Seating Chart Vs no Seating Chart

With 250 people a seating chart is 100% necessary (personally I think it's necessary with even 50 people). Why do you think you shouldn't do one?

People will feel awkward, tables won't be properly filled, and guests may have trouble finding seats together for their families. If you aren't going to have a seating chart, you need lots of extra seating to compensate. Is it really worth it?

You don't need assigned seats, but you definitely need assigned tables. You have too many people to just allow them to choose their own seats. That would be chaos. You also don't have to have individual cards, but you should at least have a large sign with the list of table numbers with guest names underneath. Look up "escort chart wedding" for inspiration.

You definitely need assigned seats for a guest list that large. If anything, assign tables. You don't need individual seating assignments just a large sign with each table and names. People will not want to be walking around looking for a comfortable place to sit, with people they know. The last people to stroll in could split up couples from tables because each table may only have 1 seat left. Its easier on absolutely everyone to assign tables. If you don't assign tables, you'll need to have more tables and chairs than people because you can bet not every table 100% fills in. There will be gaps in seating everywhere.

With a guest list that size, a seating chart is 100% necessary to avoid chaos.

Please please at least make assigned tables! I went to a wedding of around 300 and they didn’t have an assigned tables system so FH and I grabbed a chair in the back by the band and had some water. Then the Mother if the bride came up and was like panicking like “you aren’t supposed to be there you’re supposed to be up front at the table labeled BFFs”. And we both looked at each other like “hmm”. People were tipping their chairs against the tables to “save their spot” and that’s just hazardous. It was chaos for sure

Absolutely I recommend having assigned tables, it'll make things much easier on your guests. If you don't want to do a chart you can use escort cards instead.

Assign tables. My BILs recent wedding didn't assign tables, and it wasn't fun for me doing what the coordinator should have insisted them to do. I had to get more tables, chairs, dishes, glassware etc, get people I didn't know to seats they felt comfortable at. Don't do that to guests. This should be a well planned out event that guests shouldn't have a single thought about helping out, and should only enjoy themselves.

Not having a seating chart is unfair to your guests. They will feel like middle school lunch hour on the first day of school. I've only been to 1 wedding without a chart and it was awkward to say the least.

Either escort cards on a large table with there name or a sign with what table they are at. It's a must like everyone has said. Not a clue to sit makes bad for your guests.

Um, numbering your tables and giving out name cards with a table number on it IS having a seating chart. Seating charts are absolutely, 100% necessary for that number of people. You don't need to assign specific seats at each table, but you definitely need to assign tables.

I"m not playing musical chairs meets hunger games to find a place to sit... 100% make a seating chart. A guest list thast large, definitely needs one.

You need to assign tables with that many people. You may be left with unattended seats and splitting people up all trying to figure out who to sit with and where. With a buffet i don't think you need name cards. They are generally for people noting a specific entree or choice or people wanting to assign individual seats. However, you can do escort cards if you choose so people can pick up their name card and see what table to sit at. You can also do a large seating chart board with everyone's name under a table and let them figure it out as they come into the reception. Probably alphabetically is best to move the line.

I have about 250 as well. Def doing a seating chart because if not its going to take too long for people to decide where to sit and its going to be a hot mess. I would rather avoid all that

Maybe due to the size of your wedding you need one. But I'm gonna be the one that goes against what everyone else is saying and tell you that I have been to a wedding where there were no seating chart or no table numbers that anyone had to sit at. Minus a couple of reserve tables for bride and groom's immediate family, of course. It went very well. No confusion or chaos of who sits where. Families even sat together. But this was 100 person wedding. So it was much smaller than the one you are having.

If you are not doing assigned seating I wouldn't waste the money on place cards. I have realized they tend to be more expensive than I had thought. I would suggest still having table numbers to make it easier on your servers or to assist in dismissing tables to go to the buffet (if you have one).

I honestly think you need to assign tables (not seats). You don't want a group of 7 going to a 8 person table. Thats not fair for the person that has to sit at that table that would have liked to sit with family at another table

If you don’t assign tables you’re going to need 20-25% extra seating, because people aren’t going to neatly fill up tables - there will be empty seats. You don’t have to assign seats but you need to assign tables.

Like ppl said at least assign tables. You can do it in excel. I went to a wedding a couple Saturdays ago and it was at least 100 guest. With nothing assigned, three guest sat at the bridle party's table...which left...you guessed 3 of the party had no seats. Thank goodness the church had extra chairs stored in the back. It was a #facepalm moment watching the chaos. So yeah at least assign tables.

I forgot to mention even the coordinator was afraid to ask these mis-set...(hope that's a word) guest to move. Mind you these 3 guest started demanding service like they were apart of the wp. Since I was a server and was a little peeved the 3 guest took advantage of the couple kindness...I instead turned into petty-betty and politely ignored the 3 rude guest demands...
Lol so I have one petty-betty day per year and I used it.