Seating Chart, Yes or No?

I went to a barn wedding that had rows of tables attached together and no seating arrangements. Dinner was buffet-style. It worked because since the tables were so long everyone could still sit near who they wanted (although I will admit it was very loud!). If you have round tables with limited seating at each, it can be awkward for guests to decide who sits where if their group exceeds the number of chairs at the table.

I guess the only problem is if you have a couple or family that can't sit together because of the cards? and some guests might get randomly put with people they have nothing in common with? But if everyone knows each other maybe?

I personally as a guest like knowing where to sit! While planning my vendor suggested that we have it marked what they are eating by their seat. Are you having a buffet?

I would have done this as we had a small wedding and going escort cards left me with many left over. The sign would have been better given the same pattern with colour to pop of the pride flag colours.

For most of the weddings that have small to large, a chart has always been created unless escort cards was the choice made printed according to names specifically.

Our current plan at the moment is to assign tables but not seats. We have to do at least this because certain family members need to be on opposite sides of the room for minimizing the spark of lighting up drama....also, makes it easier on the staff with the weird collection of allergies between bridal party and guests.

View quoted message I almost wonder too if everyone would follow it. I know if I made one and people didn't sit where I planned them to, it would bug me and add extra stress the day of. Another thing I was thinking of doing, I don't know if this is standard at weddings, is put out more tables and chairs than needed. It will make set up and take down take a bit longer, but I think people sometimes like to spread themselves out and leave chairs in between each other.

View quoted message If i had a smaller family I definitely wouldn’t do one. But my family alone is 80-90 people! Then my Fiancés family on top of that, and then our friends and not to mention plus ones. The list is already so long. So im so over the struggle of trying to do one! All of these replies are great points, but at this point id just rather make sure i have more then enough chairs than arrange where people sit.

I've been debating about this. I had one idea where I just reserve closer tables/chairs for our parents and grandparents and let everyone else fend for themselves, but reading these responses has me thinking about it again and doing a complete seating chart. We increased out guest list, so maybe with more people it's necessary (approximately 80-90 now including plus ones).

As stressful as doing a seating chart was, I definitely recommend doing one. We've been to weddings where there was no seating chart and it can be awkward if you're not family and don't know anyone else there.

The Seating chart tool on Wedding Wire is really helpful to sort of get a handle of who to put where and it helps to be able to visualize it vs. writing names on paper. I would take a day or two with your FH and hammer it out. I'd also not work on it until RSVPs are in since you don't know who's able to go to the wedding yet.

I'm definitely going to do one. FH and I have quite a few friends who won't know anyone besides me/him, their plus one, and my/his parents. I don't want them to end up sitting at a table that is going to be boring for them, or worse, feel like they can't sit anywhere! So we're going to group people to a table, and then they can choose which seat to pick at that table! This will make sure that everyone ends up with a table that includes either people they know, or people similar to their demographic!

We didn't have one! We had spent a full night making a seating chart but then the day before and day of the wedding we had like a dozen or more people say they can no longer make it so we just gave up and scrapped the seating chart and let them find their own spots since there would now be more than enough room.

I'm doing one, there's always someone who gets left out and I don't want to do that to people.

At the very least assigning tables will cut down on some day of stress for you and your guests. If a couple arrives late their seats are still at the same table rather than potentially at opposite ends of the room. Plus if you have any family drama pop up before the wedding you can keep those people separate!

I'll be putting people at tables not seats since we are having a family style meal. I'll be making up their place cards with their table number on them so I won't have a big chart. I have the sweetest placard holders that look like ice cubes.

There's a lot of reasons why a seating chart is a good idea. Like Ashley said, you don't want people walking around aimlessly, especially if your guest count is on the higher end. You also don't want to break up couples, or families with smaller kids if there's only one spot left at 2 different tables. Then it depends on what kind of dinner you're having, if you're having a seated plated dinner then servers will need to know if someone needs a special request for dietary reasons.

Im doing one. its just easier than people arent wandering around wondering if where they are sitting. or what if important family members are running errands and get there late - you dont want them sitting far away. also dont want guests holding seats for others. you can do a seating chart online and to staples and print it on a foam board