how do you feel about seating charts?

ashliniko

i read somewhere not making assigned seats= total chaos!  I have a few remaining rsvps i cant figure out and i'm thinking about ditching the seating charts, but i dont want total chaos!

Wiscisbliss

Please assign tables. 

I went to a wedding without a seating chart.  H & I sat at an 8 person table alone because those were the only seats left.  Kind of awkward. 

It make sure your parents can sit where they can see your face, puts your half-deaf granma away from the blasting DJ speakers, makes sure relatives that hate each other don't sit by each other... blah blah blah. 

younge bride 101

agreed i love seating charts! makes me/ guest feel so much more comfortable!!!!

TheFutureMrsFreckles

You know, I think it really depends on your guest list! 

Think of it this way: Sure, at a wedding with no seating chart there will be those guests who end up at the 'floater' table, it really can be like musical chairs and someon'es left alone. However...every wedding I've been to has a 'floater' table ANYWAY! With long lost friends, friends of grandparents who didn't fit, random coworkers who know no one else....The thing is, a wedding is a social event and social events come rich with awkwardness regardless of how hard you try to avoid it.

If you have 100 guests and under, and you share many friends/similar friends, go for no seating plan. If you see issues...just do it

ajroark

I just went to a wedding without a seating chart and it was very chaotic - big groups of people were trying to reserve seats for their immediate family or close friends and people in smaller parties had to navigate openings at other tables. I will be doing assigned seating to make sure my family gets a seat close to us and to make sure people who know/like each other are seated together (so that they don't get boxed out by larger groups).

MyNameIsNot

This is one where you really have to know your crowd.  If seating charts are the norm among your family and friends, open seating will be confusing and chaotic.  However, if open seating is the norm, assigned seats will seem confining and stuffy.  What are most of your family and friends used to?  Also, if you're doing a plated meal, you'll have to work out logistics if you do open seating.

We went with open seating, as it is the norm in our crowd.  We did enough extra seats to avoid dragging chairs and splitting groups, and it worked out fine.

ShakeUpTampa

I voted seating chart for a few reasons

I have OOT family I certainly wanted seated with immediate so they can converse during dinner. FI's family has OOT as well so it makes it easier.

My grandmother will not want to be near speakers but want to see me, so that helps with placement of immediate family member tables

The 8yo who has a food obession and would eat anyone out of house and home..she will not be seated near the candy bar or cake table so my one BM can have a watchful eye on her in case her mother is not as eyeful

I don't want to stick a bunch of seniors RIGHT NEXT to my college age friends who might drink a bit more lol

I'm still torn on assigned tables or seats but I know either way guided is the way I am going, I hated every open table situation I've been in

AdeleDazeem

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_feel-seating-charts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:73a6ac21-7d7d-4a7f-b3c3-a949e12d0d6fPost:f9b41f08-5825-4f85-badc-08ed4d50f1b6">Re: how do you feel about seating charts?</a>:
[QUOTE]This is one where you really have to know your crowd.  If seating charts are the norm among your family and friends, open seating will be confusing and chaotic.  However, if open seating is the norm, assigned seats will seem confining and stuffy.  What are most of your family and friends used to?  Also, if you're doing a plated meal, you'll have to work out logistics if you do open seating.
Posted by MyNameIsNot[/QUOTE]

This completely.

Assigned tables is very much the norm in my circle.  It's just so calm for guests to walk in and know exactly where to plunk their stuff.  Open seating makes me sweat.  :-)

iloveu4ever

We will just let people sit where they want. I don't want people to get mad or fight at my wedding.

MyNameIsNot

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_feel-seating-charts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:73a6ac21-7d7d-4a7f-b3c3-a949e12d0d6fPost:0ebaa195-c633-4f2f-9a1a-0a24e595de16">Re: how do you feel about seating charts?</a>:
[QUOTE]We will just let people sit where they want. I don't want people to get mad or fight at my wedding.
Posted by iloveu4ever[/QUOTE]

<div>Unless you are invited mostly bratty 13 year olds, you aren't going to have people getting mad or fighting one way or the other.</div>

Milsey32

IMO, assign by the table... but not by the chair. 

brittandjp

I definitely plan on doing assigned seating. I've been to both and assigned seating, from my point of view, is much more comfortable. When seats weren't assigned, I felt awkward (who should we sit next to, where will we feel comfortable, who can we relate to, etc.). Being uncomfortable with the people you're sitting around may lead to boredom (speaking from experience, unfortunately). I wasn't sure if I was "interrupting" a particular group of people and I didn't want to rain on anyone's parade if you know what I mean. Plus, it provides you with the ability to put family near you, others away from you if desired, your old grandmother away from the DJ's speakers (thanks ShakeUp), etc. Good luck!

sklink0486

I've never been to a wedding with assigned seating, but I always wish it was assigned!! I've been to lots of wedding now and it is so freaking awkward even at family weddings to wander around the room trying to "grab" tables for your group or whatever like you're at some kind of event where it's "first come first serve".  The last wedding I went to was only about 100 people but it was the weirdest one yet. The brides parents sat at a table in the middle of the room with what ended up being "family friends", which included us by the way. I felt like we should've been somewhere else but there was no where left to sit!

kmmssg

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_feel-seating-charts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:73a6ac21-7d7d-4a7f-b3c3-a949e12d0d6fPost:0ebaa195-c633-4f2f-9a1a-0a24e595de16">Re: how do you feel about seating charts?</a>:
[QUOTE]We will just let people sit where they want. I don't want people to get mad or fight at my wedding.
Posted by iloveu4ever[/QUOTE]

Why would that happen?  When we have planned our 3 DD's weddings we took great care to sit people with people they really enjoy.  We did have a table or two that wasn't full because adding to the group that was there would be awkward for everyone.  We have always asked the IL side of the family to decide who would sit with whom, and we never mix up the families to "encourage socializing."  A well thought out seating chart should never make anyone mad or want to fight.

lyndausvi

I like them and never have had a problem with them.   I think my family are just natural party planners and no how to group people up properly.

OuachitaTrixie

Most guests at weddings here are already very familiar with each other.  I'm lucky enough to live in a city that thinks it's a small town.  The only time I've seen open seating become awkward was due to limited seating (which was a gross oversight on the couple's part).  I agree with Retread.  Know your crowd.

We are sitting "family style" with several rows of 8 tables put together.  No one will be left alone at a single table that way.  Also no one will be too far from someone they prefer to sit by. 

libbyloutoo

I've only been to one wedding where there wasn't assigned tables or seating and it was uncomfortable and wierd trying to find a table the felt "appropriate" (ie not too close to head table so the family could sit there)
As a guest, I really having my bum assigned to a seat!

DramaGeek

I've never been to a wedding with assigned seating and it's never been a problem.  We've always sat with people we knew and had no trouble finding a seat.

naodoodles

I hate assigned seating charts! I feel like people are adults and can find a chair. Why mke extra stress & work for yourself??