Table Assignments

I would say your choice! It’s nice to mix and match and get people to mingle but assigned seating is good to keep certain people away from other people if they don’t get along?!?! Anyways it’s only to eat. Usually everyone is up dancing after dinner. If it’s stresses you out then let guests decide where to sit

Guests appreciate at least having tables assigned so they are not separated from their party and aren't worried about where they are going to sit. This brings flashbacks of finding a table in the high school cafeteria and can be stressful for the guests. Don't pass your stress onto your guests when it really shouldn't take you very long to group people at tables. Also, other guests won't seat themselves in a way to make most efficient use of the seats at the table, thus requiring you to have more tables and chairs as well.

My sister did unassigned and it went just fine. I plan on doing the same thing! I think the only time it’d really be expected would be if you have a very formal wedding.

You can do whatever you’d like, but assigning tables is much more convenient for your guests.

My concern with not assigning tables would be large groups trying to find seats together and having to split up, but it’s just for dinner. I’m assuming you’re doing a buffet, which means people will be up and moving around a lot more anyways.

Most venues/coordinators will tell you that if you are not assigning tables, you need to plan on at least 20% more seats than expected guests to account for guests not seating themselves efficiently (as a pp mentioned). I also agree that if trying to figure this is out is stressful for you, realize how stressful it might be for your guests as they are wandering around trying to find seats together. Just do it; it's not that hard. It will potentially save you money (not needing extra seats/place settings) and make your reception more enjoyable for your guests.

I was having the same issue. I was thinking open seating but then I read elsewhere that it could get messy or look strange with people looking for seats (like a high school cafeteria). I also don't want to stress over picking tables and who sits where lol. Idk what to do!

I would say, if you are having more than about 30 people, and it is a more formal wedding then you should at least do assigned tables. I would find out how many can sit at a table, and you can even group people by family/interests before you start getting rsvps. Just dont make anything final until you have all of them back!

For plated meal service I would. Buffet no.
We are having buffet and reserved seating for parents and a few others. Open seating for everyone else. We're adding two extra tables with chairs for stragglers. I don't want the headache of table assignments or figuring out family dynamics and drama. Let them eat cake...next to whomever.

We’re not having assigned seating. Mainly because I don’t have time to try and arrange everyone. We are having reserved tables for our wedding party. Plus people would move to another table to sit with another couple. Oh we’re also having a buffet style dinner.

Open seating is stressful and can be humiliating for guests. They go up to a table and are told, sorry we are saving seats. Even worse when wedding party or immediate family gets assigned tables and the rest have to find a seat. What happens when an aunt tries to sit with her sister and is told, no, you cannot sit here. If you have assigned tables, you can nicely say, oh Aunt Betty, you are at Table 12.

If that happened to me, I would go to ladies room and rip up the check in my purse. If you want to publicly treat me as second class, I will leave early. If more than 50, please do not do it. And if you do it, you will need 15-20% more seats (more linens, more centerpieces), so couples and families do not get separated.

Its definitely a choice but I recommend assigning tables. This way there is much less chaos and everyone is evenly spread out. If you allow people to sit wherever they want guests will be pulling chairs from one table to another and squeezing more than can fit. You'll end up with tables with too many people and tables with barely anyone.

Assign tables will definitely help with sitting people efficiently. The less tables you have will reduce the number of centerpieces you need which can save you some serious $$$.

I've been to weddings where they've had no unassigned seats even at really big weddings and it hasn't been a problem. People were saying they liked having the choice of who to sit next to.

Personally I would assign but I like organisation 🤣

Whenever I have a question like this, I think about my guests' comfort. Put yourself in their shoes. People will run around like crazy trying to reserve seats, not enough room for a guest plus their date at a particular table, end up sitting with different generation, etc. It won't take you that long and save your guests a lot of stress/anxiety.

I just finished our seating today it wasn’t bad took about 1 hour!!