- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
The only wedding I have been to with no seating chart/table assignments it was total chaos. Couples ended up getting separated, people were practically running and throwing their purses/jackets etc. on tables to save places. It was not a large wedding either. Definitely do it.
I didn't have one because most of my guests were so wishy-washy about whether or not they'd show, even after they'd sent the RSVPs. I only wrote place cards for our families, host/hostesses, and my bridal party. We had about 150 show up and it worked fine.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes again.
The best example as to why you should have a seating chart?
Family of 4 is one of the last to come into the reception, but can't find a table with 4 empty seats and are forced to split up or ask people to move around. It's like musical chairs!
For 125 guests I would DEFF recommend a seating chart.
I would definitely have a seating chart. It just makes everything much more clear and easy for your guest if you at least have table assignments.
My other thought for no seating plans is that you need wiggle room unless some seats go unfilled. That might mean needing extra tables - which means extra linens, extra centrepieces, extra chairs or covers, possibly extra favours if they double as table decoration.
ETA: I plan a business event for about 225 people each year that we don't do a seating plan for. It works all right because most people come alone, and know at least 25 other people, but if you get groups that want to sit together it gets a little sketchy and "highschool cafeteria" like. We also have 7 extra tables for the wiggle room.
I went to a wedding with 80 guests with no seating chart and it was insane! Might be ok though if you're having a buffet dinner. Then everything is a lot more casual.
LOL, I guess we were an exception. We also did have like one extra table, but that didn't break the bank for us. We also had our food served to everyone. But if you think you need a seating chart, you should definitely do one. :)
Meh. I've been to two weddings without assigned seating and it was fine. A lot of people don't like it though. Seating charts are a PITA, but an expected courtesy too.
@farmgirl2106: Haha, I am glad it worked for you! Anytime I've seen this done, it was total chaos, as a PP described it. :)
We had assigned tables. Our guest list was small enough that we probably would have been okay without one, but I have some family members with really bad blood between them, and wanted to make sure they would be seated as far away from each other as possible.
For your number of guests, I think it will help everything run a lot smoother to have one.
Seating charts are one of those things that if you spend a little time and thought on them can really improve your guests experience. They aren't NEEDED, but if they are done well they can certainly be helpful.
It seems like a lot of work and added stress so close to the wedding, but I decided I will be doing one (assigned tables). I personally like seating arrangments at weddings and weddings with them seem much more organized.
As someone who battles with mild social anxiety, the thought of going to a wedding without a seating chart makes me freak out a little bit. Its like being the new kid at school in the cafeteria.
Seating charts are a definite for large groups. Would you want to be split from your family or significant other? I sure wouldn't, especially if I didn't know the others I was seated with.
I don't like them because whenever there is a seating chart I always end up sittin gwith people I either a] don't know or b] would never talk to/have nothing to alk to them about
which just creates awkward situations.-no one wants tobe forced to sit next to the deaf uncle who has a habit of repeating the same stories every 20minutes. I would rather be able to sit with the few people I know/can interact with than be randomly placed amongst a friend's relatives for the entire duration of the reception. (which could be anywhere from 1hour to 12).
eta:
if it were a family wedding (people I was related to) I would still want to choose where I sat because there is no gaurantee that my aunt/uncle/cousin would have had the forethought to seat me with the younger or normal family members.
In fact, when it comes to family weddings (in my experience) the B&G try to 'blend' their families so that everyone can meet eachother & connect etc.
Doesn't always work that way.
I would still rather pick where I sat.
I think definitely go with a seating chart...especially with over 100 people, unless you are doing a cocktail reception.
The one wedding I have been to without a seating chart was interesting. There were no indications whatsoever that any particular tables were reserved. My friends and I chose a random table close to the dance floor. A few minutes later (after everyone was seated) a bridesmaid came up and told us we sat at the head table!! We were mortified, and we ended up having to split up and sit at the empty seats left at other tables. It became even more annoying later on in the night when we wanted to get back together to talk, but to do so we would have to take another person's seat.
