seating arrangements or no.....

kat & matt · July 2013

I am getting married in Charleston at Daniel Island Club and having a buffet dinner (very popular in Charleston). For the ceremony we are doing away with the bride/groom side and just seating people evenly on both sides. So for the reception I think it would make sense to also let people sit where they want – especially since it’s a buffet. My fiancé wants a seating chart but I don’t. He says he doesn’t want some of his family to have to scramble for a seat. I suggested a few extra tables so people can spread out.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

a.) It’s a lot of work to plan one out (but I would do it)

b.) I’ve always disliked seating charts whenever I’ve gone to weddings

c.) It seems very formal and we wanted more of a light feel

So I suppose my question is how do I convince my fiancé to nix the seating chart?

Thanks,

Katrina

Maggie0829 · July 2013

How many guests are you having? That really will determine whether or not assigning tables (not specific seats) would be beneficial. Also, whether or not having assigned tables is a norm in your area.

If you are having 100 or less guests then having about 10% extra seating and chairs and letting guests pick where they want to sit would be fine. Just remember that having extra tables and chairs means extra rental costs of thos items, extra centerpieces, extra linens, basically added expense that you may or may not have in your budget.

If you are having 100 or more guests a seating chart would be helpful to your guests. Your FI is right, without designated tables your guests, especially if they are used to seating charts at weddings, may be scrambling to get seats together and then may be disappointed that when they do find a table only 3 chairs are available for a group of 4.

And honestly, putting together a seating chart is not difficult. It took me all of 15 minutes. People stress too much about who to put where. Just remember that if you do a seating chart that these people will not be chained to their table all night, but only for a short time while they eat dinner, then they are free to get up and mingle.

AddieCake · July 2013

Ditto Maggie. I'm a fan of assigned tables b/c it just cuts down on anyone milling around looking for a seat.

MandyMost · July 2013

I like having an assigned table. It means no stress for the guests--no looking for their friends, or deciding who to sit with, or feeling like they're in a high school cafeteria and don't know which group to sit with.

It's a little more work for you to do it, but it's less stress for the guests.

How many people fit at each table at your venue? Typically it's 8 or 10 people. If it's 10 people per table, simply take your guest list and group them into groups of 10. Done!

PandPMeant2B · July 2013

Liatris2010 said:

Figuring out where to sit people was super easy. I had my guest list in excel, and just added a column for how we knew each person (bride's family, groom's frat brothers, bride's coworkers, etc), and then sorted the list by that column. Ta-da! Everyone we know, grouped by how we know them. Super easy. Took all of 10 minutes.

Brilliant!

MayDay513 · July 2013

kat & matt said:

I am getting married in Charleston at Daniel Island Club and having a buffet dinner (very popular in Charleston). For the ceremony we are doing away with the bride/groom side and just seating people evenly on both sides. So for the reception I think it would make sense to also let people sit where they want – especially since it’s a buffet. My fiancé wants a seating chart but I don’t. He says he doesn’t want some of his family to have to scramble for a seat. I suggested a few extra tables so people can spread out.

a.)    It’s a lot of work to plan one out (but I would do it)

b.)    I’ve always disliked seating charts whenever I’ve gone to weddings

c.)     It seems very formal and we wanted more of a light feel

So I suppose my question is how do I convince my fiancé to nix the seating chart?

Thanks,

Katrina

A seating chart is always helpful. But it also depends on how many people and what your crowd is used to. Or if you are having a back yard bbq wedding with 25 people, a little more info would be helpful.

kat & matt · July 2013

There will be about 150 guests. Most of those people will be out of town and also quite a few will be from out of the country. I'm not quite sure what everyone is used to. My guess is they've seen it both ways. There is so much space at my venue that people wouldn't have to feel confined to their chairs - especially since it is a buffet. Now I'm leaning more toward assigning people to tables

MayDay513 · July 2013

kat & matt said:

There will be about 150 guests. Most of those people will be out of town and also quite a few will be from out of the country. I'm not quite sure what everyone is used to. My guess is they've seen it both ways. There is so much space at my venue that people wouldn't have to feel confined to their chairs - especially since it is a buffet. Now I'm leaning more toward assigning people to tables

I would say because of the number of OOT guests it may be easier to do a seating chart. You don't even have to do escort cards just a giant seating chart. That way people who don't know anyone else don't have to awkwardly wander or if you are like single having to awkwardly ask strangers if seats are taken.

Dma361 · July 2013

I agree, with that number, and the amount of out of town guests, I'd do a seating chart. We're doing open seating, but we'll only have about 50 guests (near charleston too...folly beach!), most outside of our immediate families know each other, and it's a super laid back buffet at a beach bar, so it makes sense for us. Maybe just assign tables and not individual seats to keep the laid back feel, make it less work for you, but still help avoid the "looking for a seat in the cafeteria" feel.

Jen4948 · July 2013

I also agree that with that number of guests I'd also do a seating chart. It helps people not to have to look around for seats together, or any seat at all, especially if it's a buffet and they're carrying heavy trays of food.

Maggie0829 · July 2013

Jen4948 said:

I also agree that with that number of guests I'd also do a seating chart. It helps people not to have to look around for seats together, or any seat at all, especially if it's a buffet and they're carrying heavy trays of food.

I am sure that the guests would find a seat prior to the buffet being opened so it won't be like they are walking around, carrying their food and wondering where to sit. The first thing I always do when I get to a wedding reception is find my table and throw my crap down (purse, camera, etc) at place setting so I don't have to hold it anymore.

Jen4948 · July 2013

Maggie0829 said:

Jen4948 said:

I also agree that with that number of guests I'd also do a seating chart. It helps people not to have to look around for seats together, or any seat at all, especially if it's a buffet and they're carrying heavy trays of food.
I am sure that the guests would find a seat prior to the buffet being opened so it won't be like they are walking around, carrying their food and wondering where to sit. The first thing I always do when I get to a wedding reception is find my table and throw my crap down (purse, camera, etc) at place setting so I don't have to hold it anymore.

That's what you would do, but not everyone does that, and it opens the reception up to "saving seats" so that anyone who doesn't have someone to save them a seat then has to look around or put their things down and get on the buffet line and risk having them stolen (which I've known to happen at receptions-my dad experienced this with a camera once) when the owner isn't there with them.

seating arrangements or no.....

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