My fiance and I are doing a heavy app and hor'duerves for our reception at what we consider to be a semi-formal wedding. As Culinary Institute grads, we know how to feed a ton of people on assorted heavy and very nice apps and stuff. So that's not what I'm worried about.
We've opted not to have assigned seating, but given all the good points of assigned seating (people can put their stuff at a designated location, people know where they're sitting, etc), it's something to think about.
We'd rather keep it causal, and allow people to sit with who they want to sit with. We wont have to worry keeping this uncle away from that person, or this cousin from that cousin, etc. And it keeps with the causal idea of the wedding. Hoenstly, I don't want to have one more thing to worry about where it doesn't really count. People can claim their own seat and sit there all night. But on the other hand I want to encourage people to stay as long as possible. Since we are only serving wine, beer and a few special drinks, I'm not sure if people are going to want to stay.
I'm sort of the black sheep of the family; I feel like I don't really fit in and most of the cousins and such are coming out of obligation.
Anyway, I just want everyone to be happy and have a good time, and I always had the idea that people might prefer picking their own seat, especially since we aren't having a sit down dinner.
What's your general opinion for a heavy apps and seating arrangments?
Jenni