seating chart

sarabear23

I know its kinda late, but I have a question.

Did you do a seating chart, or open seating? And for those who DID a seating chart, how did you do it? Escort cards, or just a "FInd your name" list? Did you put first and last names on the place cards, or just first names?

Thanks!

aMrsin09

I didn't have a seating chart (small wedding at a restaurant), but the last one I went to had table assignments only.  She had the table assignments printed on poster sized paper and then put that into a big frame on an easel.

ExpatPumpkin

Escort cards hanging from manzanita branches.  Table assignments only.  Full names on the cards.  Pics in bio

Kristin789

We did individual place cards - one card at each seat, first and last names on the card.  That's common in my area.

I have been to a few weddings where there was a huge posterboard at the entrance to the reception venue, and each person stopped, found your name alphabetically, and remembered what table name/number you were assigned to.

I went to one wedding where you picked up a small frame with a little card inside, with your name and table number on it.

http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-guests/articles/how-to-seat-guests-at-wedding-reception.aspx

I went to one wedding where there were no assigned seats and it was a total mess.  The bride and groom's friends knew this, so they raced over from the ceremony venue, and grabbed all the front seats.  The bride's elderly relatives, who had traveled the longest way and given the most expensive gifts BTW, were left to find single seats skattered through the back part of the seating area, sitting with groups of people they'd never met.   There was a buffet, and our table - which was NOT the last table - was called at 10:35 p.m. - no joke.

HisCB

we arent doing any kind of assigned seating, but our reception is more of a party than a resteraunt dinner. there will be a lot of mingling, this is how every wedding in  my family has been, people sit mixed up doesnt really matter. the walls of the reception hall (our home theatre) will be lined with couches for people to sit and talk. there will be chairs inside and out, we are eating buffet style.

sarabear23

Thanks everyone!
I am definately NOT doing open seating, I can only imagine the chaos that would cause.

cukimerrydoll

Escort cards/table assignments only is what we're going with.  We are printing both first and last names.  I think we'll do a standard table display though.  Probably near the guest book.

I've seen even small weddings get horrible for guests without some kind of direction for seating.  At the very least, I do recommend doing a reserved section for close family and SOs of the WP.

akhensley81

I just read through the link that Kristen posted... did anyone else think #4 about the Head Table was weird?? It says to seat B&G in the middle, MOH next to G, BM next to B, and then boy/girl out from there.

fangsiting

We're doing assigned tables with escort cards.  I put a pearl sticker on the card if someone ordered the vegan dish, so it helps the servers know who got which meal. We did first and last names because we have a couple Lauras, Aprils, Roberts, etc. 

scoetto

We had a small reception. We had 50 people total. We had 6 tables total. 3 tables had "Friends" table labels & 3 had "Family" table labels. A placecard with first name only was on the table at their seat.

Pirata13

ugh we'll be doing a seating chart, haven't decided how we will do escort cards or whatnot. We'll only assign tables, not specific seats.  I started to try to put together some semblance of a chart, based on those we know will be there.  OMG my head hurt. This is going to be a real chore on figuring out where to put people.  I am grateful now that my caterer needs the final number a month out, because I seriously think it's going to take my mom & I a month to figure out where to put everyone.

Lyss5782

I'm doing open seating, but it's a cocktail party, not a sit-down dinner.

LarissaAnn

Escort cards, with first & last names & table assignments, not place assignments.  I know too many guys named "Joe" to not put last names.

I just used the ones supplied by my venue and wrote them by hand.  PIB under "details," if you care.

sarabear23

I was referring to the place cards about using first and last or just first names. I have like 4 Kevins, so I for sure am using full names on the escort cards. Ive pretty much got out seating chart figured out, now its just a question of whether to assign seats, or just tables. Thanks to everyone that helped tho.