Seating chart

If you want zero drama then I’d use a seating chart. It stops people from cramming in at one table and leaves others empty it also saves people from having to sit with people they don’t know.

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Thank you so much

I would definitely assigned tables especially if you already planned on reserving tables. Having unassigned tables will cause drama because unfortunately people can't often seat themselves without any direction.

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Lol thank you

I am all for assigned tables

I went to a wedding last year that didn’t do any kind of seating chart or assigned tables other than the wedding party. It worked out really well. I’d say there was about 100, maybe a little less. I didn’t notice any issues with too many people crammed at one table and other tables being empty.
If you are worried that you may not know who will want to sit with whom, I’d say just let them decide for themselves. I don’t think people will cram a bunch of chairs at one table.

We assigned tables and then allowed guests to choose where they sat at the designated tables. This worked out well.

We did assigned tables and guests could choose their seat at their assigned table. It worked out great for our 100 guests.

Assigning tables makes for far less drama, as there is no scramble to find seats. That, and you can number your tables according to your theme, and do a nice little chart or name tags.

I'd recommend assigned tables. You don't have to give everyone a specific seat, but at least designating people to tables ensures that no one ends up the odd person out, that people with special needs (kids, elderly folk, people with mobility issues) have appropriate arrangements, and if you are doing plated courses of any kind, simplifies things for servers and venue staff.

For what it's worth... I've literally never been to a wedding with a seating chart and there has never been drama. People just sat with whomever they wanted, and then they would mingle around to speak to other people that they weren't sitting with. These weddings have always had a few tables at the front that just have a "reserved" sign in the middle with the centerpiece. Those were the tables for the bridal party (and their dates/SOs if they brought one) and for the immediate family of the bride and groom. The bride or wedding coordinator just made sure those people knew they were to sit at the reserved tables beforehand. Everyone else just found a spot and had a good time.

I don't know if it's cultural or regional or what but I've never actually seen a wedding seating chart in my life and don't plan to have one myself either. That being said, you know your guests best. If you think they can't handle seating themselves without issues, I'd take the guesswork out of it and tell everyone where to sit. I do think it would raise questions and confusion if you had a seating chart for some of the guests and not others.

Have assigned seating seating for everyone. after dinner people can go where they want.