cocktail receptions

lilgina64

so I'm curious as to what the wisdom of E has to say on this.

A large cocktail reception(with very heavy apps, as in stationed & passed) should not have assigned tables correct?

Would it be ok to have a few tables that are marked
"reserved for bride'sfamilyname" and "reserved for groom'sfamilyname"?

I know cocktail receptions are supposed to encourage mingling, but I know that a lot of older guests like to be able to go sit and relax so i'm expecting that most will commandeer a table and park it for the night, while younger people will be up and about. But I can't help but think that a grandparent would expect a place of honor or at the very least an assigned place to sit?

beatlesgirl25

Haha, your Nana sounds adorable. Get her one of those big blinky arrows that point down to her seat.

lilgina64

haha beatles I just might!

it's just that the concept of a cocktail reception is very new to my social circle(we live under a rock apparently??). So they are struggling with a break from tradition about assigned seating. Otherwise I wouldn't stress, but I'm getting a lot of "what's going on" looks from guests(mind you no invitations have even gone out yet, so this is mostly my mom chit chatting.. ugh mom)

Pink7781

We are also doing a cocktail reception but we are going to have assigned seating just so people don't have to worry about where to sit. I think you'll still get the "mingling" effect even with assigned seats.

SarahSmile23

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_cocktail-receptions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:7f1dd8b1-8fa6-4f9b-abf0-8024b4b5c5c9Post:277b7a76-f5ff-424d-b25d-0fe691c942bf">Re: cocktail receptions</a>:
[QUOTE]We are also doing a cocktail reception but we are going to have assigned seating just so people don't have to worry about where to sit. I think you'll still get the "mingling" effect even with assigned seats.
Posted by Pink7781[/QUOTE]

people with assigned seats don't tend to mingle.