Seating

MrsKevers · March 2010

Hello there, fellow Knotties!...new to boards here. I am looking for some advice on seating. We are having our reception in a spacious hall and expect around 180 to attend. Nearly ALL of our family and friends know other very well and there are no problems with anyone getting along. I was thinking of saving myself major stress and just allowing people to sit where and with whom they like. This will also be a buffet style reception. I know this idea is a little unusual..at least here, but do you think it might cause confusion for the guests or look thoughtless in any way? TIA!!

danieliza1127 · March 2010

In my area, open seating is the norm, so I don't see a problem with it. It's always a good idea when you have open seating to have an extra table or two set up so that people can spread out and be sure to be able to sit with who they want to sit with. We had two extra tables at our reception for this reason and it worked out great.

I <3 Seabass · March 2010

If you have more seating than people attending I think it should be fine. With that said.

We did do a seating chart and it really wasn't as bad or as stressful as I thought it was going to be. And since everyone in your circle gets along then it shouldn't be too hard to assign tables or seating. Just something to think about.

mbcdefg · March 2010

I wouldn't skip doing it just because it's a pain for you. If you want to invite people to a party, then it's the right thing to do to accommodate them (since you said open seating is unusual in your area). It's not fair to them to invite all these people and then skip out on certain things because you don't feel like doing the dirty work.

jagore08 · March 2010

I personally hate open seating. I would just rather be told where to sit because I will just be there for dinner and then it's off to the dance floor. If no one has a problem with other guests then a seating chart should take you no time to figure out. Mine was the same way and it took DH and I 20 minutes to get it done.

trix1223 · March 2010

Seriously.....MAJOR stress to do a seating chart? It's really not all that hard.

Doing table assignments is actually a courtesy to your guests. It ensures that people who don't get along won't end up stuck with each other because they're the only open seats left.

It ensures that couples or families won't be split up because there are not enough seats left at any given table when they arrive.

It ensures that Great Aunt Hilda won't be seated with your FIs college frat brothers, or that Grandpa Al won't end up sitting right next to the dj's speakers.

It ensures that your college roommate, who doesn't know anyone but you at the wedding, won't wander the room hoping that she can sit somewhere. (Remember the cafeteria in Jr. High?)

It ensures that you won't have 11 people jammed into a table that seats 8 comfortably because people decided to pull up chairs so they could all sit together.

It also saves you $$, because when you don't have assigned tables, you need to have extras because you WILL end with tables of 4 where you intended to have 8.

I've only been to one wedding without table assignments, and it was a holy mess as people wandered around trying to figure out where they were supposed to sit.

Do table assignments.

dparisi · March 2010

I understand the thought of doing a seating chart is daunting, but--- imagine 200 people entering a room and standing around deciding where to sit. I recently attended a wedding that did not have assigned seating-it was 250 people and let me tell you, it was not a pretty sight. We had to mill around by the door for about 15 minutes until people decided where they wanted to sit and started moving around.

Please, Please, take the time to chart out the seating!!

lyndausvi · March 2010

I had 140 people and my seating chart didn't take too much time.. It was actually pretty simple. I found when I wrote out my guest list it was in groups anyway, so it was pretty easy to take that group and assigned them to a table.

I used excel and had one table per column. It was actually at lot easier than you think.

Anyway, I find this to be different depending on your social group. If you are use to open seating you do not find it an issue. You also know to walk into a venue and claim your seat early.

If you are like me and always had assigned seating you would be annoyed at an open seating. DH and I would be the type who hung out at the bar until it was time to sit down only to find out we are not sitting with people we know because we didn't know we had to stake claim.

MyNameIsNot · March 2010

We did open seating, and it was fine. Of course, open seating and buffets are the norm in my area, so people expected it. We had about 120 seats and 100 people, so it worked out well. You'll need at least 200 seats if you have 180 coming. But if open seating isn't the norm, I'd probably reconsider.

Lasairiona · March 2010

I have never seen open seating yet that wasn't a huge chaotic mess. Even with an incredibly small guest list. Practically every one of those events was a buffet meal too, but people still had to find a place to sit to eat that was seperate from where their families and dates were seated. Unless you want families and couples to get split up and folks to save chairs for others who don't even sit there, leaving some people without anywhere to sit, make a seating arrangement. Just assign people to a table and let them pick the chair. The only time you don't do a seating arrangement is if you are having a dessert or cocktail reception.

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