Are you trying to figure out how to ensure your wedding guests have a wonderful time? Regarding seating arrangements, many brides are left wondering if assigned seating is still the way to go. Luckily, we’ll break down the pros and cons of open seating compared to assigned seating.

Assigned Seating

When it comes to wedding planning, setting up seating arrangements is an important task that should be considered. Many brides opt for assigned seating – where each guest has their designated seat and table – to ensure everyone knows exactly where they need to be on the wedding day. This helps avoid any awkwardness or confusion when it comes to dinner and speeches.

Assigned seating also ensures your guests are seated in accordance with your preferred layout and décor scheme, helping ensure your tables look amazing in all the photos taken on the big day. With assigned seating, you can also get creative by creating place cards and writing personalized messages to your friends and family.

The downside to this type of seating arrangement is that it can be time-consuming and challenging to organize. Not only do you have to allocate seats for each guest, but you also need to think about their preferred seating companions when assigning tables.

Open Seating

Open seating works well for more relaxed weddings with a less formal feel, allowing guests to choose their seats on the wedding day. This eliminates any potential stress and hassle associated with organizing assigned seating arrangements, will enable guests to select their table mates, and eliminates the extra legwork in creating a detailed seating plan.

However, there are some drawbacks to open seating too. While open seating may look neat and orderly on paper, keeping the tables looking balanced once guests arrive and sit down can be challenging. Additionally, if you have any dietary restrictions or special requests for different seating arrangements (e.g., having a separate table for children or handicapped accessible seating), in that case, it may be easier to manage with assigned seating.

A Mixture of Both

If you want the best of both options, opt for a mixture of both. Create assigned seating for immediate family, wedding party, and special guests while allowing the remaining guests to choose their own seating. This way, you can ensure important people have their designated spots in the room while still keeping a relaxed feel for your other guests!

Which Option is Best?

Both open and assigned seating offer distinct advantages and disadvantages; it all comes down to what works best for your wedding day. In our opinion, having some assigned seating is essential. This ensures that immediate family or special guests are not stuck in the corner. Don’t forget to ask your wedding planner or venue manager for advice and assistance – they are there to help!