I have been in bed all day with the flu and it's given me all day -!- to focus on some details. Despite the fact that it is way too early, I started to play with a seating chart.

It was pretty easy to put the singles together, the couples who know each other, the families but then I started to think: why don't I make it a little more interesting? Break things up a bit. Not too crazy ( I'm not putting my militant -liberal- and- has- to -always- debate- it friend next to any of the republicans, for instance) but maybe break up some of the obvious pairings a bit.

Is this crazy? is it just plain mean?! I truly hope that people will table hop and mix it up....

I like the idea of mixing things up! Is there another criterion you can use in making matches - such as, say, people from the same part of the country or people with similar interests that don't know each other. You can do it alphabetically too :):):) You can have a table where all people's names start with an A - so it would be the "A" table...Just kidding, but why not?

I hope you feel better soon!

I'm doing that too! Since we're only having 60 people, I know their personalities and am mixing them based on the groups I've always wanted to introduce to one another! I'm also mixing, for instance, friends who live in Hong Kong with ones who grew up as expats there. I know they will have friends in common from the same schools so it will make for a nice conversation!

As for politics, I am mixing my beloved big-government-regulations-liberals with conservatives (note not republican but constitutional conservatives like myself) to bring them back to planet Earth, hehe.

I envy you all for being able to play with your seating charts like that. My parents are both divorced and I have decent size families on both sides, so I have to make sure to seat them on either side of the dance floor. They get along civilly, but anything to make the day easier. Then my dad re-married and then got divorced again. My step-mom will be there and I just found out she has had a boyfriend for the last year and a half... Then there is my FI's families, not only are his parents divorced, but he was raised by his grandma and she doesn't know that he talks to his dad. His dad will not only be at the wedding, but is helping us pay for it. Sorry for the venting... It has been one of the more stressful points of the planning.

theDame~ I say go for it and have fun! I don't think it is mean, it is a great way for your friends and family to get to know each other. After all, they are all there to celebrate you and your FI. To make it more interesting, maybe make up "20 questions" to ask each other to help break the ice.

Caribear, sorry to hear about the drama. I feel so grateful that my family is pretty low key and easy going.

I think I will mix it up and I know all of my friends and family are outgoing and talkative, not so sure about his. But our lists run 3:1- his family is small. So I am not too worried about people getting to know each other. I am pretty good at putting people together that end up developing friendships. and the intimate nature really has me feeling that people will mix, table hop.