Help please!! Seating Plan, Yes or no?

[Earthymama]

DP and I are celebrating our Civil Partnership on thursday and for some reason thought we would do it all ourselves!!

We are so tired we can't decide whether to have a seating plan or just let people sort themselves?

I am tending towards plan in that we do plan of tables with list of names and let people sort themselves out thereafter.

WWYD, oh wise Mnetters?

How many are coming?

We had a seating plan - with seats individually allocated - and I think it was best for our wedding because we had too many different groups of people who hadn't met before. But it took aaaaages to do. In retrospect, I wouldn't have bothered with the individual seating, but if you have lots of people who don't really know each other, I think a plan eliminates those awkward hovering-with-embarrassment-while-figuring-out-who-looks-remotely-friendly-to-share-a-table-with moments. I hope you have a lovely day.

Oh sorry!
36 adults and 9 children including 3 in high chairs.

Food is veggie savoury pastries, boiled potatoes, various salads, hummus, olives, couscous etc and its help yourself style.

Then vintage tea party.

Tea Party is free for all! Let them try to beat me to the home-made cvakes the guests are bringing!!

I'd be a benevolent dictator- seating plan but as ar as is possible keep family groups and friendship groups together.

I love the idea of being a benevolent dictator! After we have put it all in place tomorrow night I think they will be doubting my benevolence!!

Off to bed to dream of cake and catering!

I'm a fan of seating plans and you do have a fair number of guests so it helps if there's a bit of order. I love your vintage tea party idea and am going to nick it for my birthday.

I like a seating plan better. My elbows are not sharp.