So if you don't do a seating chart, make sure you reserve tables for your family and bridal party!!!
I'm with a lot of PPs and I think you should do it. We had 130 people and we assigned tables, not seats, to keep various sizes of groups together and to put ensure people knew others at their tables.
I'm going for a seating chart for a few reasons:
1) The set up of our venue is a little weird in that some people at certain tables will be very far away from us and I want to make sure our closest family (parents/siblings) are up front.
2) There are a good number of people coming who only know the groom or I and I want them to be able to go straight to a table and sit down, this way they don't feel awkward.
3) We're having a formal wedding and I just like the idea of named tables and a seating chart. :)
I probably won't chose each person's seat, but just what table they're sitting at.
Absolutely! We're having 80 guests and wouldn't even think to not have assigned seats. I've been to weddings that didn't have assigned seats and the brides immediate family ended up having to sit in the nose bleeds because the skanky girlfriends of the groomsmen claimed the tables right upfront so they could be close to their men.
If your considering not having assigned seats, I would at the very least reserve tables for your family and BP so that they don't get screwed.
I've yet to be to a wedding with a seating chart, but mine will have one, here's why:
We have 250-300 guests, that's one awful game of musical chairs for the couple who was late because their baby needed changing or grandma needed extra time to get around.
If there's a cocktail hour, it will be a wash if there's no assigned tables, because at every wedding I've been to people go 'squat' their table and never move around so as not to lose their seat.
I think hearing 'sorry, this seat's taken' two or three times can really put a damper on a guests night, and right at the beginning of it as well.
Being split up from your date/family due to 2 chairs here and 1 at the table 3 spots away would sorta suck. Dinner's not long, but it's the fist part of the reception and sort of sets the tone for the night.
Open seating ≠ getting to sit by who you want. When there are more chairs at one table than you need as a couple/family, you can still end up sitting by the weird uncle or crabby young cousins who have better places to be.
I think the extra work it makes for the couple to set up a seating arrangement is small in comparison to the positive effect it can have on the start of your reception.
A wedding with no seating chart is so awkward. No one wnts to sit by people they don't really know so you end up with half full tables and the rest of the guests standing arounf wondering where to sit since there isn't room at any table for them all to sit together.
Every wedding I've gone to did not have a seating chart and they have all been fine. No crazy chaos. The last one I went to did have a few people split up, but it wasn't a huge deal. People should be able to sit by someone they don't know for the 45 minutes of speeches and eating. After that, you can move around and see the people you want to see. Or you can move a place setting and squeeze into another table. This probably only works for buffet though.
You reserve tables for immediate family members and other than that, people can generally figure it out. If people who aren't supposed to sit there do, you have something ask them to move. Easy peasy.
I think it's just an added stress on top of the 100 other wedding-related tasks you have to do. That is why I will not be doing one.
I have only been to one wedding with a seating chart and I didn't like it. They sat us (me and my mom) way in the back and there was only one other person seated at our table.
However, I've been to a few weddings with no seating chart and there was never a problem. I didn't see anyone making a bum rush to get a certain table. There weren't folks wandering around trying to find a place to sit. No one took our seats when when we left our table to mingle, get food, dance, etc. At all the weddings, I did notice that the couples reserved a few tables for family.
I've honestly only been to 2 non family weddings in which a seating chart would have been appropriate, and I think it would have been nice for there to be one. (Fully understanding the reason why there wasn't, though that being said...)
One was at my best friend's wedding recently, and my whole family was invited so I had a group of people (plus my fiance) to sit with. Though honestly, we don't have many shared friends, and many of the guests were her now husband's family. I'm a shy person, and the thought of trying to sit with strangers (well my fiance and strangers) was really uncomfortable.
