Seating plan for guests at a wedding

Is it necessary?

If your wedding has 25 guests or less, you can abandon the plan , but with more people you need to make sure that everyone can quickly find their place. There are several reasons for this:

seating will take much less time;
there will be no unpleasant situations when guests begin to quarrel over one place;
people who sit down at the table last will not have to look for a free seat;
there will be no situations where couples will have to sit separately;
guests who for some reason are unpleasant to each other will not find themselves sitting next to each other;
You can discuss the arrangement of dishes in advance with the organizers, taking into account tastes and wishes.

The wedding seating plan in the photo below is simply gorgeous.

Recommendations for selection

Handmade postcards will add a unique atmosphere to the holiday. But in the absence of free time for creativity, their preparation is entrusted to professionals. For a large number of invitees, it is more advisable to order cards from a printing house.

When choosing place cards, first of all pay attention to the style and color of the wedding. If the celebration is decorated in pastel colors, then the signs are made in the same shades. For a rainbow wedding, it is acceptable to use bright contrasting colors.

Most often, place cards are made in the same style as invitations for guests and other wedding accessories.

The cost of the finished product depends on the design. The price for simpler options varies between 50-70 rubles. When ordering cards from a calligrapher - from 80 rubles. The price for complex figured products starts from 100 rubles. The cost of products with additional decor is calculated individually.

Which option should I choose?

The bride and groom usually sit at a separate table with their main bridesmaids and friends. Traditionally, the groom sits to the right of the bride, the groomsman sits to the left of the bride, and the bridesmaid sits to the right of the groom. Sometimes, if the table is large enough, parents are seated with them. Some couples decide to sit at the table with just the two of them. In any case , the main thing is that the newlyweds can see (and be seen by) as many invited people as possible. One of the modern trends is to place the table of the bride and groom in the center, which avoids the impression that one of the invitees has been pushed away.

Traditionally, they are seated according to the principle “guests from the groom’s side – guests from the bride’s side.” But recently, such divisions are increasingly being abandoned, allowing people to get to know each other. Regardless of the option chosen, you should try to ensure that each person has at least one acquaintance next to them.

It is best to distribute people taking into account their ages and interests: this will allow them to feel comfortable and not be silent for most of the evening. It is advisable that at each table, if guests are sitting at different tables, there are several men and women. Small children should sit next to their parents; older children can be seated separately. Even if adults sit at the same table, a separate table is often made for children , on which less spicy dishes are placed and there are no alcoholic drinks.

Interesting! The seating plan looks very nice if you decorate it in a watercolor style. The “Love is” theme option is also good.

It is best to seat guests with small children, pregnant women and the elderly so that they can easily find the restroom without disturbing other guests. This is especially important when all the guests are sitting at the same table. Elderly guests should be positioned further away from the speakers so they won't be disturbed by too loud music, and closer to where most of the speeches will be made.

The bride and groom, their parents, as well as close friends will have to constantly get up from their seats during the holiday, so it is important that they do not need to disturb those sitting next to them every time.

Herringbone table arrangement

An intermediate option that combines the advantages of traditional seating at a large table and European seating is a table arrangement called “Herringbone”.

With this arrangement of tables, you can comfortably accommodate a fairly large number of guests (50-60). Invitees can be grouped together at tables according to age or interests, while at each table there will be 10-12 people, enough to make new acquaintances and at the same time feel comfortable, because... There will be some familiar people.

The downside is that most guests will sit sideways or quarter-turn to the newlyweds.

Ways to specify places

To prevent guests from spending a lot of time finding their place, you need to think in advance about how to tell them exactly where they should be located. There are several traditional options.

Cards with names in place

If there are not very many guests, then you can limit yourself to individual cards with names, which are placed in the place where the guest should sit.

Place cards (escort card)

The cards are placed on a table near the entrance, arranged in alphabetical order. As a rule, such cards indicate the guest's name and table number. The guest can decide for himself which specific place at the table he will take.

