Seating Plan

I'm doing 2 long community style tables for about 80 guests so I will assign seating. Just makes things easier for the guests in my opinion, in case there are latecomers - what if there aren't 2 seats together for a couple, for example. I think that's something that you as the party planner have to decide, or at the very least what table they are at. I think open seating plans can create chaos and uncomfortable situations unless EVERY one of your guests knows each other and gets along (let's be honest, that doesn't usually happen).

I think after dinner people tend to move seats anyways

I did the same as Daphne

We did assigned seating because we had 2 long tables for the guests (32 people). We had several guests that only knew a few people so we wanted to make sure that they were sitting beside people they could talk to. Also, my husband's parents are divorced and re-married (and get along ok) but we didn't want that to be awkward either. Worked out great. At least two people changed seats, but that didn't bother me because I just wanted them to be comfortable and have a good time. If I was doing a bunch of smaller tables for a larger number of guests, I wouldn't have done assigned seating, just by table.

We are having no seating plan at all. People can figure out where they want to sit without it being my headache. We will just make sure we have a couple extra tables in case seats get left empty. Its going to be more of a casual dinner anyway and i want people to feel free to mingle.

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Ouu the décor is stunning!

I'm glad to hear someone has done assigned seating, although I think I am going to have assigned tables for now because I am already getting requests that are I know we have to sit at the same table but can you not sit me beside them. That way they can pick their own seats and I don't have to make a mental list of who doesn't want to sit beside who lol!

I did individual seat assignments in addition to table assignments! As a guest I like zero guess work

We had a mirrored seating chart to show everyone their table assignment, and then at each seat was a menu that doubled as a place card! Once you've finished deciding who sits and what table you've already done 95% of the work, and assigning individual seats was a breeze.

Photos by Samantha Laffoon Photography

We only did table assignment for our wedding. Much easier than picking individual seats for everyone.

I would do table assignments and have a placecard (with meal choice) for each person to pick up where they find out their table. They can then place it where they decide to sit at their table.

View quoted message This is a brilliant idea! I might do that.

Not doing a seating plan. As I have 200+ guests and don't want that headache of people complaining that I sat them with someone they didn't want to sit with.

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I never even thought of that! What a great idea. It would also save me time so I don't have to make a seating chart and name cards. Thank you so much!

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Amber, if that's the case but you still want to just do table assignments, you can always indicate on the escort card what meal choice the guest has requested, so that way the catering staff know what that guest gets but the guests can still choose their own seat at the tables. For my wedding I color coordinated the writing on the escort cards with the meal choices.

I did table assignments, I don't think I've been to a wedding that did specific assigned seats.

I was going to do just a table assignment, but then my venue told me I needed to have place cards out so they know what meal is going where since we are doing a plated dinner.