Do I need a seating chart?

jureneandbrian

I have been to a few weddings and none of them had seating charts for the reception, but on all the wedding websites there are pointers on how to make the seating chart and where to get place cards, ect. Do I need a seating chart?

jessicabessica

If they're not typical in your circle, I wouldn't bother--unless there are people you want to make sure are seated away from each other or you have way more people than most events in your area. 

jureneandbrian

Ok, thanks. I wouldn't know who to put where anyways

QueerFemme

I don't think you "need" a seating chart, but if you don't have one, be sure you have extra seating available.  When seating isn't assigned, people tend to just sit anywhere without regard to the spacing at a table. (sitting in odd numbers, and leaving one seat open at a table).  You'll want to be sure that you have MORE than enough seating, so couples can sit together and not have to scramble to find an open seat.

kikirst33

I'm assigning people to tables simply because there are few people that woudl be very awkward if they had to sit next to each other because other tables were full.  

Example:

My Mom can't sit with my Dad (divorced and not best to have the sitting together)

Best not to have my friend sit with her ex-BF who are both invited to the wedding

Depending on your situation you may want to have a seating chart or escort cards.  It's also nice if you can arrange that people sit at tables with others that they know.

Klrob

Maybe not a seating chart but I went to a wedding that had place cards that they handed to me (after they checked my name on the guest list) to put at the place that I chose to sit. I felt a little better that I wouldn't loose my seat and I guess that's a way of knowing who shows up at your wedding.

mlcc5f

NO they are a F'ing waste of your time. Your guests are more than capable of picking their own seat

snowdaisy822

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_do-i-need-a-seating-chart?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:ae47e4e7-cdcd-4e01-bbaf-b2278c07851bPost:f20a749a-d266-49a9-813a-b527dcb8d45a">Re: Do I need a seating chart?</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't think you "need" a seating chart, but if you don't have one, be sure you have extra seating available.  When seating isn't assigned, people tend to just sit anywhere without regard to the spacing at a table. (sitting in odd numbers, and leaving one seat open at a table).  You'll want to be sure that you have MORE than enough seating, so couples can sit together and not have to scramble to find an open seat.
Posted by cmgilpin[/QUOTE]

<div>This is why I'm doing kind of a seating chart. I'm just doing table assignments, then they can choose their tables. I went to a wedding where they squeezed about 15 people to a few tables, then there were some with like, 2 chairs. My fiance and I were stuck sitting with people we didn't know because our friends were at the tables with 15 and we didn't want to squeeze anymore.</div>

Grace&Glamour

If I had one piece of advice it would be to make a seating chart! I just went to a wedding without a seating chart and I couldn't even find a seat next to my family. I felt like the odd one out that can't find a seat in the lunch room. I found www.socialtables.com and already started working on our seating chart and it is actually pretty easy.