RD Seating Question

mgoss228

After viewing a potential RD venue with FI this weekend, it got me thinking about the seating arrangement for the RD.

I personally HATE it when I'm at an organized event and end up sitting with people I don't know/like, so I really want to assign seats.  The RD will be a formal-ish sit down dinner with a mini "cocktail" hour beforehand.  I'm thinking of using a placecard per couple, just so the "cliques" can be together, family can be close to us, and FI and I can be in the center of the table.

Depending on the venue we end up choosing, the 26 (or so) people invited to the RD will be seated at either 1 big long table or a few long tables set up in an "U" shape.

But my question is:

Is seating usually assigned for RD with 20-30 people?  I've only been to 1 other RD, and it was super casual with no assigned seating.

I'm only asking this because our guest list has a pretty broad range of personalities:
*Our parents (my side is local, and FI's is from GA, they've met before, but I still want them to be seated close enough to talk)
*FI's Aunt and cousin (who are our ceremony musicians, will be flying in from MD)
*three of my Sorority sisters (my attendants)
*FSIL, also a BM, lives in NYC
*friend since we were like 5 yrs old, who lives in ATL (my attendant)
*5 of FI's Fraternity brothers (his attendants)
*FI's friend since forever (another attendant), they grew up in CA, and he would only know FI, FILs.  So I would seat him near FSIL and her boyfriend
*attendants' SOs

TIA!

amandasw

I've been to a few RD and they didn't had assigned seats - not to say you can't, I just typically think of it as a more casual event even if everyone is dressed up.  The only one that came close is that they had designated a table for immediate family/MOH/Bestman - it was sort of weird because it ended up just feeling more exclusive than necessary/helpful (probably because it looked like 1/3-1/2 the people were at that table rather than just a small group). 

I didn't do it (there were about 30 people), but I felt my friends would be ok and it worked out, but since you want to do it, go ahead if it won't stress you out

emyinpink

The last RD we went to didn't have assigned seats, and it was kind of awkward trying to find a good place to seat with the "younger generation." Worked out though. One before that had assigned seats, and they were quite well thought out. Turned out nice.