Weddingbee boards

I know this has been hashed out on here before, but I just can't make up my mind, so I'm asking for your help!

We are going for a realxed vibe: getting married on the beach in summer and a reception catered by Moe's in a local reception hall. 

We have two options (1) form a seating chart (2) no seating chart. We will have 8 tables with 8 seats at each table. Buffet will be self-served. Only wine and beer. (Just FYI)

Some family info:

Both of our parents are divorced, and my grandparents are divorced. We have family coming in from all over the country. My grandparent's can't sit together (gpa doesn't get along with gma). His mom and dad can't sit together (not a great relation there). 

We will have aunts and uncles and friends there.

We aren't sure we want a bridal party table (if we do, where do you seat their dates?). 

My mom thinks that we don't need a seating chart and that people could pick there own seats. I am worried about people being next to each other or forced to sit in the above situations that shouldn't happen. 

Thoughts?

I would do a seating chart.  I know it's a smaller wedding, but I think seating charts are good for a number of reasons.

1.  The help avoid the awkward situations you've described.  The odds are it won't happen, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

2  If you have guests that don't know many, if any, other people at the wedding (dates of the bridal party) then you can seat them with other guests they know or have something in common with and they aren't left wandering around or stuck by themselves somewhere. 

3. I've also seen it happen where a larger group wants to sit together so they take other seats from another table and you could be stuck with a table of just a few people and that could suck for them. 

4. What if a family or couple gets in late (or just later than everyone else) and there isn't enough room at a table for them to sit together?  That would also suck.  If you decide not to do a seating chart then you really need to have an extra table or 2 and some chairs to avoid this situation.

Anyway, I hope this was helpful.  Good luck!

I am having an all-cocktail reception and I am thinking we won't have a seating chart to avoid awkward dynamics (my parents are divorced and even though my father isn't invited, his parents will be there, and my FI's parents are divorced as well).

HOWEVER, I need to share a tip I got from my caterer. She told me that if you don't want to have a seating chart, you need to have extra tables because as people try and find seats they may feel uncomfortable with filling up a whole table with people they don't know. We are only having enough people to need 9 tables of 8, but I am considering having 11 tables of 8 just to give people a little bit of breathing room. 

I prefer at least a table chart.

for one: prevents everyone stealing chairs from another table and left with a couple sitting in an empty table.  It just sucks...

secondly, you know how the dynamic of your guest.  You can always group the "right" people together.  If they want to swap seats later with someone, they can on their own.

If yours are going to be buffet, then no seating chart is not a problem.  If you do plated, then definitely will need a seating chart. 

also it needs to depend on how your guests group together.  If you have pretty good idea they will be grouping in tables of 8 anyway, then seating chart or not is not a problem.  But you have a couple people that doesn't know everyone else well.  It might create an awkward situation for them.