Post # 1

Member
289 posts
Helper bee
If we are not having assigned seating, (but a place for everyone) would it be appropriate to still make escort/place cards that they can pick up and set at their spot so nobody takes it?
Wasn’t sure if this would be a good idea, or just cause confusion.
Post # 3

Member
7904 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
- Wedding: March 2012 - Pelican Grand Beach Resort
Yes, you can still do that, but I’ve heard that a bunch of people won’t take them unless it has a table number or is attached to the favor.
Honestly, in my opintion, what causes confusion is the chaos of people trying to get seats together at an open seating wedding. The last weddings I was at with open seating, people were shoving each other to get to the tables and seating took forever.
Post # 4

Member
289 posts
Helper bee
I am hoping that our reception space will open up to outside, in which case I don’t want to show pref to people I put inside/outside, and want people to mingle between in and out as it gets hot or cold.
Post # 5

Member
11 posts
Newbee
I think the place cards is good because I know I have heard of weddings where peoples seats get taken because there is no place card and all open seating!
Post # 6

Member
3 posts
Wannabee
I just went to a wedding without assigned seating and I couldn’t even find a seat with my close family! I would definitely recommend doing assigned seating. I started mine already with http://www.socialtables.com and it’s been pretty easy!
Post # 7

Member
11343 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
@MissOtter: Since you said that you’re hoping that your reception space will open to the outdoors, I presume that you are able to accommodate all of your guests indoors in case this does not occur. If so, I would encourage you to assign all of your guests to tables indoors and then, if you wish to add some outdoor seating, you could simply have those tables set up with linens and simple centerpieces and allow any guests who may wish to migrate outdoors at some point in the evening to do so.
Post # 8

Member
289 posts
Helper bee
It wwill be in the afternoon, and I am just mostly wanting a partial outdoor option for light purposes, but the indoor option in case it gets too hot. But i don’t want the couple tables that are outside to feel like they got the shaft by having to sit out there. My goal is to have the summery drinks, etc, outside close to those tables.