Seating charts

Jo&Lo83 · July 2011

Are seating charts really recommended, or is it easier to NOT have them? Also - how does it work if we offer 2 entree selections? Do we just assume the guest will remember which one they want, and tell that to the server?

colstj1 · July 2011

If you are having two entrees, I would eaither doing a seating chart where you assign them to tables (you dont have to actually assign them to a chair) and then you would use escort cards. Or you could always use escort cards for your two meals, have them with their name on it and an indicator to represent which meal they are having and then they would just pick it up and choose their own seat.

But I would reccomend leaning towards at least assigning tables.

FutureMrsSheeler · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_seating-charts-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:70dc66dd-91d5-422a-b7a5-0e807c376c20Post:2b718c88-801c-469e-b909-e5cd4036fdf4">Re: Seating charts</a>:
[QUOTE]If you are having two entrees, I would eaither doing a seating chart where you assign them to tables (you dont have to actually assign them to a chair) and then you would use escort cards. Or you could always use escort cards for your two meals, have them with their name on it and an indicator to represent which meal they are having and then they would just pick it up and choose their own seat. But I would reccomend leaning towards at least assigning tables.
Posted by colstj1[/QUOTE]
This :)

shan87 · July 2011

we had 3 options, so we color coded the escort cards. Depending on your family dynamics I would avoid a seating charts. (unless you have an aunt that hates a cousin or if your ILs don't get a long with your family).

We had 250 people to seat and it was a nightmare.

Sarahsue1684 · July 2011

We are not doing a seating chart but are reserving a few tables for the close family so they are assured a spot close to the head table. As for meals I made placecards than used a stamp for the 2 of the 3 meals.

ogrady88 · July 2011

As a guest, I've been to wedding where we've had assigned seats, tables, and no assignments. I have always preferred to have at least assigned tables. The two weddings I went to without assigned seating were a bit of a cluster'uck truthfully, there were just to many guests to manage. Because we were doing a plated dinner, we assigned seats at our wedding. We had a list so the guests could be directed to their tables and the place cards were at their seat, above the place setting. We noted the meal selection on their place cards using stamps.

quincygirl77 · July 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_seating-charts-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:81Discussion:70dc66dd-91d5-422a-b7a5-0e807c376c20Post:af93c3bd-e984-4b2e-b51e-beb2405a59d6">Re: Seating charts</a>:
[QUOTE]As a guest, I've been to wedding where we've had assigned seats, tables, and no assignments. I have always preferred to have at least assigned tables. The two weddings I<strong> went to without assigned seating were a bit of a cluster'uck truthfully,</strong> there were just to many guests to manage. Because we were doing a plated dinner, we assigned seats at our wedding. We had a list so the guests could be directed to their tables and the place cards were at their seat, above the place setting. We noted the meal selection on their place cards using stamps.
Posted by ogrady88[/QUOTE]

<div>DITTO! I know it is going to be a pain in the neck to do, but I think it's worth it.</div>

CJS2011 · July 2011

I really don't like seating charts, because I just like to pick who I sit next to. I like the idea of having the name cards with meal choice where they walk in, and get to choose where they sit. We are actually doing a plated dinner with no assigned seating. What our caterer recommended was to put like a 4 oz portion of each meat on every plate. Honestly, I'm not crazy about having to choose my meal 2 months before I am going to eat it, because when the day rolls around, I may feel like the other meal. Just personal preference, I guess.

Another big reason we didn't do assigned tables/seats was because we have a close family friend who ended up having to redo seating the day of the wedding. They had people call the night before and day of the wedding saying they couldn't make it for whatever reason, so they were franticly trying to put a new arrangement together. Believe me, that would be the LAST thing I would want to worry about on my wedding day.

schmood · July 2011

We had 3 meal choices, plus a kids meal option. Our site required us to indicate what meal each person was getting. We did escort cards with different colored dots in the corner to indicate the food choice. If I would have had more time, I was going to make the actual escort cards different colors to indicate food selection.... but ran out of time. We assigned tables but not seats. Additionally, our site made a few extra meals of each selection at no charge - in case people changed their minds or if we had extra ppl show up.

wittyschaffy · July 2011

As a guest, I appreciate being assigned to a table. Every wedding I've been to where they just reserve tables for immediate family and everyone else fends for themselves gets to be a giant mess as people race around trying to find tables together for a large group of relatives or friends. You end up with people split up, stuck with random people, or off by themselves because they don't know anyone else. You almost need to plan for extra tables/place settings because people won't fill all the spots in (or pull chairs around to squeeze extra people at a table not meant for that many). If you assign tables, you can be thoughtful about where you put people so you minimize that. You can also guarantee that people who may not get along don't end up at a table together, or your well meaning but totally crass friend doesn't get seated at a table with your ultra conservative cousin, for example.

We had some people no-show the day of our wedding and I couldn't have cared less if we had a table with 4 chairs not filled at that point. I wouldn't have adjusted the seating after we got it set so don't worry about that.

I also wouldn't go so far as to assign exact seats - I've had that too and got seated next to my ex boyfriend's mother. Yeah, akward!

Moral of the story - I think you're on to something for color coding the escort cards so people know what they ordered. Many will probably remember what they requested but some won't and your counts will get off. (or they see something else and decide that is what they want instead!)

KateJ10 · July 2011

In Response to Re: Seating charts:
[QUOTE]As a guest, I appreciate being assigned to a table. Every wedding I've been to where they just reserve tables for immediate family and everyone else fends for themselves gets to be a giant mess as people race around trying to find tables together for a large group of relatives or friends. You end up with people split up, stuck with random people, or off by themselves because they don't know anyone else. You almost need to plan for extra tables/place settings because people won't fill all the spots in (or pull chairs around to squeeze extra people at a table not meant for that many). If you assign tables, you can be thoughtful about where you put people so you minimize that. You can also guarantee that people who may not get along don't end up at a table together, or your well meaning but totally crass friend doesn't get seated at a table with your ultra conservative cousin, for example.
Posted by wittyschaffy[/QUOTE]

I agree. You maximize your tables by doing at least table assignments (guess what? I don't want 5 extra tables/centerpieces to pay for haha) and I wanted to make sure people were as comfortable as possible during dinner with the other people at their table. Will it be annoying to do? Maybe but to me it is worth it.

Seating charts

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