Planning assigned seating is a big part of planning a wedding and can be stressful for the bride and groom.
Here are some helpful tips and ideas to make planning assigned seating a little less stressful…
First, check with the reception venue (and/or your caterer) about how many tables the site can hold with all of your other activities and space needs, as well as how many people can sit at the table comfortably. Plan the layout of the reception to get an idea of where things will be to get an idea of where guests would be seated. Also decide if guests will assigned to a numbered table vs. an assigned seat at a table.
The bride and groom should be a centrally located table, whether they are seated at a sweetheart table, with your parents or with the wedding party. Start with the most important guests in terms of involvement in wedding reception activities and needing to be centrally located when planning the seating chart, like the wedding party and family, and work your way from there.
I’ve always loved Martha Stewart’s tips for planning your seating because it’s so simple and so, so easy!
This will seriously keep you from losing your mind…Plus, I’m obsessed with sticky notes and this gives me a great excuse to use them. 
MATERIALS You’ll Need:
- Low-tack adhesive notes of various colors
STEPS
STEP 1
Divide your guest list into categories — such as wedding party, family, our friends, family friends — and assign a different-color low-tack adhesive note to each.STEP 2
Write out everyone’s names on the appropriately colored strips. You can arrange and rearrange them around simple photocopied outlines of your tables. The note colors show whether you have a good mix at each table.STEP 3
When it’s time to set out the place cards, tape the notes in place, then hand the completed sheets to the setter.
Make sure table numbers, pictures or some sort of easy identification are on each table and place cards are at each seat to help guests easily find where they should be seated. You will also need escort cards, which are the cards guests pick up to find out where they are seated. Ideally these are organized in alphabetical order so that guests can find their names easily and quickly. We always make sure we also have a clipboard or iPad with a seating chart to assist guests when trying to find their seats to make sure it doesn’t back up at the escort card table.
{All photos above are from Twin Hearts Photography!}
Photo by ZoomWorks Photography
Blessings,
© 2003-2013 Soirée! Ltd./Natalie Bradley Events
Want to use this post in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Southern Event Planner & Designer Natalie Bradley publishes the “Soirée Secrets” blog filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous event. Get your exclusive inspiration, tips and tricks at http://NatalieBradley.com. Soirée by Natalie Bradley Events is an event planning and design company based in Athens, serving Northeast Georgia, the Carolinas and select destination locations.
Brilliant ideas. I am a newbie event planner and have just completed my first project successfully. I had to organize a grand corporate party at one of best corporate event venues San Francisco. It was quite tedious for me to organize it alone but venue staff helped me a lot with this event.
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