Seating assignments

I think that's totally ok. When it's a completely open seating plan is when it sometimes causes confusion. We will assign tables but not seats

I think this is more common than assigning actual seats.

I feel like this is actually the more common approach.

That’s perfectly fine & it’s done often actually.

That's actually pretty common. Just assign tables - that's what I've always seen.

I am assigning tables but not seats. For the parents' tables I am leaving a "reserved" sign on their places because I don't want someone else snagging the best seat leaving my parents or FH's parents without a good view of us or the dance floor.

I think that’s how most weddings are....just table assignments, not seats. If you have special seats you want for people you might want to out a “reserved” sign on them.

That's how it's been at most weddings I've been to.

Yes, that's common! It usually doesn't cause confusion.

We're doing this. I feel like it helps with guests being able to sit next to who they prefer. Assigning seats by each person's individual name would take entirely too long, unless your guest list is on the smaller side. However, everyone won't be in their seats the entire night because they'll be too busy dancing, mingling, drinking, and celebrating!

Okay feeling much better about this, had no idea how common this was.

New question, when listing the seating chart, if you don’t know the name of your guests plus one, what do you put? Just plus one?

About half if all weddings I have been to assign seats. The other half have place card holders in front of every seat, and people take their place card from the display as they enter, and put it in the place card holder in front if the seat they choose at the proper table. Very common. And at least with tables assigned, no one ends up without a good place, or couples split between tables, or where they know no one , which happens without any table assignments. That completely open seating is what usually brings complaints.

View Quoted Comment People usually check by phone to get names. But when they don't, and respond to meal choices with numbers not names as they should, mostly I have seen 2 cards clipped together, alphabetically by the primary guest, near the seating chart it card display. With place card holders at seats, a card is in each, saying James Wright , with correct meal code, and Guest of James Wright: with whatever correct meal on that. If you guess the wrong meal, they are side by side, and can tell server, and swap meals. My older family taught me that when seated, the guest should turn the card over and write their name on a blank side, or under Guest of so and so: print their name and title. This is a help, so servers and nearby guests will address you by name. About half the time, I see " guest of person" write in their name then put it in the card holder in front of them. When I worked catering, I noticed business and organization people always remember to print title and name, but at family and friends things, people who attend lots of parties automatically fill in their name, and the others sometimes don't know that they should.

View Quoted Comment Okay this is a huge help, thank you!

I think it depends - if you have a more traditional table layout, then this is fine! I recently came from a wedding where the tables were laid out in a zig-zag fashion down two sides. It looked so cool! At first our group of friends were disappointed because it seemed as if we wouldn't be able to sit together, but the bride actually assigned seats which helped us stay as a group. Either way, at least assign tables!

That's perfectly fine! I'll be doing this!
Everyone should be able to choose their own seat once they get to their table.

Every wedding I've been to has had tables assigned, not specific seats. Makes it super easy!

Yes that would be fine! That is what we are doing as well.