How to Make a Seating List for Your Wedding Reception

Weddings can be stressful for every bride and groom. One of the most stressful aspects is planning the seating arrangements. You want to place people together for conversation, and try to keep people separate who might have rifts between them. Do not let creating a setting chart be stressful, have fun with it. You have other things to worry about. Follow these suggestions to make a seating list for your wedding reception.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Guest list
• Layout of reception site

1. Consider how many people you expect to have at your reception. RSVPs are necessary, and will help to ease some of the stress in making a list.
2. Contact the reception venue to get a layout of the reception hall. This will become your blueprint, and making several copies is suggested. Look at the position of the tables, and ask if they can be moved or if the tables are stationary. Consider people that will be in wheelchairs or underage people that you’ll want to keep away from the bar.
3. Place the bridal party in a centrally located position. The table should be what is considered the front of the hall. The bride and groom should be visible from all tables. A rectangular table works best for the bridal party.
4. Try not to have a whole table of people that know each other. You want to encourage conversation, and meeting new people. If you have a whole table full of college friends, this will not invite mingling.
5. Consider having a kids’ table if a large number of children will be attending. This will encourage them to have fun and remain seated if they are with their peers and not with their parents and older adults. Have activities at the table for them to do, i.e. coloring books, crayons, books.
6. Place the seating chart clearly at the front of the venue. List all guest alphabetically and not by table. This will speed up the process of guests finding their seats.

Tips & Warnings

• Seat guests of similar age or interests together. This will give them something to talk about.
• Be careful of any family rifts. Try not to place divorced parents at the same table, but at separate tables of their own.
• Your wedding reception is not the place for matchmaking. Do not force awkward situations on your single friends.
• The guest list could change at anytime. Be prepared, and do not stress. Guests only sit in this particular seat for a short time. They will mingle with other guests once dinner if over.

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