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Hannah
Savvy November 2020

Seating chart nightmare!

Hannah, on November 16, 2020 at 5:17 PM Posted in Wedding Reception 0 17
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Anyone suddenly find it easier to finish your fiancé’s family seating chart than your own family because you can only come up with scenarios where no one wants to sit with mom and you are trying to anticipate all awkward interactions?! I have gone to many weddings and always have an easy time talking to strangers but I am panicked about putting the wrong people together and hearing about it for the rest of my marriage. We are only allowed six per table and unless they are from the same household and then up to 10 - What 10 people live together?! At least with 8 you can do 2 groups of 4. I always have an odd couple out. How are you managing your seating charts with Covid restrictions and fractured families? I know - I should have eloped!

17 Comments

Latest activity by Hannah, on December 10, 2020 at 11:41 AM
  • Jasmine
    Master August 2021
    Jasmine ·
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    Yikes! We haven't even started ours yet but you know, sometimes you just have to do what you can. You can't make everyone happy 100% of the time.


    Good luck to you!
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  • Rebelle Fleur
    Master July 2021
    Rebelle Fleur ·
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    You can put all the odd couples at the same tables. That’s what I did.
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  • M
    Super October 2022
    Michele ·
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    Make a chart with each name on a trimmed down Post-It strip so you can move them around. Group family units together and couples together based on how well they would get along. Every family group is different. While you may not have 10 people in one house (most don't and venue staff won't know) you could have someone with a crapton of kids (with their significant others)/grandkids to group together somehow. Do the best you can. They are only tied to their seat for dinner.
    • Reply
  • Mrs. Spring
    Master April 2021
    Mrs. Spring ·
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    No managing at all. Threw in the towel and plan to elope
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  • Michelle
    Master April 2021
    Michelle ·
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    Haven’t even started & we’re getting married in April. I’m going to be contacting our venue to see about the restrictions. Plan on having Plan A & Plan B wedding charts.
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  • Hannah
    Savvy November 2020
    Hannah ·
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    This is my jealous face. Hope it is everything you dream of and more. Glad it’s not my money we are throwing at this shindig
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  • Rebecca
    Master August 2019
    Rebecca ·
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    (Solve the problem by getting mom to declare she won't come.)

    (...I'm only half kidding. ...It worked for me!)

    Also, DH was excited to do the seating chart...? I have no idea why, everyone else hates them.

    There. Make HIM do it.

    Problem solved!

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  • Florida Marlins
    Expert October 2017
    Florida Marlins ·
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    Do you have to have a seating chart? I know it is common, but is it all that neccessary? I am curious!

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  • Hannah
    Savvy November 2020
    Hannah ·
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    I do because my fiancé’s family is Cuban and mostly speak Spanish. No one has met each other yet really and I’m worried left on their own that people will make up their own rules and some people will be left standing around like at the movie theater when there are no two seats together. I’ve been to receptions with tables labeled and people still took it upon themselves to tell other people where to sit so I am hoping that it I prepare a little and then have a lot of champagne, everything will just be fine!
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  • SLY
    Master January 2022
    SLY ·
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    A lot of people opt for them because it's easier for guests to find what table to sit at! If you don't have a seating chart, often times you'll get tables not filled or guests will take forever to find a table to sit at with the people they know.

    We aren't doing assigned seating, but we are planning on doing a table chart! That way's a little easier for us because we just have to place 8 people at a table without worrying about who sits by who.

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  • Florida Marlins
    Expert October 2017
    Florida Marlins ·
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    Makes sense!!! Our wedding was fifty people and we had two long tables of 25 each. I was like, sit wherever!! I wanted to sit my my new hubby, of course, and the Best Man and his mom next to each other, and my two kids next me, of course, but other than that..... It was a luncheon receptipn so not as formal, I guess (Just the way we wanted it!!!)

    Good luck and best wishes!

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  • SLY
    Master January 2022
    SLY ·
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    Luckily for us, his dad and brothers are part of his wedding party. So they along with their wives & kids will sit with us at the 'king's table.

    Since this is the case with his family, we'll finish assigning his family tables first. We're also able to seat 8/table. My family is a little more difficult because my mom has 4 sisters and a brother and they all have a spouse and kids. We won't be able to seat them all at 1 or 2 tables because it isn't enough, but 3 tables are too much lol. We'll have to take a little more time figuring out my family's seating arrangement.

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  • RaylaSan
    Expert February 2021
    RaylaSan ·
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    I just reserved tables for families and friends to sit at

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  • Victoria
    Devoted June 2021
    Victoria ·
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    I agree with what a lot of other people said, put the odd couples at a table all together. That's exactly what I had planned for my wedding and either way people should be so happy to celebrate your big day!

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  • Hannah
    Savvy November 2020
    Hannah ·
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    I don’t like not knowing what happened after the bride posts to a forum so here’s the outcome: something magical happened two nights before the wedding - I had my lists and started putting together names and suddenly everyone fit together beautifully. I can only explain it as the same phenomenon That happened the night before a school project was due - I suddenly became a genius and everything was perfect! The wedding came out beautifully and had no issues with seating as far as I know. Thankful that I made the seating chart and also so glad I’ll never have to do it again!!
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  • Katie
    Dedicated May 2023
    Katie ·
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    Glad that your seating chart came together! I agree with others on doing table assignments, not seat assignments - and reminding everyone that your table assignment just determines where your dinner gets sent, it's not a ball-and-chain keeping you there forever! Though I understand that depending on your venue's COVID restrictions, guests may be spending more time at their tables than is typical.

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  • Hannah
    Savvy November 2020
    Hannah ·
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    I should have said table assignment. That makes way more sense. I had everyone assigned to a table number with labeled placecards and they could choose their exact seat. So thankful it worked out & oh so thankful that everyone had fun!
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