Can you imagine that…your guests sitting wherever they want?? There are many benefits to having open seating at your wedding reception. Here are 7 reasons to ditch your seating plan.
1. LESS STRESS!! Read on if you need more reasons, but this is enough for me.
2. Save money on table seating cards, a seating arrangement display or favors with table assignments on them – don’t need them. You do need a large sign to let your guests know they can sit anywhere or they will be wandering around. Although, I do recommend still using table numbers for those of us that have a crappy memory when returning from the bar. Not having to worry about seating lets you focus on What is Important to You.
(Note on picture below: while I’m not crazy about the assigned seats at the table, I love the shot glasses at each place setting. Now THAT is setting the mood.)
3. Reduce your catering cost by not offering a dinner choice. So much easier keeping track of RSVPs. Yes or No – simple as that. No need to keep track of who is eating what. See my post, Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner for more thoughts on this.
4. No Table #9 awkwardness (Wedding Singer reference)
5. No worries about arranging a seating plan so everyone is happy (i.e., sitting divorced couples or your own parents not so close together). The choice is in their hands. In addition, if your Aunt wants catch up with someone other than immediately family, she can do that. Your cousin can sit with your friend. Grandpa can sit at the kids table and prefers that anyway.
6. No revising the seating chart for the 17th time and no last-minute changes after the final, final version (especially after you give it to the venue with the meal choices on it).
7. Everything about this is good and it’s a trickle effect. If your guests are more relaxed, they will chat more, or dance more, or mingle more, or all of the above. Most important, though, is that you are relaxed and having fun. If your guests are, you are and vice versa – if you are, your guests are.
Photo by Michael Discenza on Unsplash
