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Seating Chart Tips
Seating charts can feel overwhelming to put together, but they're worth it! No matter the size of your guest list, having assigned tables/seating makes the event feel so much smoother for your guests! Below are some tips to help you put together your seating chart!
Building Your Seating Chart
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Always have enough seating for every guest
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Seat guests according to personalities/connections
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Seat close family/friends near you
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Don't have a singles table, vary the single guests with other tables, but be sure not to seat a singular single person at a table full of couples
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Create table groups, you can seat friends close together at tables without feeling they all need to be seated at just one table
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Try to have the guests know at least one other person at their table
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Assign guests tables not seats, unless you're serving a plated meal
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Print out your floor plan (we put this together at your final walk through), assign table numbers/names, write each guest name on a sticky note and then move them around until you find just the right spots.
When you've got your seating chart set, you will want to come up with how you'd like to display the seating chart. We have some fun seating chart ideas under "Wedding Inspiration" on the app that you can check out, or we're happy to help you brainstorm some unique and fun ideas that fit your aesthetic! The biggest decision you'll want to make is if you'd like to do a seating chart or display escort cards. Below is some more information to help :)
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Escort Cards vs. Place Cards
Escort Cards assign the guests a table and should be placed near the entrance of the reception location and put them in alphabetical order according to the last name of the guest. On the front of the card, it will have the guests name and the table number they have been assigned to. If you are having a buffet, you can have an escort card per couple or family. However, if you are planning on having a plated meal, you will need 1 card per person and each card will have a symbol/code letting the banquet staff know what that guest selected as their entree. Place Cards assign the guests a specific seat. You will never want to ONLY have place cards because it will be hard for your guests to figure out where they are supposed to sit. It isn’t necessary to have place cards, it is only necessary to have escort cards. You can also use a seating chart in place of the escort cards, but be sure to still put the names in alphabetical order.
Assigning Seats vs. Assigning Tables
For the majority of weddings, assigning your guests to tables, but not to specific seats at those tables is ideal. In that case, you will only need escort cards to be placed at the entrance of the reception location. If you want to assign seats, you’re going to need both escort cards and place cards. If you are planning on having a buffet, another option other than escort cards is to have a printer create a large board with the guest list in alphabetical order according to the last name of the guest with their assigned table number next to their name. The key is to make sure not to separate the guests by table. If you are having a plated meal, it is imperative that each person have an escort card and not use the list idea.