Question about something I just read

fishieballerina

Hi, I was reading something about seating charts, and one of the things was talking about assigning actual seats to guests (not just to a table). I was wondering if this was something people normally do or if it is usually just to a table. What are you doing?

jennylove810

I think planning a seating chart, as in, putting all my guests at a specific table, is challenging enough, never mind assigning seats.  (What are we, in 3rd grade assigning seats?  And what self-respecting adult would listen?)  That said, I do feel it's important to at least put guests at a table, so they have a 'home base,' a place for the women to put their purses, where the men can leave their jackets, and no risk of losing their place for dinner.  But actual seats?  No.

Hope this helps!

gottahavashorti

I voted sit where they want, but because it is a cocktail reception.  If we were doing a plated or buffet meal, we would have assigned tables only.

duckie1905

Actual seat assignments, IMO, aren't necessary.  Just assign everyone a table and let them decide who they'd like to sit next to at the table

fishieballerina

That's what I was thinking (just the table assignments) but when I read this I thought that maybe I was doing things all wrong. Thanks for the input!

khornack

In my opinion, seat assignments really aren't necessary unless you are having a white-tie plated dinner event. Whenever I think of seat assignments, I think of formal state dinners. In most cases, table assignments are enough.

JHS16

Typically I would say only table assignments, but we are having a plated dinner with a choice of 4 different entrees, so it's less confusing for our caterer if we assigned actual seats. However, we're considering making different colored name cards, so they can still choose their seat, and the caterer can match entrees to the color of card they have.  

homediva

We are doing table assignments only. I believe that if you do assigned seating, you run a few risks - 1) you have to seat some geusts with their backs to the front, so you risk offending some people 2) you have to seat certain people side by side and you never know their relationships and 3) it's more work for you! 

starshine1977

jennylove- I had to laugh because I'm a second grade teacher and I was thinking what a pain it is to assign seats there! Can't seat this one by this one, they don't get along, these two talk too much when together and distract each other, etc. It's hard enough with 14 kids, I can't imagine expanding it to 150 guests!

megk8oz

We assigned tables, not seats. Everybody was very happy with our arrangement.

FutureMrsL.R.Allen

I would prefer to assign tables and not specific seats, but we are doing a plated meal with 3 choices on the RSVP card and the caterer requires specific seats so they know who gets what.  In any other instance I would just do assigned tables.

ExpatPumpkin

We just assigned people to tables.  And we sat at a sweetheart table.  It worked out great

felicia220

Table assignment is all that is needed and there is no need driving yourself any crazier then you have too.  

Save yourself the trouble.

Moscow04

I agree.  I have been to weddings however that DID have assigned seating and it was a little more organized.  I remember I was seated with my family along witha  few aunts and uncles and they assigned the seats facing the head table to the adults while us kids were assigned with our backs to them.  I have been to another wedding with a similar situation where the kids ran in first and got the seats facing the head table and the adults that were seated with their kids told them to move and they wouldn't.  It caused a scene and I felt badly for them.  If it had been assigned then there woudln't have been a problem.   Of course that is rare and if personally I will not have kidds at my own wedding.   Maybe just assign seating to tables that will have both adults and kids at them and if they don't like it they can always switch. 

Destiny213

I definitely want to do some sort of assignment.  I went to a relative's wedding last year with no seating arrangement, and it ended up with a lot of parties of 8 and 9 people at a ten person table, with one or two random strangers that looked very uncomfortable.

I had thought doing the little name cards in holders on a table would be easy enough, how do you display table assignments?  A bigger card?