How to Coordinate Your Reception Seating
Planning a wedding reception can be very stressful, especially if you have a large number of guests attending and different entree selections to coordinate. If you are having a formal sit-down dinner with assigned seating, how do you keep track as the response cards pour in? Table groupings will often depend on the number of people attending from each family, seating people at the same table who may know each other and keeping those apart who may not be getting along. It's important to put some thought behind your seating arrangement for your special day.
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Things You'll Need
- White foam board
- Pencil
- Black medium-point marker
- Black fine-tip marker
- Small sticky flags
Instructions
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Contact the coordinator of your reception location for a floor plan. Most banquet halls have standard floor plans for how they will be setting up tables for the reception. Also find out the number of guests recommended per table so you don't overcrowd the seating.
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2
Purchase a piece of foam board at your local office supply store. A sheet of poster board may also be used, but the foam board is most sturdy and easier to work with. Foam board that measures 20 inches by 30 inches should be large enough for a floor plan up to 200 guests. If you have more guests, you may need two boards.
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Select a number of small, sticky flags that can also be purchased at home office supply stores. The small flags measure approximately 1/2 inch by 2 inches and are made of plastic with a low-tack adhesive on the back. If you are providing a choice of meal entrees for your guests, get different color flags to represent the meal choices. For example, vegetarian entrees could be green, chicken could be yellow, beef could be red, and so on.
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Copy the floor layout onto the foam board. You may want to use a pencil first in case you need to adjust the circles that represent the tables. You can then trace over the pencil in medium-point black marker when you have the final layout transferred. Don't forget to transfer the dance floor location to keep in mind guests who might not want to be right by the music.
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Assign table numbers in the center of each circle.
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Write the name of the guest on the proper color tab as the responses come in. For example, if Aunt Barbara will be attending and she has selected the chicken entree, write "Aunt Barbara" on a yellow tab.
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Place the tabs with the names around the circle of the table they will be sitting at. The end result will look like a wheel hub and spokes.
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Move the tabs around on the foam board as needed until you have your final seating assignment.
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