Seating Charts

People just don't seat themselves well, leaving gaps and families/groups can be easily separated.

It can get chaotic really quickly. In my opinion, even assigning tables is better than no seating chart at all

I would assign tables just to make sure that families and friends get to sit together. When people come into a reception they like to disperse and sit weirdly, and the last groups to come in would probably have to split up into random single seats at tables.

I won't be assigning specific seats but I will be assigning tables.

I definitely recommend at least assigning tables. I've been to weddings without seating charts and it was so annoying. Everyone was getting frustrated.

I personally hate the idea of assigned seating. I’m not going to be making anyone sit where they don’t want to.

Keep in mind that without assigning guests at least to specific tables, the conventional advice (and a requirement of many venues) is that you plan for at least 20% more seating than your guest count would require (so, expecting 100 guests? Provide tables/seats for 120...). This can potentially cost you a lot more in terms of table/chair/placesetting/linen/etc. rentals. As others mentioned, left on their own, guests will not seat themselves efficiently, then a family of five is left wandering unable to find seats together. Even worse, it's like Middle School lunch tables with people being turned away, "Sorry! Those seats are saved!" Or, your darling grandma ends up at a table in the far back of the room where she can't see or hear what's going on. It's really NOT that hard to assign people to table groupings and you doing it isn't going to make them more irritated than if they can't find a seat with people they know or possibly can't find enough seats together to sit with their date/partner/family. The cheapest, easiest way to do it is with escort cards (placecards with each guest's name and table number on them -- you can handwrite them, print them, or order them pre-printed online) that guests pick up on their way into the reception. You could also do a big poster, but that's harder to adjust if there are any last minute changes.

Unless you have a very small group, and everyone knows each other, be a good host and place people in table groupings. There are tons of online resources to help, or it's really easy to go old-school with a poster board and small post-its with each guest's name written on one. That way you can play around with the groupings and move people until you get it right.

It’s not “taboo”..., But not always wise based on how many guests you have. Just picture those days when you been to a crowded theater (or bar) and there’s one seat in one row… Two seats in another row and a single seat somewhere else. That doesn’t work well when a family of 4 needs to sit down.

I am always for team seating chart.

I'm not doing assigned seating or assigned tables. We're having 50 guests and a buffet

Also you don’t have to sign of a specific seat. It’s nice for guests to feel like you truly thought about them enough to reserve a spot at a table.

This is a topic that people have very strong opinions on this site. I have gone to a ton of weddings in my area both as guest and a wedding musician, and I have never been to a wedding with assigned seating and everything worked out fine. People on here will tell that people don’t know how to seat themselves an will leave odd gaps, you need to get extra seating, etc. I guess it must be a regional thing - where I live, having assigned seating is extremely rare. People just pick their seats without a lot of drama, and will accommodate others so they don’t get stuck sitting by themselves. My guess is the more rural (or maybe midwest?) your venue, the less of an issue it is. Talk to people from the east or west coasts or larger cities, from what I can tell on here, it’s more common to have seating arrangements. Long story short: don’t let the people on here pressure you to do a seating arrangement if it’s not common in your area. It is very common in some areas NOT to have assigned seating, and it works out totally fine.

It’s less stress for the couple, but stressful for guests who often get separated from their dates/families or take too long finding open seats. You don’t have to do place cards but at least table assignments.

Weddings where tables aren’t assigned are my literal biggest pet peeve.

Table assignments are so much easier for everyone for lots of reasons.

A lot of the responses are right... people won’t sit themselves well .. or evenly. People can get left out or tables can be really uneven and awkward. It’s better to not make them have to think about it. We are assigning people to tables but not to specific seats. Also - your family will really want there to be head tables and have only family at them. They are important and should have their own tables

I would at least assign tables. ANY event I've been to without assigned tables, it's caused annoyances. Like gaps, that one awkward person who sits with a family, or people who take prime seating when it should really go to closer friends or family.
I appreciate you being easy going though. If you're having a very casual wedding and everyone knows each other and gets along, I think this could work.

View Quoted Comment This is very true. Thank you!

View Quoted Comment Thank you very much for this response. It gave me less anxiety haha. I have a lot to think about

It depends on how many guests you will be having..and how well they all know each other. With 250 people, I'm definitely assigning tables. As others have said, people don't seat themselves well and it gets unruly and stressful.