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Place card settings Should I or Shouldn't?

atlcst2atlcst2
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in Wedding Reception Forum
I was not planning on having placecard settings at my reception.  However I was going to have the tables numbered so that when it's time to eat (buffet style) it will be some organization.  I also have the family and special friends table "hi lighted" for those guest.  Everyone else I was going to let sit wherever they wanted.  Is that ok or should I have place card settings.  It seems that's all I see now.  What did you do?  Please help. 
atlcst2
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Re: Place card settings Should I or Shouldn't?

  • ExpatPumpkinExpatPumpkin member
    1000 Comments Combo Breaker

    We did escort cards - assigned tables, not assigned seats.  Depending on what your crowd is used to, you could do open seating - not my preference, but could work for you.  How is seating usually handled at weddings you attend?

    Whatever you do, however, treat all of your guests the same way.  Don't reserve tables for family/VIP guests.  Either assign everyone to tables, or let everyone find their own seats...

    Good luck and let me know if you have any questions ;)

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  • Mrs.B6302007Mrs.B6302007 member
    Seventh Anniversary 5000 Comments 25 Love Its Combo Breaker
    Replied on the other thread.
    The Bee Hive Est. June 30, 2007
    "So I sing a song of love, Julia"
    06.10.10
    BFAR:We Defined Our Own Success!
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  • drjewelldrjewell
    100 Comments
    I think open seating is fine and I agree that if you do open seating you should do place cards with names for family so that the casual guest will not take "grandma's" seat.  You want to make sure that certain family has a guaranteed seat since people show up to receptions that did not RSVP.
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  • trix1223trix1223 member
    5000 Comments 25 Love Its Combo Breaker
    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
    "Trix, it's what they/our parents wanted. Why so judgemental? And why is your wedding date over a year and a half ago? And why do you not have a groom's name? And why have you posted over 12,000 posts? And why do you always say mean things to brides?" palegirl146
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  • jesslv74jesslv74 member
    10 Comments
    How is this done...I mean, how do you let the guests know which tables they are assigned to?
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  • cutypie953cutypie953 member
    Fourth Anniversary 500 Comments
    I had a hard time deciding this too....we did decide to do escort cards (assign table but not place at the table) for a few reasons...mainly the ones posted above.  First, we were like you and said "we'll designate certain tables for the family and WP but everyone else find their own seat.  Then we realized that we wanted the WP to be able to sit with who they felt most comfortable with (the WP came from all over, some family, some college friends, some work friends and knew a lot of the guests, but didn't know each other) so, we didn't want to seclude them from their friends.  

    Next reason, we had the max # of people the venue could hold with zero room for extra chairs and with open seating, you have to have extra chairs so families and couples don't get slit up.  We just didn't have room for it!

    If you pay careful attention to your seating chart and keep the guests' feelings about who they are seating with in mind, they will actually be really happy you did escort cards.  Everyone gets to sit with the people they want and no one is sitting with random people they've never met because there were no other seats open.  I really highly recommend it!
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  • jesslv74jesslv74 member
    10 Comments
    I want to assign by number, but I can't figure out how to let guests know which table they are assigned to withouth them having to hunt and peck for their name on a card or something to see what table they are assigned to. Is there a good way to do this or is that pretty much the standard?
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