Seating Chart Yes or No???

As a wedding guest, I'm always a fan of reserved tables (but not reserved seats at the table) for dinner and the formal reception events. With open seating, people don't generally seat themselves efficiently, which could end up with some guests having to sit at a separate table than their spouse if tables fill up before they get there, or they could end up sitting at a table with a bunch of people they don't know. Some people may cram extra chairs around a table so they can sit with their friends, leaving another table without enough chairs. A seating chart eliminates these issues. If you do choose to have open seating, set up a few more tables and chairs than what you need, just to try to avoid issues. Otherwise, I think a seating chart is the better option. Once dinner ends, guests are always able to move to a different table to chat with other people if they prefer.

Fully agree with everything Lisa said. I think assigned tables but not seats at the table. No seating charts create a lot of chaos you’d want to avoid

View Quoted Comment Okay I will look in to that!

I completely agree with the previous posters. Seating charts will save you a ton of hassle, and a lot of stress for your guests.

Definitely assign all of the tables.

Skip: the posters/mirrors/other charts that people cannot read, and assigned chairs


Do not skip: escort cards for assigned tables, and assigned tables
Anytime guests are eating, whether it’s plated, buffet or stations, guests must have an assigned home base put their coats, purses, etc. By assigning tables, you as the hosts eliminate chaos that is associated with open seating. What happens with open seating is that you have distinct groups: one group pulls every chair to sit 12-20 at a table for 8 while some tables will have one person sitting alone, another group will be aunt or grandma saving a table for relatives who never sit with her any any point and she won’t give up the chairs to anyone, someone looking for a seat as a single/couple/family is a nightmare because no one ever lets them sit down together, among other madness. All of those will have guests leave before dinner. Having a “reserved” sign for parents and wedding party doesn’t work because it doesn’t specify who it is for.
The only way you can get away with open seating is when you have cake and coffee or heavy appetizers that don’t require waitstaff but they do require tables and chairs for everyone in the same setup. But to prevent the chaos listed above, you must have twice the number of tables and chairs as you do guests.
For escort cards, do solid colored cardstock tent cards instead of tiny stickers and rubber stamps that waitstaff cannot read to hand out dinners to the guests who ordered each choice. These are found all over Etsy very inexpensively.