Wedding Reception Seating

When choosing the seating arrangements for your wedding reception, there are many factors to take into consideration. To get you started, here are three basic guidelines to follow.

1. Create with a map or chart of the tables and seats, with space to write names (and possibly take notes) at each place setting. On your map, include the location of the buffet tables, the cake, the musicians, and so on. Make multiple copies of the map if you like to work things out on paper and compare versions side-by-side. Another option is to create your seating map using drawing, charting, or wedding-planning software. This may allow you more flexibility in moving guests easily, typing in notes for each guest, and sending copies to family or friends for their suggestions.
2. Fill in the easy seats: those people who, by tradition, are seated in predetermined places. This includes the bride and groom, the wedding party, and close relatives.
3. Think carefully about the factors listed below, then fill in the remaining tables on your map. Imagine which people will most naturally fit together and enjoy each other’s company. When in doubt, ask your friends or family for their opinions.

Factors to consider

• If you have a special table for the wedding party, be sure to seat their partners or guests at nearby tables.
• Couples should be seated together. Singles need not be seated at ‘singles-only’ tables, which can be awkward, but can be seated amongst families and couples. When seating singles, consider who they know amongst the guests, what interests they share with guests they haven’t met, and so on.
• You may wish to assign guests to tables instead of seats. This offers guests more flexibility in choosing whom to sit by, and saves you the agonizing politics of assigning conversation partners.
• Don’t feel obliged to seat members of the bride’s family or groom’s family together exclusively. Mixing the two families is a great way to help everyone get to know each other!
• Be aware of guests who may have special seating preferences or needs, or who may not enjoy being seated with certain guests. Will your hard-of-hearing grandmother really enjoy sitting so close to the band? Will a guest who uses a wheelchair be able to reach her assigned table easily? As a rule, avoid uncomfortable situations by seating divorcees or ex-partners at different tables. Your close-minded, insensitive Uncle Charlie probably shouldn’t be seated with your fabulously “out” friend Jason, either.
• Place families with young children away from eye-catching distractions (like that beautiful cake table with the trailing lace tablecloth, just waiting for little fingers to latch onto it and pull). Consider seating families close to exits or entry rooms so that the parents can discretely leave the reception should the need arise.
• Reserve an extra table for guests who respond late or arrive unexpectedly.
• Don’t forget to set aside a table where your reception team (servers, coordinators, etc.) can eat and relax when they are not performing their duties.

A seating chart, though, isn’t very useful if guests can’t find their seats easily. At the reception, be sure to use place cards, post an attractive seating diagram, and/or have staff or volunteers direct people to their seats. Careful planning and follow-through can ensure that guests enjoy your reception to the fullest!

Keywords: Wedding Reception Seating, Weddingblog, Wedding
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