Assigned tables: yes or no?

caitlinc09 · April 2012

We sort of discussed this earlier today, but I want to know if you all think that for a wedding with about 135 est. guests, about 1/2 close family and friends and 1/2 distant family and family friends we don't know very well as a couple, needs assigned tables?

Since our earlier board about it I've been doing a lot of thinking and I'm concerned about people not knowing each other. We aren't really having any large family units coming, maybe 2 families with 4 people in attendance each. I think about half of each group is coming from OOT as well.

We have 10 person round tables, and cocktail hour is occuring in the same space as the reception - no flipping in between (not sure if this matters?)

Tell me what you are doing, why, and your arguments for/against doing it and what you think I should do!

TIA!

mandi921vh · April 2012

We will have about 100 guests that are all family and close friends. On my side all of my family knows one another and all of the family on FI's side knows one another. All of my parents friends know one another, and all of FMIL and FFIL's friends know one another as well, and most of them know our families.

Basically each guest will probably know 10+ people at our wedding. We are not having children so all of our guests are either singles or couples, making sitting together much easier.

This is why we are not doing a seating chart.

I think because lots of your guests are distant relatives it might be best to have a seating chart.

jensimpson86 · April 2012

We are doing assigned tables. Pleople can seat themselves at the table we assignthem. We are doing this so everyone can sit with their immediate families. II have heard stories where families of like 5 will get to the reception late and all the tables will have only two seats lefts, so the families have to split up. I don't want our wedding to be where people will have to fight for seats. It might take a little extra time for us but in the end people will be more relaxed. Hopefully this helps.

Becky&Chris · April 2012

I feel strongly about assigned tables, only because I think large groups need a little direction to keep them loosely organized. You're not handcuffing them to the chair, just guiding them. I'm not an uber control freak (we aren't assigning seats, just tables) and really don't care if people swap, I just want things to go smoothly and I think assigning tables is the easiest way of doing that.

mandydc0509 · April 2012

This will be the first time most of our family/friends will meet, so we're doing assigned tables. There's just too many people who only know a few other ppl there, and we want everyone to be comfortable. Plus, there's families with kids coming, so that could get complicated.

arisia · April 2012

My friend/family circle would look at me as if I was a bridezilla if I told them where to sit.

careydes · April 2012

I am doing assigned tables.. I feel like it is less stressful as a guest, when you don't have to worry about finding somewhere to sit.
HOWEVER, if it's the norm in your circle not to assign tables, then I think the only way to do so is to have somewhere around 10% extra seating. 100 people? Have one extra table for 10. That way the family of 4 who shows up late can still sit together..

classykat22 · April 2012

We are having assigned seating, for about 109 guests. We are also going to have their favors placed on the tables so, in a way, it's designated seating as well. We are doing this because we've been to two weddings in the last 7 months, neither had assigned seating. It was crazy...we actually "claimed" our table at one wedding, got up to get drinks, and when we came back someone else had taken over the table. We were going to move but, because most of the guests had found their tables by this time, our entire group would have had to find seats at different tables. In the end, the other group moved but...it was incredibly awkward.

It's just my opinion that having tables designated helps with the overall flow of the reception and helps everyone get seated and settled in before the bride/groom make their entrance.

arisia · April 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_may-2012-weddings_assigned-tables-yes-or-no?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:f0ca0bc1-9255-4120-8042-b40e7f3e99c5Discussion:94ee200c-e41e-4a92-a1fc-0b83d6a05fbbPost:06b94096-1f88-420b-b6fd-6fb729350537">Re: Assigned tables: yes or no?</a>:
[QUOTE]I am doing assigned tables.. I feel like it is less stressful as a guest, when you don't have to worry about finding somewhere to sit. HOWEVER, if it's the norm in your circle not to assign tables, then I think the only way to do so is to have somewhere around 10% extra seating. 100 people? Have one extra table for 10. That way the family of 4 who shows up late can still sit together..
Posted by careydes[/QUOTE]

<div>Definitely. I'm having 125ish guests and we have 145 seats.</div>

Assigned tables: yes or no?

Re: Assigned tables: yes or no?

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