Seating chart or let people sit wherever?

I know this isn't a popular answer for the WW boards but we're not doing a seating chart and we're expecting 125-150. I hate seating charts and no one really sticks to them anyway. We are doing a head table for the bridal party and doing three reserved tables for family.

You absolutely need a seating chart with that many people. You can just assign tables if you want, but you need some structure.

Assign tables. its too much for people to pick their own seats. plus then you can make sure they dont over seat a table and no one is left out.;

As someone who is really shy, I would have been profoundly uncomfortable if there weren't assigned tables at the weddings I've been too. It's especially hard on guests who don't know as many people.

I was completely against a seating chart until I went to a wedding that didn't have one and it was such a nightmare we actually left. Everything was so disorganized and people were rushing to save seats. People were tilting the chairs onto the tables

I'm on team assign tables and enough seating for everyone! My mom just went a barn wedding with no assigned seating and it was a mess. The guests were crowding on the floor so it took up what would was the dance floor. She was scared to get up to dance and thought she'd lose her seat. I guess the bride thought that bad hosting was ok because the crowd was young and only had about 40 or so older guests.

I'm doing assigned tables!

About half of our guests were Trump supporters and the rest were very liberal. We didn't want any drama between the two camps, so we assigned tables and put like-minded people together.

Assign tables. We had a small wedding and still needed the tables.

We're doing assigned tables, mostly bc we have a few friends who won't know a lot of people at our wedding. That way we can seat them next to some of our more outgoing friends so they don't feel left out

I would say assign tables. Though whenever I don't know where to sit I normally sit with my family. I will say though that the one time I went as a plus one where my fiance was a friend of the groom it was not fun. Due to their venue they barely fit in everyone and had tables in two different rooms. We could neither here nor see the bride or groom so it was not all that fun to me.

Assign tables forsure

With that many people, your reception would be chaotic without at least table assignments. It would probably take forever and a half for everyone to find a seat. Some couples or families may get split up. It's not pleasant, and reminds of a high school cafeteria as one PP said (or worse, middle school!). I would be pissed to see the wedding party and immediate families sitting comfortably while everyone else is scrambling to find somewhere to sit. And as a socially anxious introvert, this situation would probably feel very embarrassing and overwhelming for me. Don't be lazy, assign tables and make a sign or cheap escort cards. Remember, the reception is a thank you for your guests. Leaving everyone to figure it out themselves certainly does not say "thank you".

I would do a seating chart for immediate family

It's mostly family so I'll probably only do reserved tables for immediate family and coworkers

My guest count is fairly small, so I'm doing a couple of reserved tables for bridal party and family and then open seating for everyone else.

We are doing a seating chart for 150 guest. If not, it would be a total mess. You need to have structure.

Reserving tables just for VIPs can be a nightmare. What is an aunt or cousin thinks he or she should be at VIP table, who gets to tell her to move? What about a reader, who thinks she should get to sit with the wedding party? DOCs will tell you this is a terrible alternative, that they are the ones who have to tell someone to move. It is telling people there are some VIPs and some VUPs (very unimportant people). It is incredibly rude. Do not do it. Assign tables for all. The only real reason not to is lazy brides. You may say, oh, let people sit where they want. But no, people do not get to sit where they want, they sit where they can find a seat. It can be humiliating to go to a table, and be told, we are saving seats.

I'll echo others. With a guest list that large, a seating chart is a must.

Why would a guest NOT care for a seating chart? It's organization.

You want 150-200 people to find a seat on their own not knowing who they will sit with and potentially split up couples and families at different tables?

Why would you have people who did not RSVP show up? This is WHY you do seating charts too, so those who did not RSVP do not get a seat because TOUGH LUCK.

Not doing a seating chart is just laziness.