Seating chart or open seating?

Every wedding I have been to has had a seating chart. But no one followed that and just sat with whoever they wanted. At my wedding we are doing a food truck. So since its more casual, there won't be a seating chart. But for more formal weddings I think assigned seating would be best

My issues is this, I know everyone says Seating chart however no one in my family has ever had a wedding with a seating chart. I get that everyone here says its bad etiquette but I think that it is based on how your family and your FH family feel about it as well as yourself and FH. Don't feel pressured to have one because everyone is telling you that it is rude not to.

Assigned tables!

I assigned tables but I don't think it's rude not to. I do agree it makes it easier and this way I know everyone has a seat

Read: I want to do open seating because I'm too lazy to make a seating chart.

Also, a cafeteria is one of the last things I want my reception compared to

Assign tables! I went to a wedding this past Saturday and they had open seating and it was super awkward for FH and myself! The bar wasn't open and we didn't know anyone so went spent a good while wandering around lost looking for a table that didn't have purses in random seats. We praised God when our friends arrived to join us so we weren't alone . There will definitely be a seating chart at our wedding.

We did assigned tables. If you did it "cafeteria style" you would need extra tables. I didn't want that empty space plus we had entree choices so the waiters needed to know where to take what food.

I put a lot of thought into my seating chart. Everyone had multiple people that they enjoyed talking to at their table. I tried to keep social circles together as best as I could. I didn't isolate single people. I kept them with their friends and family regardless. I think it worked out great.

Definitely assign tables. My FSIL did not and it was not a good time for already stated reasons. Stressful, awkward, don't do that to your guests.

I think calling it "cafeteria seating" says it all. It can feel as awkward as finding your place in the cafeteria on the first day at a new school. If you can, it's a nice gesture.

Always ASSIGNED TABLES unless it's cocktail style.

Chances are not all of your guests are comfortable finding their own seats even if your family is used to no assigned seats.

Remember that uncomfortable feeling you had the first time you walked into the lunchroom at school your freshman year? You don't want your guests to feel like that when they walk into your wedding. Assign tables and let them pick their seats.

The words 'wedding' and cafeteria' shouldn't go together. In fact, the last thing you want is for your guest to have high school cafeteria flashbacks.

You only assign tables unless it's a multi-course plated meal.

Definitely assign tables

Hope grandma can't out run the youngins.

I did a seating

arrangement and it worked out great. The guests liked their place cards, even kept them.

I really love the feedback thanks guys!

My coordinators (venue's coordinator and the MOC who I hired separately) are ok with no assigned seats or tables (current floor plan has 75% seating, but MOC advised having 50% to have the ambience we want) but it has nothing to do with being too lazy to make a seating chart...it's because we want to do a cocktail style reception, with stations open the whole evening and not a set dinner hour. I have been speaking to friends who have recently gone to similar weddings and they really liked it (good enough friends who I trust to be honest, especially as I'm undecided). I'm still torn though. We'd definitely have a few reserved tables for older people, and plenty of our friends told us they think this sounds fun and that dinner is the boring part anyway. But I'm torn because it's tough to break from the tradition. I want us to be good hosts but also want to have it more of a fun cocktail party (still with plenty of food and the premium open bar) than a formal passed dinner. I have 9 months to go, but our guest list also depends on the structure so I do need to figure it out soon for save the dates.