spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

FutureMrsKuehne Posted: Mar 09, 2009 01:32 PM

spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

im afraid of this seating thing for my e-party that is in 2 weeks, im like, 'do i make seating assignments for an e-party??????'

and if i do, i dunno who to put where (certain ppl in FHs family doesnt talk to others, and same in my family) soooooooo i feel like i should leave it up to them??

what do u all think??

kimmaymb20 Posted: Mar 09, 2009 01:34 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

i dont think I ever been to an engagment party where we had assigned seats. HTH

AdriandSteve Posted: Mar 09, 2009 01:34 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

I feel like e-parties are a more relaxed feel then weddings, most of the time, from what i've seen anyway, people aren't really sitting the majority of the time other then to eat. Everyone is up and socializing.

umm... i dunno
(yeah i'm no help) lol

FutureMrsKuehne Posted: Mar 09, 2009 01:36 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

even those 2 statements did help....

i wasnt sure if ur supposed to do them for an e-party, but if not, im not even going to think twice!!!

problem solved!! LOL

Lsorrent Posted: Mar 09, 2009 01:36 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

I didn't do assigned seating for my e-party. I tried to make it as casual and informal as it could be for a brunch at a country club

We just had round tables of 10 each and everyone sat where they wanted. It worked out well actually....FH and I sat at the middle table and our BP sat with us. My mother and her guest sat at one table, my father and his guests at another, and then fh's parents and their guests at the other two tables.

CloudNine Posted: Mar 09, 2009 01:39 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

we didnt do assigned seating but we did seperate sides. we had family on one side and friends on the other so as they walked in we kinda just directed them to each side and said to sit wherever

SoontobeRoma15 Posted: Mar 09, 2009 01:41 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

I actually had to do this over the weekend. I think it depends on how many people you are having. I was in a argument for weeks because I didn't want assigned seating but finally my FMIL convinced me that I had to assign seat for 100 people because it would complete chaos as people walked in if they didn't know where to go.
Also keep in mind my engagement party is starting to take the shape of a mini wedding.

If you can go without it I would. It is one less head ache if you don't have to deal with it.

T E R I Posted: Mar 09, 2009 01:51 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

i would keep it casual and have people sit where they want

little j Posted: Mar 09, 2009 01:51 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

we actually did assigned seating. Fh's family is kind of large and the immediate extended family (uncles/aunts) took up a whole table of 12. if we didnt have that assigned, i am sure people would have been more uncomfortable.

it did wind up causing drama with FSIL's MIL because she was not at the table closest to the family. but really, she shoudlnt have been. so i am glad we did do assigned seating....

if we had a bigger room that had more space to meander around, we probably wouldnt have done it though. but the private space we had at the restaurant was a bit tight, so i wanted to make sure people were comfortable sitting next to whoever they were sitting next to.

but ppl did stand a lot for the beginning and get to know eachtoerh.

JMO. it depends the people and the layout...

NYMETBRIDE Posted: Mar 09, 2009 01:51 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

I think if you are having it at a place where you are paying per head it is MUCH easier to keep track of costs etc. when there is assigned seats. If not, how would you give a final number? For our party, we had 3 no shows and we were able to confirm by noticing that the place cards were still there. We also had about 130 people so it seemed much easier to figure out table sizes. I was worried that without place cards people would move seats, etc to make tables fit their groups and it would be awkward for those who didn't have a group to sit with. That, 'Can I sit here' moment has never been something I look forward to! It worked out very well for our party yesterday! HTH

stinenandy2010 Posted: Mar 09, 2009 01:54 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

Posted by SoontobeRoma15

I actually had to do this over the weekend. I think it depends on how many people you are having. I was in a argument for weeks because I didn't want assigned seating but finally my FMIL convinced me that I had to assign seat for 100 people because it would complete chaos as people walked in if they didn't know where to go.
Also keep in mind my engagement party is starting to take the shape of a mini wedding.

If you can go without it I would. It is one less head ache if you don't have to deal with it.

ita - we had a little over 100 or so at our eparty and it was just so much easier with the seating arrangements...but if your not having that many people then i would say you could get away without seating arrangements

JenBill61210 Posted: Mar 09, 2009 02:25 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

i didn't do seating... it was a little hairy for a moment.. we just pulled chairs from some table and put it at another so people were able to sit with who they wanted to.

Jna2010 Posted: Mar 09, 2009 02:57 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

i dont think you have to do seating arrangements.... ive never been to an e party thats had that

Kiki1103 Posted: Mar 09, 2009 03:01 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

I agree, if you don't have a ton of people coming to your party I wouldnt think you would need seating charts. It shouldn't be too confusing to find seats themselves. IMO your guests will be more likely to get up and socialize if there are no assigned seats.

Mrs Z To Be Posted: Mar 09, 2009 03:01 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

How many people are you having? And is it at a catering hall?

Mrs Z To Be Posted: Mar 09, 2009 03:02 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

Posted by stinenandy2010

Posted by SoontobeRoma15

I actually had to do this over the weekend. I think it depends on how many people you are having. I was in a argument for weeks because I didn't want assigned seating but finally my FMIL convinced me that I had to assign seat for 100 people because it would complete chaos as people walked in if they didn't know where to go.
Also keep in mind my engagement party is starting to take the shape of a mini wedding.

If you can go without it I would. It is one less head ache if you don't have to deal with it.

ita - we had a little over 100 or so at our eparty and it was just so much easier with the seating arrangements...but if your not having that many people then i would say you could get away without seating arrangements

Same here. we are having over 100 as well....I think the assigned seats are necassary in our case.

SummerBride10 Posted: Mar 09, 2009 03:33 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

I dont think you have to do seating arrangments..however, like everyone else said- if your eparty is on the larger side, i'd do it so its not crazy.

Kimbiz1 Posted: Mar 09, 2009 04:01 PM

Re: spinoff to seating ... Engagement party

I am quite fearful of that very same situation.
Therefore, we went with a cocktail party with open seating. There will be cold stations and passed hors douvres (you know what I mean) for an hour and a half. Then the chafing dishes of hot food and a carving station. I want people to mingle. I want to be able to see who is avoiding who and who is actually playing nice with each other. LOL