How to Arrange Wedding Seating for a Reception
The seating at a wedding reception is more important than you may think. While not every wedding reception requires a formal seating arrangement, most sit-down dinner receptions do have assigned seating for guests. In order to ensure everyone has a good time, careful attention should be given to seating when you arrange your reception.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Make sure married couples and couples who are dating are seated at the same table. No one likes being separated from their significant other.
-
2
Keep children under the age of 10 seated with their parents. Set aside a special children's table for kids from the ages of 10 to 15. For teenagers ages 15 and over, feel free to seat them with other adults that you feel they may get along with.
-
-
3
Refrain from sitting divorced couples or estranged relatives at the same table. You don't want any loud arguments or actual fist fights happening at your wedding reception.
-
4
Create considerate seating arrangements. This means keeping people with physical handicaps close to the food tables and elderly people away from sources of loud noise. If any of your guests are claustrophobic, seat them near the exits so they can easily get outside for some air if they need to.
-
5
Assign tables, not seats. While directing certain people to sit at certain tables is fine, making them sit at certain places at those tables is too restrictive. Let them choose who they sit next to at their designated tables, and everyone will have a better time.
-
6
Print out large cards with bold print indicating who is to sit at each table. Make a card for each table, and set them in the middle of the tables, where they will be easily visible. If you or someone you know has exceptional handwriting or is skilled in calligraphy, you may choose to go this route for the cards.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Arrange seating well in advance of your wedding reception. Guests should be aware of where they will be sitting at least a month before the wedding. This will give them a chance to let you know if they have any objections to the seating, and allow you an opportunity to re-arrange your seating chart.
Arrange for a table for any hired help to use during their breaks. It's considered considerate to feed your help, and they should have a table for this purpose. Tables for your reception staff are usually placed in the back of the room (or in the kitchen), away from your guests.
More Like This
Comments
-
Ambyr Lix
Apr 28, 2008
A decent article, but I totally disagree with letting guests know where they will sit a month or more before the wedding. 1.) Typical RSVP dates are only 2 to 3 weeks prior to the wedding. You can not make a seating chart without knowing who all will be there. 2.) Allowing guests to dictate where they sit will take you three times longer to compile a seating arrangement. People will surely change their mind, or you will find constant conflict on who sits where by request. 3.) Rather than allowing them to say where they want to sit (or vetoing your decision), leave ample room at the tables. If the tables sit 10, place 8 if you can. This way, after the meals arrive, the people can change their seating as they would prefer. -
Ambyr Lix
Apr 28, 2008
A decent article, but I totally disagree with letting guests know where they will sit a month or more before the wedding. 1.) Typical RSVP dates are only 2 to 3 weeks prior to the wedding. You can not make a seating chart without knowing who all will be there. 2.) Allowing guests to dictate where they sit will take you three times longer to compile a seating arrangement. People will surely change their mind, or you will find constant conflict on who sits where by request. 3.) Rather than allowing them to say where they want to sit (or vetoing your decision), leave ample room at the tables. If the tables sit 10, place 8 if you can. This way, after the meals arrive, the people can change their seating as they would prefer.