However, you can also indicate a specific place on the cards - first of all, this is relevant if all the guests are sitting at the same table.

General landing plan

You can create a wedding seating plan and place it in front of the entrance to the hall. It indicates the names of the guests and table numbers or specific places. If the plan shows only table or seat numbers, then in addition to the general plan, individual cards are also made for guests. Such options are necessary when there are a very large number of guests.

When making a general seating plan for guests, do not write names directly into the table, but attach them to stickers, which can be removed and replaced with new ones if necessary. This way you won't have to redo the entire plan if guests refuse to come or a mistake is made.

What types of place cards are there?

There really aren't that many options for guest cards. They are mainly divided into two types:

designer handmade banquettes
cards printed in a printing house

These accessories differ in cost and, of course, design options. If you want your place cards to blend in with the rest of your decor, invitations, and wedding decorations, you'll need to have them custom-made. If that's not that important to you, Wedding Stuff has some really nice printed banquettes. There are a lot of designs for this product, as well as finishing options: gold and silver embossing, sparkles, relief, figured cutting. We are constantly working to ensure that in our wedding salon you can buy exactly what you need.

Which design option to choose

How to make a seating plan for guests at a wedding and how to arrange it? When making cards with names or table numbers, it is important to make sure the text is visible and easy to read. It is better to avoid fonts that look like handwriting - with a lot of curls and stripes. The letters must be large enough and clear.

If you plan to prepare escort cards for guests, then it is best to choose interesting options that can be kept as a souvenir. An original idea could be escort cards in the shape of hearts, tree leaves or flowers. You will get a rather unusual seating plan for guests at a wedding if you attach the cards to some item: fruit, key chains, miniature bouquets or glasses of champagne. You can also create styling. For example, if your wedding is in a nautical style, then the plan can be made in a similar theme. We invite you to read our instructions.

6331№305 8 tips on how to seat guests at the festive table

Guests at the celebration occupy a key place, because we invite exactly those with whom we would like to share the most memorable events and dates. In organizing a holiday, a special place is occupied by compiling a guest list, sending out invitations and drawing up a seating plan. The task, frankly, is not an easy one!

If you have already prepared a list of friends who will be happy to share emotions of joy and happiness with you, then start sending out invitations. Inviting guests to a holiday is a very exciting moment. It is better to do this in advance so that your friends do not have other plans for the selected date. Approach the design of invitations with originality: it’s always nice to receive creative cards! It is welcomed when the style of the event is reflected.

We proceed to the third stage of organizing guests - seating at the banquet. This is perhaps the most difficult part, because you will have to act as a psychologist in order to successfully accommodate all the guests.

A lot depends on the arrangement of tables on the site. The main thing is that everyone can see the instigators of the holiday and the stage, which is usually located in another part of the banquet hall. An important point is a free seating; it is better to put an additional table than to sit in a cramped space. In addition, there should be free access to the seat without disturbing other guests.

There are basic rules, determined by etiquette standards, for the arrangement of guests at the festive table.

1. Whatever the specifics of the event, close relatives or high-ranking guests should sit closest to the heroes of the occasion - this will demonstrate respect. 2. It is better to place relatives according to their degree of relationship. 3. So that men can show all their gallantry, it is better to alternate them with ladies. But we remember that the gentlemen sit on the left side. 4. Guests need to be seated according to their interests so that they are interested in talking with each other. 5. Guests who do not get along should sit far away to avoid conflict situations. 6. If there are going to be a lot of unfamiliar guests sitting nearby at the event, introduce them in advance so that there are no awkward moments during the banquet and your friends feel comfortable. 7. Do not separate married couples, but you can seat them opposite each other. 8. Consider the age of your guests. Children can be given a separate table so that they do not distract from the main action.

To prevent guests from confusing seats, create a seating plan for them. You can also attach a small card with the guest's name to each chair or glass to avoid confusion.

