With only 7 days till my wedding and two children under 18 months you can imagine that I'm very busy at the moment and probably a little shorter with people then usual. Anyway in the space of two days I have had several people commenting on the fact I've done no table planning, mainly my bridesmaid and my mil. My mil was Also a little put out that there is no top table as such.
My feeling is, as we are having a buffet it wasn't necessary , that I would leave people to their own devices and to sit where and with whom they felt comfortable. It's been sort of implied that I should of done one and it's going to confuse people if I don't.
Me and h2b also felt we did not want the inevitable drama of people kicking off about where they were sat and who with, especially as there are a few people who don't get on with a certain person who is attending.
My question is whose right?
Should I have done one? I really do feel it's pointless .
Is anyone else having a buffet instead of a sit down meal, did or are you doing a table plan?
Thanks for reading
Eternity isn't long enough
CommentAuthorGiggler81
Weddings always bring out peoples opinions and whatever you did there would always be someone speaking up and saying its not right...
As with many things people might have an opinion on ... it is NOT their wedding and if you decided you do not feel the need for a table plan then thats all that matter.
You wont please everyone - so please yourself - its your day and for the record I would agree with you - if you are having a buffet you do not need a table plan.
CommentAuthorMichelleNearlymrsD
Thank you , yes exactly my feeling. I just got the impression I was somehow being lazy by not doing it but nevermind, they can whinge but it's our day like you said.
Eternity isn't long enough
CommentAuthorthefuture:Mrs_Hurren
I agree, I have noticed already that everyone has an opinion but at the end of the day it's your wedding not anyone else's so as LNG as you and you oh are happy that's all that matters. X
CommentAuthorSamanthaG76
edited
I agree that everyone has an opinion and you should stick with what you want but just to throw a spanner in the works... I went to a wedding last year that was a buffet and didn't have a table plan and it was really awkward as no one knew where to sit and people were left out and others who were last in the queue were forced to sit with people they didn't get on with etc etc. It took about 45 mins to get everyone seated in the end!! It was a massive drama that took away the spotlight that should have been on the bride and groom. It all depends on how many people you're having and how well everyone gets on I think. Good luck with whatever you decide :-) x
12th April 2014 - The day I marry my soulmate..x
Smile, be happy :-)
If you don't want one then don't have one. Those people who are complaining you don't have one are probably the same people who would moan about who they were sat with.
I was not going to have a table plan either, but in the end decided to as I thought people would end up with seats spare, and then couples would not be able to sit together. When I started doing the plan though, this is exactly what happened but fortunately my older boys girlfriends could be sat on different tables so they made up the odd seat on two tables.
Our wedding day - 6 October 2012
CommentAuthorElinor Claire
My brother and his wife didn't have a table plan except for a top table, and it worked fine. However I heard of another one where there was no table plan and everyone wanted to sit on the same table with the liveliest group, so you ended up with people pulling up extra chairs and trying to crowd round, and others feeling a bit on the edge. It all depends on your guests really.
30th August 2014 was the best birthday ever.
It was the day that I became Mrs. Dixon.
CommentAuthorAmyK
Err, are these people telling you to do one actually volunteering to do it or at least help you do it?? Don't fret - I'm sure people can manage to sit by someone they don't know for one meal in their entire life, then as others get up & go for seconds (always happens at buffets) then they can start to move around a bit if they so desperately want to xx
CommentAuthorCatherineR
Personally we're putting up some sort of plan purely because of something my OH said... A lot of people won't have met each other and there's the fact that her family has a grand total of 7 members including her so it's going to be very uneven! We don't want people sitting in their own little groups not chatting to anybody outside of their comfort zone. Having people round the edge just not mingling and socializing isn't what we want BUT this is your wedding and they have to remember that :) do what you guys want as what works for them, won't necessarily work for you! Have a lovely wedding that's yours/OH's not theirs! xxx
Married my wife on 15.08.15
Honeymooned on the Isles of Scilly :)
CommentAuthorInDreamland
Most weddings have table plans, however, if you want it more informal and your h2b agrees then it's none of anyone else's business. The two people I note who have flagged it as an issue would traditionally be on the top table so maybe they are concerned about status at the wedding and ensuring they get to sit with you and your h2b.
I would just do what you think you want to have xx
Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!
CommentAuthorMichelleNearlymrsD
Thanks for the replies I think oh and I have been too laid back about the reception in that I'm not even 100% sure on who he's invited when he's been down the local for snooker night haha xx
Eternity isn't long enough
CommentAuthorBeckyU98
we are having one but only because we are having sit down meal. personally i would still have a top table if it was a buffet but let everyone else sit where they like. i would also make sure there some extra seats in case you cant fit families on tables together x
CommentAuthorPaulaE95
We are having a BBQ and are having a top table and a sort of seating plan. We are planning who goes on which table so that people are mixed but we are not having name place cards so that people can sit how they want on each table - mixing formal and informal. Hope that makes sense - it sounded complicated when I was typing it but it really isn't. As most people say though its your wedding and plan it how you want, it is easy to get swept up with what everybody else thinks should be done!!
CommentAuthorLauraK7
I would say if it's a buffet you don't need a seating plan - go with what you want x
CommentAuthorMel D
We had a mixture of a buffet and sit down meal (served starters & desserts, but buffet main) and we did do a seating plan. Mostly becuase of family members who don't get on, divorces etc so there wasn't any fuss on the day.
Don't do one if you don't think it's necessary!
Got married Sat 28/05/2011
Renewing vows Sat 29/05/2021
We're planning WELL in advance!!
CommentAuthorHayley Elizabeth
It's your wedding sweets, if that is what you wanted then go with it. People need to but out as this is causing you stress that you don't need right before your wedding!
Good luck xxx
CommentAuthorMrsRobson2Be
We weren't planning on having a seating plan until we went to a wedding without one & it was chaos. Do you have enough room in your venue to have extra table & chairs set up ie if you have 100 guests have enough table/chairs for at least 110, if you do then I think you could get away with no seating plan. Our venue doesn't have extra space for additional seating so we will have to do a seating plan, but ours will be as paulaE95 did in that people will be assigned tables but can choose their seat.
