Wedding Seating: Part 1
For many couples deciding where to seat their guests at the reception can be a daunting task. Bringing together people from the different aspects of your lives results in a collection of individuals who all share at least one thing in common. You! Although this is a great starting point, it can still be tricky. We’re going to break the guest seating dilemma down, and give you some points and tips to consider in order to create an atmosphere and celebration everyone will enjoy.
Start Early:
You’ll want to create your seating chart at least 2-3 weeks before your reception date. This means you’ll need to set your RSVP deadline at least 3 weeks before your wedding. Your caterer will want your final guest count no later than one week before the wedding date, so setting your deadline at least 3 weeks prior gives you a little leeway to reach out to the guests you haven’t heard from, and confirm their RSVP.
Seat Yourselves First:
When it comes to where to sit, you have options! When deciding where you would like to sit, and who sits with you, you’re able to choose what works best for you. We’ll outline the most popular arrangements, and share the pros and cons.
Image: Eliza Jane Photography
The Head Table
The head table is the option you are probably the most familiar with. It’s that long table at the front of the room, where the bride and groom sit with their wedding party. The bridesmaids sit in a row next to the bride, and the groomsmen sit in a row next to the groom. The great thing about this arrangement is that you have your bridesmaids and groomsmen all lined up with you, making for some great photo opportunities during dinner and toasts. On the downside, conversation is more difficult as you are all facing the same direction, and can really only converse with the people on either side of you. Another negative to this arrangement is that the plus ones of your wedding party are seated separately.
Some couples opt for this set up, but rather than seating their wedding party along side them, they sit in the center with their parents seated on either side of them respectively. This allows for the wedding party members to sit with their plus one’s, and gives their parents an honorary seat beside them.
Image: Roohi Photgraphy
The King’s Table
A king’s table is positioned in the center of the room with the guest tables surrounding it. The bride and groom sit at the head of the king’s table, with their wedding party, parents, and wedding party plus one’s seated along the sides. This setup allows for guests to be able to converse with more people, as they can speak to those both seated beside them, and across from them. Additionally, their parents are able to sit with them, and those in their wedding party can sit together with their spouse or date.
Image: Madi Tweede photography
The Sweetheart Table
The sweetheart table is just like it sounds, A cozy table for two just for the bride and groom. This option gives you and your sweetheart the opportunity to have a little “private” conversation whilst surrounded by your guests. It also comes in handy for preventing awkwardness in those tricky situations where seating expectations may exist and feelings may be hurt.
Guest Seating:
Now that you’ve seated yourselves, and your wedding party, it’s time to seat your guests. Because you know your guests the best, this is a task you will need to complete yourself. It can not be as successfully accomplished by your wedding planner. However, It is a good idea to consult your parents when selecting seats for their friends, or relatives your may not know well.
Start by organizing your guests into groups, e.g. work friends, brides family, college friends, etc… Also, consider people’s interests and personalities. Try and organize tables so that everyone has at least one or two acquaintances at their table, and are seated near guests with whom they have common interests, or complimentary personalities. Take into account if any of your guests have mobility needs or require other accommodations. For example, if a guest uses a wheel chair it will be important to seat them at a table, and in a seat with adequate space, and access for them to get to and from their assigned seat comfortably. Additionally, you may want to consider seating older guests away from the speakers or band. With all of these things taken into account, begin to group guests together and assign them to tables. It is customary to seat close relatives, such as grandparents and siblings at tables nearest the couple. One final note. Try not to over crowd the tables. If you seat 8 guests at a table that could potentially seat 10, it allows for those last minute changes when something unexpected happens; such as when a guest brings a plus one you weren’t planning on, or a guest attends who forgot to RSVP. An extra place setting can quickly be added, because there is still adequate space at the table. Otherwise, your guests will simply appreciate a little elbow room.