Many couples dread (and put off until the very last minute) creating a seating plan for their weddings. This necessary task is really easier than you may think, and your guests will thank you for taking care in planning a place for them to enjoy the festivities!
Why do you need to assign seats at your reception?
1. You painstakingly planned your centerpieces, tablescape, napkin fold and linen color. If you do not plan where guests sit, they will take it upon themselves to move chairs, squeeze 12 seats into a 8-person table and this will not create a comfortable experience for your guests or a pretty photograph.
2. Have you ever walked into a full movie theater with 3 friends and tried to find 4 seats together with 150 people staring at you? This is what "seating yourself" at a wedding feels like. Your guest's comfort should be first priority at the wedding reception and searching to find a seat in not comfortable.
3. If you do not plan your guests seats, your caterer will have no ideas where the 6 chicken finger kids meals go, your cousin's vegan plate needs to be or the "shellfish allergy guy" is seated. And no, you can't just point them out that day.
So, what are the rules of thumb in creating your seating plan?
1. Again- guests' comfort is paramount! Most people do feel most comfortable being seated with folks they know. When you receive your response cards, take a second to bundle them by category- family/work friends/parents friends/college buddies, etc. When all of the RSVPs are received, half the work is already done.
2. When you must mix friends/family members who do not know each other at a table, try to match up guests with similar interests/jobs/hobbies or those who are close in age. Most often they'll have no problem getting along if they find that they have things in common.
3. Wedding party members are always happier to be seated with their date or significant other than at a "head table". Traditional 1-sided head tables are far less popular than in the past, and for good reason. The bride and groom spend very little time seated at the head table, and therefore the wedding party is hanging out "on display" by themselves! Consider other options like a sweetheart or family table for yourselves and seat the wedding party with guests.
4. Think about the older folks. Correct, you do not want to seat your older guests directly in front of the sound system, but they do want to have a good view of the action on the dance floor and the entertainment.
When in doubt, always put yourself in the position of the guest and error on the side of their comfort!
Photos, Claudia Kaerner Photography, Aphrodite Wedding Photos
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