topic Re: When you attend a wedding in Home

When you attend a wedding

Abrowneyegirl — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 02:00:48 GMT

Do you expect to be assigned a table?

When I go to a wedding I expected to be assigned a seat /table to sit. In conversations recently there seemed to be a regional question on this. I am from the North east (and 99% of the weddings I have ever attended were formal so my experience is limited).

Can anyone here share their experiences or preferences?

Re: When you attend a wedding

PeterDM — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 02:05:30 GMT

I guess it depends on the venue and style of the wedding. The last wedding I attended was in a back yard at a very upscale estate. There were no assigned seats as both the ceremony and reception were in the same place, and food the was buffet style. If you respond to an invitation by choosing an dinner entree, and the reception takes place in an indoor venue, I would expect to be assigned a seat.

Re: When you attend a wedding

151949 — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 02:07:25 GMT

I agree that it depends on the venue and the formality of the affair.

Re: When you attend a wedding

RainyDayGal — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 02:07:55 GMT

I've only attended two weddings that had formal sit down dinners. No seating was assigned. One was at a very expensive hotel in Seattle. We all dressed nice, but dress was not "formal". The other wedding was in a barn, and some people dressed very casual. But it was still a nice setting with table cloths, buffet dinner, and we sat where we wanted.

Other weddings I've attended the family made some of the food, had other food catered. No seating assignment. One of the best weddings was a pot luck. Yup, I said it - a POT LUCK.

Re: When you attend a wedding

clairelv — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 04:24:02 GMT

it is nice for it is a wedding . right ? no matter where did you seat you will be happy .

at least it is ....

Re: When you attend a wedding

beach-mom — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 04:32:21 GMT

We have been to three recent weddings, ranging from formal country club to informal outdoors under a tent in the couple's backyard. At all of them, we were assigned a table. Two of the weddings were in the mid-Atlantic region, and one was in the midwest.

Re: When you attend a wedding

Marsha2003 — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 05:35:49 GMT

Every wedding I've ever attended had assigned tables for guests, even the one with a reception in a park.

Re: When you attend a wedding

Nataliesgramma — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 10:56:04 GMT

Formal weddings we have assigned seating.

Re: When you attend a wedding

colliegirls — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 11:52:35 GMT

I have been to both, doesn't matter to me either way.

Re: When you attend a wedding

StylishLady — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 11:59:33 GMT

I can't recall a wedding ceremony where we were assigned seats, except of course our two daughter's weddings as we sat in front on the bride side. I've been to a few where seating was assigned for the reception, but most were like first come/first serve seating. Makes no real difference to me personally.

Re: When you attend a wedding

Bobbimom23 — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 14:06:08 GMT

I've attended both where the table seating is assigned and unassigned. Our nephew's wedding was more formal, yet the seating was unassigned and there were not enough seats or tables for attendees. We never got a table/seat and we were family! Found out later that there were people attending that never sent in the RSVP and so it threw everything off for the reception -- not enough food, seating/tables, etc.

Re: When you attend a wedding

Chrystaltree2 — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 14:18:31 GMT

I don't believe the region of the country has much to do with it; I think whether or not there are seats, depends on the type and formality of the reception. Generally speaking, if a reception is a two hour, cocktail type reception with finger foods and drinks, there will be a few seats but not a seat and table for each guest. The same goes if it's a "cake & punch" or "cake & champagne" type reception. Receptions like that are short and a full meal is not servied. Now, if a meal is served and it's an informal reception; often there will not be assigned tables. Tables are reserved for the bridal party and relatives but others sit where they want to sit. A formal wedding always has assigned seating.

Re: When you attend a wedding

PeterDM — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 15:55:39 GMT

In my previous post, I stated that the most recent wedding I attended was at an upscale estate, but there was no assigned seating. Something else to consider is the age of the couple, and whether or not this is the first time around for either or both of them. The wedding I attended had a bride and groom in their 40's and 50's and both had children from previous marriages. It definitely seemed more appropriate to do a buffet and a more relaxed seating situation in this scenario.

Re: When you attend a wedding

wilma — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 15:05:34 GMT

Most of the weddings I go to do not have assigned seats, especially if they are Saturday afternoon events. I have been to a few night weddings where the seats/tables were assigned. I can make conversation with anyone so it doesn't bother me if I am assigned a seat, but sometimes someone else at the wedding who I want to sit with is not assigned to my table and that is disappointing. Btw I live in the Southeast.

Re: When you attend a wedding

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 18:33:06 GMT

I got married in 1990 and we did not do assigned seating. All of my friends were married either that year or within a year or 2 and none had assigned seating.

Every wedding I've attended over the last at least 5 years, regardless of how casual or informal, had assigned seating.

Re: When you attend a wedding

lulu2 — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 20:04:17 GMT

@Abrowneyegirl wrote:
Do you expect to be assigned a table?

When I go to a wedding I expected to be assigned a seat /table to sit. In conversations recently there seemed to be a regional question on this. I am from the North east (and 99% of the weddings I have ever attended were formal so my experience is limited).

Can anyone here share their experiences or preferences?

We've been to 2 or 3 weddings where seats were not assigned. People overcrowded tables, moving chairs all over the place. There was also childish "saving seats". There were a few tables with fewer than 5 guests.

Assigned seating makes it awkward for those rude people that either didn't respond or chose to bring a guest who was not invited.

I'd vote for assigned seating.

Re: When you attend a wedding

AuntG — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 01:07:17 GMT

No, table assignments aren't all that common in my part of the world (Midwest). Our tables had cards that were quite genera. I think they were along the lines of "church friends", "work friends", "groom's family".

Re: When you attend a wedding

AnikaBrodie — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 13:07:15 GMT

As a rule in my area only the bridal table and parents have reserved tables. All other guests sit where they choose to. On rare occasions tables for all guests are reserved but this is not the norm.

Re: When you attend a wedding

CANDLEQUEEN — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 15:01:37 GMT

Most wedding receptions that I have been at have assigned seating if it iwas a sit down dinner, but I have been to a few that there was only assigned seating for the families and friends sat wherever. So I have seen it both ways, but usually your more formal affairs have assigned seating......With both of my daughters, there was assigned seating for family only!One had a sit down and the other had a buffet style, one was an evening more formal affair, and the other was a Sunday afternoon luncheon type.

Re: When you attend a wedding

Zhills — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 01:10:45 GMT

At the last wedding I attended the family members were assigned seats at the reception. They were close to the dance floor so they would be able to see all the happenings. The other tables were open seating.