Is anyone not having a top table or a seating plan?

SplanK

We are having a seating plan as such but letting people decide for themselves where to sit on that table. Main reason for the semi organised plan is so that we can organise people onto tables who know each other - but I dont want to have to go through the hastle of "oh she cant sit next to him" - let them sort that out themselves! I also want to be able to refer to a group of close friends in my speach and it makes it much easier if I know where they are going to be!

I also think with events like this - people like a bit of direction but also value the freedom of been able to make their own choise. Thankfully we can have tables of 10 so we have yet to run into a situation where we are having to mix people who dont know each other.

I was at a wedding not so long back where me and my other half were placed on a table where the other people were strangers to us. It was ok, but would have been nicer to have sat with friends.

nuttymummy

we arent having a top table/seating plan......we arent even having a meal!

we are having afternoon tea, if its nice and sunny we will be sat on the terrace on small table n charis so people can sit wherever they like, ive also thought about buying some blankets and putting them on the grass underneath the trees to have a picnic........but if it rains looks like we will all be inside in the tea room! LOL

lynnexxxo

Oh decisions. We are having about 30 adults and 15 kids for the meal, and there is no option (other than go hungry) so I think we would be ok to have no seating plan. But I'm worried that a few poeple might get overlooked and end up sitting with people they really didn't know. or even worse I'd end up without a seat!

Do you think having a top table with names, a large kids table, and three other tables would be ok? I'm having a slight panic that the numbers seem to be shrinking (it started off 40 adults and 23 kids).

obsessednewbie

MoneySaver82 wrote: »

We had round tables and just positioned ours roughly in the centre of the room with others around us, Would have hated being set apart at the front of the room, you wouldn't have really known which was the 'top table', we made sure we had family/close friends that we wanted on the tables nearest to us and had family members/best man etc with us on our table. Didn't matter too much in the end really as we were wandering around for some much of the time as we wanted to see everyone!

Hiya - i LOVE this idea - hadnt thought of that. I am also not having a top table or seating plan. Just gonna have a round table like the rest of my guests. This is great as i will be able to talk to people all around me, rather than put to the side and having to shout across the big room.

Like it!
x

lynnexxxo

obsessednewbie wrote: »

Hiya - i LOVE this idea - hadnt thought of that. I am also not having a top table or seating plan. Just gonna have a round table like the rest of my guests. This is great as i will be able to talk to people all around me, rather than put to the side and having to shout across the big room.

Like it!
x

I like the idea of having just a normal round table but am worried that by the time I got and sit down there won't be space for me and OH and mum, mil etc. What are you doing to ensure the wedding party sits together?

obsessednewbie

lynnexxxo wrote: »

I like the idea of having just a normal round table but am worried that by the time I got and sit down there won't be space for me and OH and mum, mil etc. What are you doing to ensure the wedding party sits together?

Balloons saying Bride and Groom and a high chair with youngest daughters name on?? Hadnt thought of it till now. Might also go for the table that seats 10 rather than 8. Like to be in the thick of it. Top tables suggest to me "celebrity - do not cross"

x

Mrsanders

We didn't have a table plan, eveyone just sat where they wanted. We did have a top table but that was only for the speeches and then we mingled with all the guests.

RainbowDrops

lynnexxxo wrote: »

I like the idea of having just a normal round table but am worried that by the time I got and sit down there won't be space for me and OH and mum, mil etc. What are you doing to ensure the wedding party sits together?

We had the informal round table in the middle of the room as our Top Table too, and it was very nice, and far more social for everyone on the table.

You could just do a seating plan for the top table of whoever you want there, then leave the rest to free seating.

Curious_George_2

we arent having a top table or a seating plan, our food is only a buffet though...
i dont like the whole top table thing and with my family its an awful, stressful job trying to find people to sit together
it would also draw attention to the fact that OHs parents cant be bothered to turn up.

I was never going to have a seating plan though, id much rather people sat with the ones they will have a good time with than get pushed together with great uncle nobby

ajmoney

lynnexxxo wrote: »

Hi all.

I was wondering if anyone else has decided to not have a top table, or a seating plan?

I'm not that keen on the whole top table thing (all my guests are important). We went to a wedding a while ago where each one of the wedding party sat at a different table and it was lovely. However I'm not sure anyone else agrees with me, both my mum and MIL2B where a bit:eek: when I suggested it. I think they were quite looking forward to being centre stage.

My other though was to have a top table and them just let the guests sit where they like, instead of stressing about sitting so and so next to so and so and all that. But then I suppose there won't be all that much mixing going on and may end up kinda us and them, if you know what I mean.

Or am I trying to be different for being differents sake and should just go with a traditional set up. I don't want to be 'its my wedding, i'll decide' I'd much rather try and make everyone happy?

No top table for us, OHs parents aren't alive and although I have never told him this, I didn't want it to look lop-sided as his dad only passed away a few weeks ago. Each of our wedding party are hosting a table, they can be the centre of attention of their table. We have split up families to encourage people to talk so they are more likely to mingle later on. Go for whatever YOU want.