Seating chart or free seating?

Assigned tables!

Atleast assign to table and let them choose the seat when they get there. Less chaos

I think even with a buffet you need to at least assign tables. What do you think is going to happen? Some people will go to the tables early, leave jackets or scarves to save seats. Others will go to the food first and now have to walk around with plates looking for a seat. It will be like JH cafeteria. People will be told, oh we are saving seats, and may be hurt. Some people may even move the jackets to get a table for a bigger group. You will need extra seats to prevent couples or families from being split. And I bet you will be saving tables for the VIPs, immediate family and wedding party, so some will feel like Very Unimportant People.

It may be a little extra for you to do but, assign tables at least. It'll be less stressful for not only you but, also your guests.

I'm doing assigned tables. Haven't decided if I'll assign seats or not yet but at least assign tables so that way you don't have people walking in looking confused

At least assign tables, it may be a daunting task but your guests will appreciate it.

We're assigning tables.

Where assigning tables, but not actually assigning seats. The way I see it, this will prevent people from sitting in the specific tables that we would like saved for our parents or immediate family, but it also saves us the headache of having to deal with the seating chart!

I can also relate to this struggle. Our reception venue is on the small side for the amount of guests that we will likely have, plus the band, and we've decided to have a seated dinner. This is not what my mom wanted, and she remains adamant that we should not assign seating. I worry that it could get hectic if we don't, though... still trying to decide, and trying to figure out how to breech the subject with my mom...

Seating Charts have never been used in my family. I thought about but my family is also against it because they think its silly. However I am more unsure what I'm going to do then I was before.

I cringe every time I see people say they are not assigning at least tables. I went to a wedding with no assigned seating and ending up eating outside at a picnic table that one of the GM dragged under a tent because it was raining with the groom's parents because they didn't have anywhere to sit either. It is not acceptable to not assign seats.

Assign tables.

As a guest, I love knowing exactly where you want me to sit.

Assigned tables is a must in my opinion. Don't make guest scramble on where to sit.

Fun fact, I've never been to a wedding with assigned tables. But after being on WW for a year, I've learned there are lots of differences in my town than most other places. All the weddings, though, have had extra tables/seats so it wasn't a big deal (with the exception of the wedding where there were only enough seats for HALF the guests during the reception, but that's another story). There was enough room for people to sit where/with whom they wanted.

We will be having assigned tables, because we will likely have barely under our venue max, which means no spare tables. I told my dad I was assigning tables and he said "when did this become some ritzy wedding?"

I definitely expect confusion from some guests, but at least they'll have a seat with their friends.

Assigned tables !

Just went to a wedding without assigned seating. Prob 50 people. It was fun bc we all mingled. But you know your crowd.

We are doing unassigned tables. I've never been to a wedding where they had assigned tables or seats. It never is a cluster. I guess people where I'm from just know how to mingle with strangers & make new friends.

Definitely assigned tables! Seating chart help you stay organized.

At my sister's wedding they didn't have assigned seating. Important family members got pushed to the back and random friends were at the table with my parents. If you aren't going to do all the tables assigned, at least reserve some tables for the people you want closer to the action.