The other wedding recently happened to be her brother's wedding...at that one, we really knew few people...some of their family, but that was it. Luckily, they invited us to sit with them, but I know that both fiance and I were trying to consider alternative places to sit (like the steps, so we wouldn't have to impose on pre-formed groups).
That all being said, I think if many of your guests, or most, know each other, a seating chart isn't necessary. But for the few odd ones out, I think it's nice to spare them the seeking out empty chair.
unless your wedding is ALL family, or super small - always opt for seating charts. people will get up and move eventually anyway as folks leave after dinner, but for the most part it gives them guidelines of where to sit. unless its buffet - then it might not matter.
but of all the weddings i have been to the ones i am MOST annoyed or confused at are the ones without seating charts.
I have never liked attending weddings without a seating chart, regardless of where we were or were not seated. I didn't like feeling like we had to group up and pick a table or get to a 'good' one before other people did. It's easier to just have the seating chart and be done with it. We are having a seating chart for our wedding no questions about it and we will only have 100 people there.
We are using table numbers so people can find their tables again easily but we are only using seating charts for immediate family and very close friends so they all stay together and have a good place to sit.
If you're on the fence, don't do it. I really dislike weddings with seating charts. We had 115 guests, a cocktail hour, and buffet style dinner, and no seating chart. I heard zero complaints. We put reserved signs on a few tables for my family and the bridal party. We had a couple different sized tables, and some couches and stools by the bar. The reason I didn't want a seating chart is because I didn't want people to be committed to their chairs. I wanted people to dance, drink, mingle, and move around. Mission acchomplished in this setting!
I think if you are serving a sit down meal then a seating chart is appropriate because people will definitely be spending lots of time in their seat (unoptional, they can't move around during dinner), and you want to avoid awkard tables the best you can.
I have mixed feelings on them. My brother didn't have one for his wedding of over 200 people. For the most part everything was fine, a few people pulled a chair up to the table if there wasn't enough room for everyone and it was no big deal. The only big issue was that we had a few reserved tables for parents and grandparents, and somebody took the tables. My grandma was upset b/c she had to find a seat, and she's not good at walking and standing.
I didn't want seating charts at our wedding but hubby did, so we did them. I was glad that people didn't have to struggle to find seats together (and the extra perk of having cute escort cards), but it was soooo hard to make the chart! Finally I just said I can't make everyone happy, oh well.
every wedding i've been to with no seating chart has been complete chaos. it's a BIG peeve of mine!
I've never been to a wedding with a seating chart. For ours, there were so many divorces and fueds that I couldn't even imagine trying to do one. Honestly, do what you want and do what you think will work for you.
Yes! You dont have to assign people seats - just assign them tables. It makes things so much easier. You want your guests to feel happy and comfortable. Putting them in the awkward situation of having to figure out who to sit with (especially if there is someone who doesnt know anyone else) is not making your guests feel comfortable! Yes, creating a seating chart is going to be a bitch. You are going to go back and forth on where Cousin Tom sits because he is loud and you dont want to put him with your DHs cousin Jill who gets offended easily, etc. But you just take some time to work through it and everyone can end up happy.
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| rachgirl82 | 39 |
| pengoala | 33 |
| kate02121 | 12 |
| ndreighton | 11 |
| Sunfire | 11 |
| couawilou | 10 |
| Indecisivebride2012 | 10 |
| louiseW | 10 |
| MilksMom | 9 |
| Lyndzo | 9 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| Miss Mochaccino | 5 |
| Zouave | 3 |
| Erika_Meep | 3 |
| MilksMom | 2 |
| CaliHoya | 2 |
| Rock86 | 2 |
| EagerBeever | 1 |
| HappilyEverAfter54 | 1 |
| candykiss | 1 |
| misspeanut | 1 |
Please give me your thoughts explaining why or why not you like the idea. I would like to hear everyone's ideas since I am debating whether to have one or not. There will be about 125 guests.