Alternatives to table numbers

The advantage of numbers, obviously, is that they will likely be arranged sequentially, so it's easy for guests to find their table. Names are cute, but unless you also have a diagram (an added cost/effort) guests have to wander around to find their designated table. Our table numbers will start to the right of the sweetheart table and circle the room clockwise. Groom's parents will be at table 1, we'll be at table 13 or 14 (whatever the last number ends up being). I don't think of table numbers as "ranking," just practical.

I will not be using numbers. We are adding Disney touches to our wedding so I’m leaning towards our favorite rides or movies.

We are having a travel theme so our tables will be the names of places we have traveled together. I’m going to put them in alphabetical order around the room to make it easier to find.

Were not having a theme. But our centerpieces will be pictures of us different places we have traveled (super simple, kinda hate flowers) and the table will be named after said place.

I have never once thought of a table number as ranking a relationship. I have attended several weddings with seating charts and that thought has literally never crossed my mind.

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Completely agree with this! I've never felt ranked by my table number.

I have been to a wedding that used their favorite places instead of table numbers and it wasn't easy to find your table since there was no guidance on where in the room their favorite city in Italy could be found.

We arent numbering ours. Each table is themed after a game and we plan on having a poster or sign at the front with what game people are seated at. We also have ushers ready to go in case some people (my grandparents and some of the older generations involved) arent up to date on some games

The cutest thing I saw was at my brothers wedding they had a Vegas theme and they did the tables as hotels and casinos. They did luggage tags as the escort cards and it would read..

Mr. and Mrs. Smith please enjoy your stay at the Circus Circus Hotel and Casino.

It was super cute. Honestly it is whatever your preference is. I am personally sticking to table numbers due to the fact that I couldn't think of anything clever.

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Dang, that is super cute!!!

For our 50's/60's swanky "Rat Pack" reception party, we choose crooners for the table names. We hired an actress to dress up and play hostess to tell guests which table they were at ("Mr. & Mrs. Smith you'll be dining at the Sinatra table"). On each table we had a framed photo of the famous crooner. Guests loved it!

Actress we hired as hostess

our table number/name

We are going with tying table names into our theme

we are doing a Middle Earth theme (Lord of the Rings) so I’m naming each table after a place in Middle Earth

do you have a theme? Or overall feel you’re going for?

We’re getting married in an aquarium so we’re doing different fish but we’re akso including a table number to make it easy for our guests to find their tables

ex angelfish (table 1)

View Quoted Comment We are having a ‘map’ of our middle earth drawn by a friend that will have the table layout correspond to the floor layout of places

also I don’t think people will be overly confused by 10-15 tables but 20+ I think numbers should maybe be used too to avoid excessive wondering

or ushers regardless fix that

Do you and your FS share a hobby or an interest? I think if it's something that important to you and your FS, table names could be cute. My cousin loves movies, so their tables were named after classic movies. Another wedding I went to, the couple ran Iron Mans and marathons, so each table was named after a race they had run together, accompanied by a picture of them at the finish line.

If you have a large guest list, I like Nita's idea of having a name and a number to give them an idea of where to go in the sequence. I personally like table names over numbers, mostly because, to me, the numbers only make sense on paper and not on actual table.

Thanks for all of the feedback! I love all these ideas, they are so cute and make the wedding so personal. We dont really have a theme. We're doing seed packet favors and small floral centerpieces, but not a lot of decor because my venue is a historic inn with a lot of original Roycroft pieces. If I did themed tables I'd probably lean in to the few botanical touches we have and do flowers or winter trees.

I’ve heard of this idea and I love it: use age as a table “number”, and each table has a photo of you and your FH at that age! Guests will love seeing all the old pictures and I’m sure it’ll be fun collecting them from family as well.

We incorporated my husband's photos and places that we've been together with the table numbers and had table numbers. I don't have a picture of the final assembly but we found these frames that had a slot for a 4x6 photo and a smaller 3x3 so we had a place to put the numbers/place name in

Found a photo.

I am using musical instruments that I or my fiancé or family members play since I am a musician. I didn’t want numbers bc my parents would whine that one of them is below the other. There won’t be more than 9 tables so they can take a second to just find their table.

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I think that could be cute, Maggie, and I think it would fit perfectly with the floral/natural theme you kind of have shaping up. It's your wedding, do what you and your FS like best.