Seating Chart - Is it really necessary these days?

We're doing table assignments. I only feel we'll be doing this because we went to a wedding over the summer, and my FH and I almost got split up because there weren't any tables that had two open seats. Luckily, we ended up getting to sit at a table together because another couple offered to hold their child, which opened up a seat. It was awkward nonetheless.

Moreover, since we'll be having a wedding during the pandemic, we're sorting folks based on their households and social bubbles to minimize any risk of accidental contagion.

Thank you all, this was a great insight. Things I never considered esp with the pandemic. I WILL do a seating chart now!!

We were against a table seating chart just because we didn't see the point in doing the extra work, plus wasting money on table numbers and the chart itself. We changed our minds though, and are having assigned tables NOT seats so we still save time and $$ by not needing place cards.

What changed our mind was our friends wedding that we attended. There wasn't a seating chart, so it was a free for all. Me, my FH, our entire friend group, and some other guests were left without a table THE ENTIRE EVENING. Guests would sit at tables with their groups and leave 1 or 2 seats open, which doesn't work if you have a group of 4 that need a table together lol, or even couples that want to sit together. There wasn't enough seating during the ceremony either, so we literally stood the entire time from 4-10, including dancing AND eating (which was a nightmare).

YIKES that sounds awful. After all the responses I have decided to go ahead and do a table assignment at the least to help save on coordination and experiences like you described.

Yeah it wasn't fun AT ALL!! Glad to hear you've made a decision! I'm sure it will work out well!

If you're doing a full meal, then some sort of chart is definitely helpful. Like Shelly, I'd only assign tables and no individual seats. Just be VERY aware of how people are grouped and any changes that might need to be made later. A number of years ago I went to a friend's wedding. My boyfriend and I were both friends of both bride and groom, so would be invited individually anyway. Between them making the seating chart and the wedding actually happening my boyfriend and I broke up. The couple knew we broke up (about 2 months before the wedding), but they kept the same seat assignments. So then he and I had to awkwardly sit right next to each other throughout dinner/toasts/dessert.... It was pretty horrific. A friend of mine was doing the BBQ for their dinner, so I honestly ended up just hanging out over there and eating with him. Completely across the grounds from the rest of the guests, whom I was also friends with.

Partially because of that experience and because of our time crunch and because of the nature of our wedding, FH and I will not have a seating chart. But our wedding is an early afternoon one with just hors d'oeuvres and no formal dinner. Childcare is being provided during the reception, so we don't need to worry about extra seats for kids. The only time people will be specifically asked to take a seat is during toasts, so it just really isn't necessary for us. But again, if you're having a full meal I'd probably suggest at least table assignments.

We have open sitting but ever table has a number on it so they can be called to go to the food trucks so its not a stampede but I also cut my wedding list from 250 (which i had a seating chart for) down to 80.