Seating arrangements

Why do you feel you have to have assigned tables? I’ve been to weddings with no assigned tables or seating charts with the exception of the wedding party and a couple of reserved tables for the couples immediate family. Everyone else just sat where they wanted and it was great.

We really can't answer that for you--only y'all know your friends and family.

Yes, they should def have table assignments. Honestly the biggest thing is just "try to sit people who know each other together."

View Quoted Comment I have been talking to my matron of honor, and my wedding planner about it. People will move chairs to add more people at a table so they can all sit together. At least they are just at a table..after dinner, I don’t care where they sit.

View Quoted Comment I know..but holy stress! Idk why it’s causing so much stress.

View Quoted Comment It is possible this would happen, but that hasn’t Brent he case at the weddings I’ve been to without seating assignments.
I guess the question would be if you are doing a plated meal or buffet. If plated, then you probably do need assigned seating to keep everything right for the wait staff. If buffet there is no real necessity for assigned seating. Just my opinion.

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The only two weddings I've ever been to with open seating were chaos--older guests (grandparents, etc.) end up sitting 1-2 people at one big table when people grab a bunch of chairs to overload a table filled with their friends. It is just so much easier for everyone involved to have a table assignments.

OP--I get it's stressful, but there are a bunch of "right" ways to go about it. You know your family/friends. You can probably guess pretty well at who will get along and who might not. People in similar age groups, friends from way back, family, those can be grouped together.

I would do table assignments at least, I mean it can be a headache but some sort of organization at all is helpful

I Think Its Alot More Organized To Have Assigned Seating Regardless Of What Kind Of Dinner You Have.

I’ve thought about seating assignments, it’s no fun, just let people sit where they want. Only assign seats to the people you want at certain tables / seats.

View Quoted Comment I totally agree with this.

I am not understanding the sitting area. We are doing the Enloping thing with the reception with 25 Guest. So my FH also asked me the same.

If you have 75 guests or more. I feel like some sort of guide for seating is needed otherwise its chaos. It's also dependent upon if you are having a buffet or being served. We are required to have seating cards with their chosen meal for the wait staff. It's just easier if you already know where they are going.

Unless you're having a really small wedding, I'd recommend assigning tables. My plan is to assess once the RSVPs come in but I've already got an idea of how I'll split up the bridal party (because they won't all fit at one table with their spouses) and some obvious "yes" responses such as parents and family who have already said they are making plans to attend.

How many chairs per table? This will help you decide. I'm probably putting people with people they know exclusively because my family is too small to split up effectively without alienating them.

View Quoted Comment We are having 100 people. 8 chairs to a table, and right now looks like we may be doing just a sweetheart table. I may change that back and have the wedding party all with us.

Table assignments definitely make things easier for guests. What I did to help with this was by using index cards. I wrote each couple (or person) on an index card. I then organized them in small piles based on their group (work friends, old school friends, etc). Then I arranged them from there. I aimed for 8 per table, but they averaged 7-9 per table since people didn't work out evenly. If people didn't fit neatly into a table, I thought about factors like age, personality, and interests to seat people where I thought they may get along with others at the table. The index cards made it easy to kind of move things around and visualize. I would also not work on the seating chart until you get the RSVPs back. Otherwise, you're just going to have to redo everything all over again.