Seating chart?

It can make things go easier for the guests, i'm not a fan of them unless it's a formal wedding. I didn't want anyone to be seated with people they don't know, or feel stuck at a "singles" table..been there done that for both and didn't want it at our wedding. We only reserved a table for us/attendants, my brother and his family, and my now-stepson because there were 6 of them. I'm sure most will say you "have" to do it, but if it's a more laid-back wedding it's really up to you. We didn't do it and everything went fine.

It just makes everything smoother when you do one. People don’t naturally form groups of 8 (or 10) and so you’ll have people who want to pull chairs from one table or some tables with some empty extra chair. Sometimes venues will require seating charts or extra tables/chairs so make sure that won’t be the case for you.

View Quoted Comment Its definitely going to be more laid back. Not super uppity, itll be an all around country wedding.

I think it's crappy to "reserve" tables for some people and not others. You don' have to do a seating chart at all, but it's SO much easier for guests.

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Ours was super laid-back too. We served fried chicken, had kegs, etc....People seemed to appreciate the less formal way of no assigned seating. Some people who didn't know each other ended up sitting together on their own and having fun. I loved seeing everyone sit where they wanted to

I would assign tables to everyone otherwise it will be a disorganized mess especially with that many people. Guests are just not good at sitting themselves. Guests will move chairs and possibly table settings if you don't or you'll end up with a bunch of people crowded at one table and only a couple at another.

I think it’s best to have table seating for everyone so it makes it easier. People don’t tend to seat themselves well.

Thank you everyone!

I agree with PPs that assigning tables would be great

I am always for team seating chart. Just creates more order.

I don’t think you need to assign seats, but at least tables. I hate not having a table to sit at it feels like junior high trying to find a seat in the cafeteria or something. It’s especially difficult for those who might not know a lot of others at the wedding.

View Quoted Comment Thank you!!!

I got married 3 weeks ago and had the same dilemma. We had around 100 guest and dinner was a buffet. I did assignments and it worked perfectly. I grouped people together by family, friends, and people who would mesh well. I ordered a template off of Etsy for the table assignment and printed it at FedEx and put it in a frame and it on an easel at the wedding. Here’s a pic. It was a lot easier to do than I expected

How did you figure out who should go where?

I think the seating chart is 100% your own preference. I attended my soon-to-be sister-in-law's (my fiance's sister's), wedding on 11/2 and she had a buffet and did not have a seating chart and everything was fine. She only had her bridal party sitting with her and her husband and everyone else got to pick their own seats.

At our wedding we are also having a buffet style and are having a seating chart. For me, it's easier to make one because I know who knows who and I want to make sure that all of our tables are filled. I also want to make sure that our guests are sitting with people they know. Because of that, my fiance and I will be the only ones at the head table and our bridal party will be sitting with their +1's and other people/family members they know.

With that many guests, a seating chart is suggested.