Having learned about “Useful tips for choosing a venue for an event”, you will be able to control the mood of your friends and, possibly, correct it.

You are faced with a very difficult task of how to properly seat your guests, but the specialists of the family agency “Simple Joys” will be happy to help you solve it. We wish you success!

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Names and titles

On cards with the names of guests, the first and last names are usually indicated, but if there are many namesakes among the guests, you can additionally sign patronymics. On the cards of the parents they often write “mother of the groom”, “father of the bride”, etc., but if the guests do not know the families of the newlyweds very well, it is better to refuse this option.

If guests will sit at different tables, you can show your imagination and replace table numbers with names. With this option, guests will definitely not be offended that they were not seated at the first table.

Possible names for tables:

varieties of flowers;
colors;
gems;
dancing;
names of fairy tales;
geographical names (countries or cities of Europe, seas, mountains, etc.).

Placement

Cards with the names of guests can be placed directly on the table or attached to the back of a chair, decorated with ribbons, flowers and balls. This design is often used for weddings in Provence style.

Tables can be signed by placing a card with a number in the center of the table, hanging a lamp or decoration with a number above the table, and also using different designs if the tables are named not by numbers, but by names (for example, using multi-colored tablecloths).

If possible, you can accompany the names of guests with their photographs on escort cards and the general seating plan - this will help people find themselves faster.

Attention! It is best if the background of the name cards is white and the letters on them are black. This option looks quite contrasting, and it will be easier for guests to read the text even in poor lighting.

Little tricks to help

The fun and popular game “Take a seat on a chair” should be in the middle of the entertainment program, and not at the beginning of the celebration. Therefore, the newlyweds are obliged to think about where each guest will sit.

It’s impossible to remember who sits where. Therefore, there are some programs that allow you to perform simple tasks. To do this, just download them from the Internet and fill in the empty fields.

The planner will be a great way to quickly distribute everyone’s plantings. It contains 3 elements:

– seating chart;

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– list of invitees;

– a notepad for notes.

First, enter the guest details. Each person is written on a separate line.

The chart automatically switches to a second tab, allowing you to “sort” friends and relatives as you wish.

Tips for writing

Recommendations on how to create a seating plan for guests at a wedding.

You make a plan after the guests have confirmed that they will come to the reception. If you make a plan too early, there is a chance that you will have to do the same job twice.
You will have a few reserve spots left. It often happens that guests change plans and bring additional people who were not informed in advance. For such force majeure, always have a spare seat at one of the tables.
Make sure you don't seat divorced couples or relatives who don't love each other next to each other.
You know who will be comfortable with whom. Don't be afraid to ask friends and family who they would like to sit with during the holiday. This will allow you to please your guests without trying to guess their thoughts and desires.

Do not trust event organizers to draw up a plan: they are not familiar with your guests and the nuances of relationships , and therefore cannot know how to make a seating plan for guests at a wedding correctly.

When to make a seating plan?

Since the seating plan directly depends on the number of guests, it is drawn up last - after invitations have been sent and accurate answers have been received as to whether a particular guest will be present at the wedding. You should also obtain a plan of the banquet hall from the site manager, which will indicate the number of tables, their location, the number of seats at each table, etc.

Ideally, a seating plan should be prepared 4 weeks before the date of the celebration, so be sure to warn guests that you need their response as soon as possible. The more guests, the more difficult it is to meet deadlines, so set yourself a deadline a week before the wedding: if by this time you have not received a response from the guest, make a seating plan without him.

But in case of all sorts of force majeure, it is still worth providing several additional places for guests who agreed at the last minute.

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Photo by: Nastya Podoprigora | Wedding of Maria and Jemal

Summary

How you arrange the guests at the wedding will determine not only the mood of each individual visitor, but also the atmosphere of the entire wedding as a whole. The more comfortable the guests are, the more cheerful and relaxed they will be, and this is important for the holiday to be noisy and positive. Make your own wedding seating plan – don’t ask strangers.