Reception seating

Well, for my wedding, it's all family, so I put households that know eachother together and put all the parents together. We decided on a sweetheart's table for FH and I, so our attendants are sitting with their SOs. We put all the "can feed themselves without concern" aged kiddos at 1 big table (visible and easily accessible for all the parents) so they could hang out and entertain eachother/not be bored by the adult chitchat.


My cousin did something similar with immediate family, but had nearly 300 people at her wedding, so once it was down to friends and distant relatives, she tried to match up groups she thought would hit it off and have fun stuff to talk about.

I used a table chart for people to find their seats. But when I was planning I used excel and just listed each table number and under it I wrote who would sit there

I wrote each couple/family on an index card and then arranged them in groups based on who knows who. We wanted tables of 8-10, so if tables needed more people, we then added people together who have common interests or we thought would get along for one reason or another. The venue coordinator gave me a seating planning and we identified table numbers based on which groups would be closer to the sweetheart table (so like, parents and bridal party were closer to us).

Group people together who know each and get along.


One thing I saw in a magazine was to draw a chart of tables and put individual names on strips of post it notes at each one so you can move them around as you need to until you get it finalized.
Also try to keep couples together.

DH took families and couples and sorted them into groups of who knew whom/was comfortable around/etc. We also tried to make sure we didn't have a "singles" table, as we figured they'd rather hang out with friends, no matter their relationship status.

I plan on taking rsvp card with the number of people in corner and lay them out based on families, friends that know each other and/or have similar interest. I have 2 people who used to date each other so they will sit apart from each other

My guest are grouped together.

Friends, couples, family, work family, etc.

I would like to have people associating and feeling comfortable so I planned to have them near familiar people.

We're doing a rectangular head table with us, our parents, wedding party, and wedding party SO's in front of the dance floor and then on either side of the dance floor will be tables with my family/friends on one side and my partner's family/friends on the other side at round tables. Like others have said, it'll be based on families/households/who knows each other.

I've decided to have assigned tables to make things easier.

I’m having a table for my mom and dad, a table for his mom and stepdad and siblings, a table for his dad, a table for our wedding party significant others, and then 5 more tables to accommodate the rest of our families and friends. All the tables are being named after our different dates/adventures.

I’m not doing seating arrangements. I’ve only been to one wedding that had it and I felt so awkward.

We're not doing a seating chart for our wedding. My sister didn't do one either and it was great because people sat with who they wanted to and after dinner everyone was up dancing anyways so I didn't want to stress over it

Well, I’m not seating them. They can choose where to sit. The majority of them know each other anyway. I’ve only been to one wedding with assigned seating and it just felt so awkward. Granted I was the college friend and since college was in VA and wedding in NY there weren’t many of us invited.

I’m only providing table numbers and letting everyone decide who to sit next to at their tables. Wedding wire has a table chart you can create under “planning tools”- I’m a person who needs some visual organization so it’s been helpful!