Our approach to this was to ensure enough seats at tables to accommodate the number of guests invited, and then let them sort it out. So little was thought about who was going to sit with whom that we didn't even have a spot for my wife and I when we entered the reception. Strangely enough, no couples/families were split up and it was a total non-issue. Everyone figured it out on their own. We found a spot near about half the wedding party and had a quick bite to eat. Of all the silliness that went on that day, where people sat did not make my radar.

This cannot be quoted enough. Especially if you're in a situation like I was (where my wife and I paid for almost everything). This is your wedding, not anyone else's. I quickly become violently angry when it is suggested that I am required to do something because it's, "tradition" or someone else's idea. My wedding was for my wife and I and no one else. With very few exceptions, it was everything we wanted. Figure out what's good for you and your bride to be and tell everyone else to pound sand.

Of course, it is helpful if your fiance is on board with that philosophy and is not easily guilted by members of your respective families concerning things like this. But, as Seth said, you're not at the table terribly often in the first place so it seems like far less of a big deal.

Edit: Wanted to note that I welcomed others inputs and ideas, but I felt absolutely no shame in politely rejecting ideas that I did not agree with.

I don't think your situations has anything to do with that perception. I think some families take family matters waaaaaaay tooooooooo seriously. Do you really need to attend a 15th cousin 30 times removed babies first birthday party?

So put her sisters at a table with their family. My wife had my sister, her sister and a friend in the party. I had my brother and two friends. Of the six I think that they were at 5 or 6 tables. That's just the way it played out for us. If the two sisters are with family then why would it matter which table you are at?

That place is typical of older buildings that have been heavily updated or converted into hotels in that they have some really great rooms like that along with some that are small and poorly located.

Last month in PDX, the hotel was full up when we arrived after midnight and we ended up getting one of the very bad rooms. However the staff was all apologies and the next morning moved us into a grand suite that was even bigger than the one in ALCO's snaps.

I guess that at certain hotels I will now need to start using his technique to help with the :-:wood upgrades in order not to get stuck with the kind of lousy room that we were given on that first night.

Aye, this is also true. As I mentioned, people tend to be able to sort these things out. Families and people that know each other will gravitate toward one another and it's pretty much academic after that.

Depends on what's at the bar. ;)

This is a Penalty Box Approved™ response.

Good point. We are aiming for no more than 100 people, she rattled off 50-some names to invite, of which all but a few were family. When I :rolleyes: at that because I'm the opposite, with a small family and lots of friends, she looked at me and said "that list isn't even the cousins". :eek: OK there, Ellie Mae.

To add a +1 to what you said. One of the nicest, and classiest, weddings I've been to had open seating including the Bride and Groom. The receptions was relaxed and comfortable because of it and everyone seemed very pleased with the arraignments.

I've had to be a road block between two ex-couples at one ultra expensive wedding because the wedding party was unaware that two people at my table had gone out and it didn't end well.

This is what I assumed. Guess I need to find the "Flirt for an upgrade thread." :cool:

So long as everyone agreed that they were guilty of the crime they were being charged with.

Boy would I like that. The last two weddings that we went to we were seated with the cousin that everybody despises and nobody wants to be near. My sister-in-law had asked us if we would do it and "take one for the team." It was OK the first time but the second was just too much.

wow everyone must have woke up, went from dead as a doornail to just hopping in here.

Yes that's what we did too - let 'em figure it out. We did have one table for me and the Mr. but there were 6 extra places and whomever wanted to sit there, well they sat there. :)

It's so much easier when people can choose where they want to sit!

I need to check my archives to see if I grabbed a pic of my fav travel bathroom. It was at one of the overwater spas at the Conrad Maldives - one sole throne facing the reef with no wall to block the view in that direction. Who needs a sports page?