Seating Chart VS Open Seating

I don't like open seating mainly because it's chaotic - some couples or groups may not be able to sit with each other and it's awkward walking around asking "is this seat taken?".

I guess i never thought of the cons to NOT having one... hmm.. but as of now we are not having a seating chart, it's a lot of hassel to make when most people re-arrange/change it anyway.

I personally thing having a seating chart is better. Yes it is a hassle but this is why I think it is good to have one.

1st. People know where they will be sitting with. I attended a wedding and my seat was stolen when I went up to get food. People save seats for others. You might have be able to sit with someone because all the seats are already taken. You might not have enough seats for your guest. OR you could rent too many. The list can go on.

I will be doing a seating chart and no I am not looking forward to it, but in the end it will be much better and I won't have to worry about others.

Seating chart! I agree it's way too chaotic with having people find seats. I think if one thing at a wedding people expect to know where they are sitting at least. I know it's a headache but worth it!

There is nothing I hate more then going to an event and not knowing where I am gonna sit. Do your guests a favor and just tell them where to sit. If they change later that is fine, but you don't want your elderly guests worried they wont have a seat.

Desiree, I didn't think about the not knowing if seats were taken aspect. Hmm. I was going to do open seating because I'm doing a cocktail and appetizer reception so it seemed silly to have a seating chart. I was just going to have the chart for immediate family.

I agree with the others. If guests sit down first come first served, the last couple to arrive may find that the only two seats still available are at two different tables at opposite ends of the room with people neither of them know. How incredibly awkward! Also, if your guests are choosing their meals ahead of time, there may be a chance that assigned seating can make it much easier on the waitstaff. Plus, all the other things others have mentioned.

Overall, I'd say seating charts have definite advantages, and personally as a guest I prefer that the bride and groom take the time to plan this out so that I am guaranteed to sit with my hubby as well as at least a few people I know.

We are doing a combination of both. We are reserving tables for the bride/groom, bridal party, and the parents/grandparents. The rest will be open seating. We are having a very small wedding. So I don’t think anyone will feel uncomfortable sitting next to someone else or feeling left out. Everyone knows each other since the wedding is close family and close friends. Our wedding coordinator who is also the owner of the restaurant we are having the wedding at recommended just reserving tables and so that is what we are doing. If we had a bigger wedding, we probably would’ve had a seating chart. Sometimes with open seating things can get chaotic and someone may feel left out if they don’t get the seat they want. On the other hand I’ve been to weddings where they had a seating chart and I felt like they threw us (me and FH) at a back table with all the kids (we are 23) and I was with a bunch of teenagers. But hey I still had fun : )

You can place people at tables without giving them a specific seat. My friend got married last year and did open seating, they had a sweetheart table and that was all that was marked. My family (me, FH, parents and brother) all sat together at a table only to have someone come over to tell us that the table we were at was reserved, but there was no sign. We moved tables, luckily my parents got a table together and me, FH and bro were all able to sit together with some of my friends but by the time we were told we had to move, most everyone had taken a seat, I thought we were all going to have to split up. It's a headache, but after that experience I will be doing a seating chart for sure.

Seating chart. I have to organize & be in charge of everything!

Thank you for all the advice! I am now thinking the FH is right. Our guest list is pretty large (220) and I do not want anyone to feel left out or have to resort to sitting with people they will not be comfortable with. I guess I never thought of all the pros, I was just thinking of how stressful creating the actual seating chart would be.

Thanks again to you all!!!!

I have attended weddings that were open seating and ones that had seating charts. I much preferred the ones with seating charts. It is much more organized. I was also able to be at a table with friends and be comfortable. I think since you know your guests best you can strategically place people together even if they don't know one another. The cons to this is it takes a lot of time to put together. It also requires that you come up with a way to display the info so your guest know where to go...but this could be a pro too

One wedding I went to that was open seating I ended up sitting with some family that was not really ready to have fun and almost seemed like they didn't want to talk or interact...it totally killed the mood for me. The pros is it tends to give off a more casual vibe and it doesn't take you any time to do.

It definitely will take more time and effort to make, but for your number of guests I think it would be the best choice.

Courtney with a guest list that large was at at 245 I would highly suggest doing a seating chart it will be the easiest and smoothest way possible for all your guest.

We did a slight variation on a seating chart - we had assigned tables. That way people knew which table they were at but could sit next to whomever they wanted at the table. It went over very well!

I am doing the same as Linda,assigned tables!

Same here. Assigned tables. Work friends at one, church friends at two others, band members at another (FI is in a band), local out of towners at another, and so on. Especially important, I think, because everyone is sitting at the same round tables for the ceremony and dessert reception.

Great ideas! I think I will just do the assigned tables. It will not be as difficult as assigning actual seats but it will still be organized. My mom thinks I am crazy for deciding to do this because she says "people are just going to switch their seats around" which I don't mind if a few people switch. Has anyone had problems with people switching everywhere ??? I think I know my guests enough to know who they would want to sit with but idk ??? Thoughts please?

Yeah, the assigned tables are typically what I call "assigned seating". It's the best way to go I think.

The assigned tables will mainly be for the dinner portion of the evening. I've never seen anyone switch seats in the middle of dinner or try to "trade" before the meal service begins. After dinner, people get up to dance and of course want to say hello to others not at their table, so they will be moving around. This is very typical. However, they have a "home base" where they know they can leave their purse, camera, etc.

We had assigned tables at our wedding. I didn't notice anybody switching seats. At moat weddings I have been to, some guests may trade seats AFTER the meal portion, when a lot of people are up and dancing, grabbing a drink, etc. Even so, I think guests appreciate having a designated table where they can eat dinner.

I absolutely believe in seating charts. I have two very dear friends that were married last year. One friends had a wedding of over 200 people attending and had no seating chart. I was actually very upset because I didn't know anyone and didn't know who to sit by. Because the wedding was so large I barely saw my friend as well. It was just an awkward situation, especially when it was buffet style and when they announced the buffet was open, everyone ran to get in line and it took a very long time to get food.

My other friend had a much smaller wedding, about 30 people, but she did have assigned seating and she took the time to put together people who she thought would get along the best. I really appreciated this because I ended up having a ball and making a new friend! It just made me feel good that they put that extra effort into making everyone feel comfortable and welcomed I will definitely have a seating chart at my wedding!