If I may make a very generalized suggestion... don't do this please! There are definitely some weddings that can get away with this, but on a whole it's worth a little more time and thought on your end to make everything run smoothly.
- Do you remember waiting all morning in High School so you could sit with your friends at lunch? Then you got there and the table was full so you had to sit with other people you didn't know? Or even more awkward, you show up to your friends table with another friend and there's one seat left so you had to figure out who would sit there and would sit elsewhere? Open seating at a wedding can result in just that. Which is not only awkward for your guests but leads me to my next point...
-You need to rent more. When you plan out your seating arrangement you will probably make sure that every seat at every table is accounted for. With an open seating arrangement you're going to have holes at tables. A seat here, a seat there. It doesn't sound like much but with a medium-to-large wedding you're talking about a couple more tables, chairs for those tables, additional centerpieces, and additional silverware and glassware. Even if all those seats won't be used you don't want the table to look forgotten or empty.
-You're limiting your options for type of service. Most caterers won't offer a full plated dinner if you have open seating. Even if you are giving your guests a choice of meal from their seats (instead of on the response card) caterers will have to account for additional wait staff to accommodate the additional tables.
-Lastly, the timeline. As a planner I love my timeline. We're pretty flexible with how the flow of the wedding runs once the reception starts (You're not ready to cut your cake at exactly 8:34? That's fine by me!) but it's always helpful to have it start on time. Gathering your guests to make the move from Cocktail Hour to Reception is always a little time consuming, add the uncertainty of where to sit and you're at least doubling the amount of time needed!
Why It Sometimes Works...
-If you are having a very casual, picnic-esque wedding then go for it. Even better, offer your guests a choice of picnic blankets and tables to take any pressure off from finding a seat.
-Very small and intimate weddings. I had the pleasure last year of coordinating a wedding for 35 guests at a farm. The bride and groom opted for open seating and it worked out perfectly. Most of their guests knew each other and were comfortable enough to mingle and move around through dinner.
On a final note...
-So many couples give me a blank stare when I say "Escort Card". Granted, it's not really a term that you hear frequently outside weddings. When I follow up by saying "Place Card" you can see it click, but there is a difference...
An escort card is a card (or as above, a notation on a sign) that figuratively "escorts" guests to their seat by telling them where they will be seating (typically at which table). Whereas a place card is a card that is literally put at the place where they will be sitting. This is much less common in weddings as you generally do not decide the exact seats your guest will take and the process of finding your seat among 150 others is much more confusing than even open seating!
For more assistance with etiquette and tips on how to make your wedding run smoothly please reach out to us here!
