Seating Plan

A good seating plan is crucial to the success of any wedding reception where you will be sharing a meal. Even if you are planning a buffet-style lunch or dinner, a seating plan is a good idea. It avoids a chaotic, unseemly rush for places and couples being seperated, ensures important guests are seated where they can see and hear everything, and allows you to place people together who believe will enjoy each other's company. It can be a difficult and time-consuming task, so set aside at least an afternoon, about ten days before the wedding, to properly complete it.


There are no hard and fast rules to table planning, but generally it is best to seat people of a similar age together and to look for things that guests have in common. By the time you are ready to work on the seating plan you should have a table plan indicating how tables will be arranged in the room, how many people will be seated at each one and where you will place your top table. Attempt an even balance between men and women, with couples seated on the same table, but not necessarily together. Your immediate family and close friends should be seated at tables near to, or surrounding the top table.

Do not print the plan until you are certain there will be no changes made to it. If having it professionallyprinted, discuss the deadline with your your printer. Display the seating at the reception on an easel or easels where they can be easily seen. If there will be more than eighty guests consider individual seating cards with guests' names and table numbers, either set out on a table alphabetically, or distributed by older children or a bridesmaid during the drinks reception. Give a copy of the table and seating plans to your caterers, highlighting those guests with specific dietary requirements and also remember to order high chairs for infants.