Seat chart or no seating chart?

I would recommend at least assigning tables. You can allow your guests to choose their seat from there. By not assigning tables, you're risking families being split up, chairs moved around, you'll need extra chairs, etc.

View Quoted Comment Agree with this completely! If you decide not to do a seating chart I would say you need a lot more tables and chairs than number of guests because people don’t seat themselves efficiently.

I'm doing a seating chart and hoping that it goes well. I will let you know in 15 days LOL

View Quoted Comment Yay! Hope you have the time of your life!!!!

View Quoted Comment Thank you!!! I will look into this!!!

View Quoted Comment Thank you

At first I was Against seating charts of any kind because I felt like adults should be able to figure it out but I’m soo glad we did table assignments. It forced our families to mix and mingle but when dinner was over it didn’t matter anyway. But I think they’re a good idea now!

View Quoted Comment Aww, thank you Amber!!!

Absolutely no regrets about our seating chart! We assigned tables and it was super quick and easy. I love seating charts at weddings I attend as a guest because it gives me a home base and makes sure I get a place to sit with my husband. No downsides in my opinion 😊

Without a seating chart (or at least assigned tables) you’ll need 20-25% extra seating because people won’t divide neatly into table-sized groups, people will leave one empty seat between them and the next person, grandma who couldn’t move quickly enough will end up stuck at the back of the room where she can’t hear anything that’s going on, and families will be split up. Assign tables at least!

No one stayed in the seats assigned, but I had a seating chart 😂. I always get nervous when there isn't one because I've been in situations of musical chairs so I could sit with who I came with

We are doing seating chart only because we are having plates meals!! 8 guest to a table but they can choose who they sit next to at that table they were given.

I'm all for assigning tables. Not so much seats at tables but I can at least understand why people do.
But I have some large families invited and I want to be sure they get to sit together so I'm definitely assigning tables! Some of my family thinks it's a bad idea, but it is what it is.

The only wedding I went to without assigned tables was so completely awkward. We ended up sitting with people we didn’t know and couples did get split up. People were tipping chairs against the tables to save seats and an older lady tripped on one. I know you see a lot of people complaining about how hard the seating chart is to do, but it’s not always like that. My D had put together her chart ahead of time based on who they thought would attend. When the RSVP’s came in, she made minor adjustments from there and was done in no time. I’m actually printing the escort cards today! Good luck and happy planning!

So weird so many people are against open seating. I guess I understand why though. I’ve been to 5-6 weddings with open seating and there was NEVER an issue.

The only reception I've been to with open seating was mostly fine. The thing that bothered me was the groom's parents didn't get to the reception super early because they were with the wedding party taking photos and making sure everyone had what they needed/ holding on to personal items for the wedding party so they didn't get lost. When his parents got to the reception there was only one table in the back open so the groom's parents did not get to really see the head table at all. They are super laid back people so they weren't upset but seeing that happen helped me decide against open seating for my reception.

How large is your guest list? Smaller groups you may be able to get away with not doing one, but larger ones I would highly recommend at least assigning tables. I had about 170 people at our reception and if I had left everyone to choose their own seats it would have been a nightmare! I didn't want families split up or couples forced to sit across the room from each other. Once I sat down and just got to work, it wasn't that bad, honestly. The seating chart tool here on WW was incredibly helpful.

I was not going to do one when we were planning on a larger wedding and just have extra seating, but now that we have downsized and went with a different venue I felt like I needed to do one because we only have 1 extra seat and don't want families to get split up at different tables.

For a smaller wedding it may be ok, but for a larger one I would recommend assigned tables. It was a bit of a struggle for us to create our seating chart, but we did it and I’m so glad we did. I wouldn’t want our guests awkwardly scrambling to find a table as they walk into our reception. People can get split up and end up at tables with people they don’t know, plus it would take 3x as long for everyone to find a table to sit at than it would be with assigned tables, and you’ll most likely be on a schedule for dinner, announcements, dances and speeches so it’ll hold that process up too!

If I'm at a wedding, I 100% prefer a seating chart. It makes it so much less chaotic and awkward, especially for guests that don't know other people or large parties. I would for sure do one.