How to Label Seating at a Wedding Reception

Labeling seating is essential at a wedding with many guests.

Figuring out the seating arrangements is one of the more dreaded, but important, tasks of wedding planning, especially if you have a large guest list. Once you have figured out who will sit where, you need to create place cards for each guest with their table and seat information on them. The table and seats must also be labeled and prominently displayed so that guests will easily find where they should sit. Impress your wedding guests by creating place cards and table cards that match the theme or style of your wedding.

Things You'll Need

• Place cards
• Table number cards
• Seating cards

Instructions

1. Have a place card table set up at the entryway to the reception. Guests will approach the table and find their place card before entering the reception room. Place card information is typically printed on high-quality card stock, but you can use any kind of design and colors to match your wedding theme.

2. Label place cards with each individual's name and table number. If you want to seat people in specific seats at the table, you can place individual nameplates at each setting.

3. Label each table clearly with a table number card in the center of the table, right next to the centerpiece. You may want to include two table number cards, each on opposite sides of the centerpiece to make it easier for guests to locate. Table number cards can be as simple as a printed number on card stock to elaborate presentations such as a decorative picture frame, or the number can be creatively worked into the centerpieces.

4. Place individual nameplates at each place setting where you have assigned people to sit. They should match the style of the table card and place cards.

Tips & Warnings

• Feel free to get as creative as you would like with the place cards and table cards. Use colored paper that matches your wedding colors. Use wine corkscrews to hold the place cards instead of traditional metal holders. At the tables, you can have a picture of the bride and groom holding a number, indicating the table number.

References

• Wedding Channel: Reception Seating Etiquette Musts
• Aisle Dash; New Ideas for Displaing Seating Cards; Betsey Goldberg; July 2010

Resources

• The Knot: Wedding Guests: Reception Seating How-Tos