Radical decision made!

Debbiecatal

Catherine and I had a wedding discussion yesterday and we have finalised the meal with the caterer and *gulp* decided to have no table plan!

The top table will be seated with name badges, but everyone else will just find their own seats. We will lay up 7 tables of 10, and there will be 58 people to seat, so overcapacity should mean everyone who wants to can sit together. We will ask them to be seated for the cake cutting and speeches which will be before the meal, then they will be invited up to the buffet table by table to get their food.

We hope this will mean people will sit with who they want and where they want (and also, it was a really stressful part of the wedding planning that frankly, we can do without!).

Has anyone done this and did it work out ok?

(By the way, Catherine is the bride and I am MOB, in case people were confused)

fawny

Hi Debbie & Catherine,

My friend this excactly this at her wedding a few years ago & it worked fine. Again the top table had a plan & then it was a free for all. You have the right idea in over laying the numbers as this was one thing they did not do & because we were one of the last to arrive as they had asked us to do something for them on the way to the reception, most of the tables were full when we arrived & it was difficult to spot 2 seats together. We eventually spotted a table where there were only 2 people sat & asked if we could join them. There were friends of her Mums & knew no one so were very happy for us to join them. My friend had provided wine on the tables so it meant we had wine for 10 between 4 of us:D I have to say we did find it quiet daunting trying to find somewhere at the time thought but was fine.

But it did work well & the catering team invited each table up at a time for the food.

ampafc

Personally, I would hate that as a guest. What if you get there a bit late, and there isn't enough seats together left for a family/group of friends to sit? What if some unfortunate person is left sitting all by themselves?

I would have thought that the wedding party would know their guests quite well, and therefore should know who might want to sit with who?

But each to their own, I guess.

Mazzarati2000

A close friend of mine & my FSIL both did this last year & it worked well for them. I think it's a great idea for those with the flexibility to do it. Unfortunately, various factors mean it's not an option for us, but right now I wish it was! I firmly believe that it's not until you start putting a table plan together that you truly appreciate what a nightmare they can be, & I think anywhere you can reduce stress in the run up to a wedding can only be a good thing! Congratulations! It sounds like you've got a great plan :-D

LEJC

I think you have thought it though locically and very well...it should make for a lovely structured but informal reception.

I think that in allowing the extra seating you will find that some tables are not full but there should still be enough to seat familiy groups of 4 or even 6 together easily...

The only thing I would consider if it applies in your circumstances,is if there are any elderly or disabled guests who arn't on the top table and being served first...you might want to steer them towards a table near the buffet for ease of collecting their food or arrange for someone ta act as their helper on the day...

Debbiecatal

ampafc wrote: »

Personally, I would hate that as a guest. What if you get there a bit late, and there isn't enough seats together left for a family/group of friends to sit? What if some unfortunate person is left sitting all by themselves?

I would have thought that the wedding party would know their guests quite well, and therefore should know who might want to sit with who?

But each to their own, I guess.

I understand this point and it is a fair one, but the ceremony and the reception are in the same place, so everyone will already have arrived so we shouldn't have anyone arriving late.

Debbiecatal

LEJC wrote: »

The only thing I would consider if it applies in your circumstances,is if there are any elderly or disabled guests who arn't on the top table and being served first...you might want to steer them towards a table near the buffet for ease of collecting their food or arrange for someone ta act as their helper on the day...

Great idea, thanks for that!

Dark_Star

We had a similar thing. Buffet of lovely food & lots of tables & chairs where people could loiter & catch up. Had enough of being trapped sat next to someone's dribbling great uncle Percy for a couple of hours & enduring a droning lecture on his time with the Queen's own 1st Paperclips Division. Was not going to inflict that on anyone.

Had a not quite head table but specific table for the parents & Grandma so they could "hold court" so to speak.

Also had a bouncy castle outside to keep the anklebiters amused & it could take adults too :D:D

Years later, people still say what a good day it was & nephew recently did something very similar (inc the bouncy castle!).:rotfl:

wanchai_2

And what does the bride think?

Debbiecatal

wanchai wrote: »

And what does the bride think?

Not sure what you mean, it was her idea!

RainbowDrops

wanchai wrote: »

And what does the bride think?

OP said it was a joint decision in the first post:

Catherine and I had a wedding discussion yesterday and we have finalised the meal with the caterer and *gulp* decided to have no table plan!
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(By the way, Catherine is the bride and I am MOB, in case people were confused)