Eek, don’t make mistakes: read these helpful seating chart tips when planning your wedding! It’ll keep your guests happy — and keep you sane. :) Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for the latest to your inbox.

If you’re planning a small wedding or a large celebration, creating a seating arrangement for your guests can be an overwhelming task. How do you know who should sit where, and why does it even matter?!

In this blog post, we’re sharing the best wedding seating chart tips to ensure yours goes off without a hitch. We’re sharing the key mistakes to avoid to make sure your guest placements are as perfect as possible.

Before we get started, there’s one major mistake many people make: skipping a seating chart altogether.

1. DON’T skip a seating chart.

A seating chart is essential.

Without one, guests feel like they don’t have a place to sit. They see tables and chairs, along with an overwhelming need to hurry up and save seats, tossing jackets and purses over the backs of chairs.

That just makes for a chaotic experience for all.

Instead, your guests ought to be enjoying cocktail hour and conversation, finding their place when it’s time and knowing they have a great seat all picked out for them. It’s a nice thing to do considering your guests are spending the day with you to celebrate your marriage.

So, first and foremost: commit to making a seating chart. You can customize yours into a large, easy-to-read sign and place it at the entryway of your reception. Here’s one stylish example you can make yourself from iCustomWeddings.

2. DO Seat Guests Who Are Similiar Together

It makes sense to seat your guests with people they’ll like to converse with. Not everyone will know one another before the reception, and that’s OK: it will be fun to meet new faces. Keep in mind hobbies, interests, age, and how they met you as a couple when deciding where guests should be seated.

3. DON’T Seat Guests at a Singles Table

As tempting as it may be to play matchmaker, don’t seat all single guests at the same table. Instead, seat an individual guest at a table with whom they will have mutual hobbies, friends, or interests in common. Not bringing a date to a wedding doesn’t mean they’re necessarily looking for one. :) And talk about awkward!

4. DO Assign Guests to Specific Chairs Accordingly

If you’re having a buffet dinner, you may get away with seating guests at a particular table and skipping individual seating. This way, guests may choose any seat they wish at their assigned table.

However, if there’s a feud, specific entree selections, or you prefer guests to sit with one another, you may wish to create place cards in order to seat guests accordingly.

You can get place cards here.

Then, place these stickers to denote which entree they have selected from their RSVP card.

5. DO Make the Seating Chart Easy to Read

The seating chart should be clear, concise, easy to locate, and easy to read. Don’t make it tough for guests to find out their seating assignment.

You can get customized seating charts for your wedding from iCustomWeddings. These are beautiful, easy-to-read, and clear signs your guests will have no trouble spotting at your reception.

Furthermore, the table numbers ought to be large enough to be spotted, but not overbearing on your decor. Make sure your seating charts are double-sided, when possible, so guests do not need to walk all the way around tables to see what number is displayed on the opposite side.

6. DON’T Forget to Seat Guests with Comfort In Mind

When possible, give priority seating to those who need it most.

For instance, avoid seating older guests or families with small children at tables close to a loud speaker. Consider ease of mobile access to any guests who may need assistance when moving to and from facilities, like restrooms or the buffet line.

Be sure to prioritize your guest list and make sure your closest family and friends have seating with close views to your head table or sweetheart table, which is essential for the wedding toasts.

7. DON’T Wait Until the Last Minute to Make a Seating Chart

Don’t hold off until the week before the wedding to create a seating chart. The best advice is to get started as soon as you make your wedding guest list, knowing these names could theoretically change over time once you receive your RSVP cards. You should make a preliminary sketch of the tables and write ideal seating arrangements first. Then, as it gets closer to the big day, arrange guests with confirmed “yes” responses and cross out guests who cannot attend.

Finally, order your seating chart with plenty of time for it to ship, allowing extra time to frame it. You’ll want to place it on an easel; you can get one inexpensive here or borrow/rent one from your venue.

And if guests cannot attend at the last minute, do NOT spend time redoing your seating arrangement. Let it go! No one will notice a few guests not in attendance and you needn’t stress out over this in the days leading up to your wedding.

TIP: You may wish to recreate the seating chart, however, IF an entire table or more than one table can no longer attend the wedding to avoid it looking empty in photographs.

While making a seating arrangement for wedding guests can sound complicated, it is easy once you know these helpful tricks. If you prioritize your guest list, seat guests individually, and keep in mind the ambiance of your space, you’ll be sure to make getting seated at your wedding an easy task for everyone.

If you need more wedding seating chart tips, ask in the comment box below!

Happy Planning!

xo
Emma