Reception Seating

I have not been to a Wedding where they weren`t assigned so I can`t comment on how it worked or didn`t work. But I have to tell you that was the hardest thing of all for us. Everything else was fun and went without a hitch, until it came time to do the seating chart. My MIL didn`t have a thing to do with our planning (her choice not ours) until the seating chart...it was a nightmare. So All I can say if you can get away with it DO IT! Good Luck!

We were thinking of doing the same thing. We are having our reception in the same garden we are doing the ceremony in. There is a round small brick patio at one end where we are going to seat the bridal party. Of course we wanted the 2 closest tables to be for each of our parents. The tables will seat 5 comforably or 6 tightly, we are going with 5.
My dilemma is if I tried to do a seating chart it would never work. We are allowing children and infants so there will be no room to really seat anyone properly with only 5 to a table.
We thought of just letting the immediate family know at the rehersal the night before what tables they will be using, with a simple reserved tent on those table so guest don`t accidentally sit there. And then letting everyone else decide for themselves.

If you are not having a sit-down served meal it should be fine. If you`re having a buffet or hors d`ourves it`s not really necessary.

I`ve only been to one recetption that had a seating chart, and it seemed like it caused more trouble than any of the receptions that didn`t have seating charts. More than likely, the people you`d plan to sit together (families, couples, groups of friends, etc.) will probably sit together anyway. The only reason I can really see for having one is if you`re inviting a lot of people who might not know anyone else, and would be shy about sitting just anywhere.