X days before the number of each type of meal goes to each table

View Quoted Comment Hi Ashlee, thanks! I wanted to do a big sign for the seating chart but having plated dinners with a meal choice, I have a feeling the escort card is really my only option.

Maybe you can do cards only assigning the table. Then when the guests get to their table, they have a designated spot to put their escort card. For example, the picture below. I like the pp’s idea about writing their meal choice in the corner of the card so the waitstaff can see. I also think the waiters could come to the table with a plate and say “chicken?” And then the person who ordered it would nod. Only problem with this is guests could potentially change their mind. Good luck!!

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Would your venue/ caterer be okay with you just giving them a total for each dish at each of the tables (ex. table 1 has 3 beef and 5 chicken)? Like Bird mentioned, you may still have people switch dishes, but at least they'll be kind of locked into however many dishes per table.

There is no reason to assign specific seats unless you have a long single table for the entire guest list. If you put a place card at a specific seat, there will be guests switching out chairs to sit elsewhere at the table. Escort cards that guests pick up at the door with table assignments are much easier on everyone, and more economical for you, than a seating poster/mirror.