Open Seating at Reception?

FLGatorGal88 · August 2012

I have been to a few weddings with open seating and we have been to one with assigned seating. Are any of you have open seating? I am assuming the ladies who have 100 guest or more having assigned seating... What do you think some of the pros and cons are with open seating?

MamaBear904 · August 2012

Pros: no worries about assigned seating, seating charts, placecards, etc.

Cons: you may have "clicks" or groups of people who sit together. By assigning seating, you can kind of encourage the two families to merge together and chat.

yellesrendezvous · August 2012

<div>We're iinviting 125 people, and we are having semi-open seating. We are assigning people to tables, but not to place settings. Basically, we're grouping them by family (my mom's side, his dad's side, etc) and friends that know each other best (my group of friends, and his group of friends).</div><div>
</div>In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_may-2013-weddings_open-seating-at-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:ea657a87-d1dc-4588-999f-31c9deeef720Discussion:25baac44-46dd-4571-8fea-5161551e0cb3Post:e643a600-175c-4bcc-a1d4-b31ea2cff161">Open Seating at Reception?</a>:
[QUOTE]I have been to a few weddings with open seating and we have been to one with assigned seating. Are any of you have open seating? I am assuming the ladies who have 100 guest or more having assigned seating... What do you think some of the pros and cons are with open seating?
Posted by FLGatorGal88[/QUOTE]

augurey · August 2012

We're inviting 156 and are having open seating.

Those invited from my mom's family will probably fit at 1 table and will sit together. There's not a ton from my dad's side which will probably take up maybe 3 or 4 tables. The rest is FI family & if we even attempted assigned seating, they'd probably just move around anyway - I'm not going to go through the trouble of assigned seating knowing that people will still just go where they want.

Plus, I hated going to receptions with assigned seating as I was usually stuck at a table with people I barely know (if at all) and would be separated from my family (people I wanted to sit by). For me it was just too much time sitting there feeling uncomfortable.

rswans · August 2012

I think I've always been at wedding with assigned tables, but not seats. It'd save you time if you want to skip it. However, you'll likely have the first people to arrive spread out and then when a bigger group (or even a couple who arrives later) want to sit together, there isn't enough space at any of the remaining tables or tables with people they know to accomodate them.

melb2013 · August 2012

It saves time and I think people generally like it better because they can choose who they want to sit with. However, I've been told that you need to have more seats available than guests because people will sit in groups that may leave open seats at some tables. I wanted to do open seating, but when I heard this, I decided adding tables would ultimately add to the expense.

Kindachewy · August 2012

We are having around 100 people, and not doing assigned seat. I find it kinda silly.

FLGatorGal88 · August 2012

In Response to Re:Open Seating at Reception?:[QUOTE]It saves time and I think people generally like it better because they can choose who they want to sit with. nbsp;However, I've been told that you need to have more seats available than guests because people will sit in groups that may leave open seats at some tables. nbsp;I wanted to do open seating, but when I heard this, I decided adding tables would ultimately add to the expense.nbsp; Posted by melb2013[/QUOTE]

Good to know...

pittpoint1119 · August 2012

We are required to have assigned tables for people at our venue due to dinner, but not seats. I don't think I could not have place cards for guest with 250 that would be craziness

Carson386 · August 2012

I have 184 invited, we are expecting about 150 (certain family members with issues won't show up, also family members may be away at college). We have completely open seating with the exception of 3 tables- those with consist of my mom, her date, and my grandmother, another of my father, his date, and my grandfather, and the third will be FI's parents, and our 2 ring bearers (FMIL's grandsons).
Pros: No heartache and drama of a seating chart, nobody telling you who they want to sit with and not sit with
Cons:Our families may not mix & mingle as much, but both families are somewhat antisocial anyways.

bwilso5 · August 2012

We're having assigned tables. The last wedding we went to had assigned tables but I have no clue how they placed people. FI and I were at a table with my cousins which wasn't bad. My mom was at a table of people my age and my grandparents were at another table clear across the room.

RebCappon · August 2012

Assigned tables only. We have a guest list of 240 so far and I can see cousins trying to squeeze way to many people into 1 table.

monikaedwards · August 2012

175 to 200 guests with open seating. Our reception is in a house built in 1820 with no one big room. Multiple small, open rooms and outdoor high top tables. Unconventional but whatevs!

TogetherPerfect · August 2012

we have about 175 invited, but are expecting about 150, if that, to show. We are only assigning tables for the immediate families of my FI and I. Other than that it will be open seating. The venue is large, holds about 250 depending on how it is set up, so we will have plenty of tables.

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