Wedding seating plan, made simple
Start with the fixed points, then work circle by circle. A few tried-and-tested pointers so that everyone ends up in the right place.
The seating plan is one of the biggest headaches of the last few weeks. It is easier once the replies are in: with the final numbers and any food allergies or intolerances in front of you, you can plan properly.
Start with the fixed points
Seat the top table and your family first, then your closest friends and the people who matter most to you. Once those are in place, the rest of the tables take shape more easily.
Circle by circle
Guests are usually happiest with people they know, so you can put university friends, colleagues and childhood neighbours together. It is worth seating one or two “bridges” at every table: someone who knows both groups.
A few tried-and-tested pointers
- Older guests should not be placed next to the speakers, and should be close to the exit.
- Families with small children should sit near one another.
- For your caterer, pass on who has asked for which menu at each table; in your account the replies are summarised question by question.
If you get stuck
Put it aside for a day. The replies can be downloaded as a spreadsheet, so you can move names around on paper or in a spreadsheet program. If you would rather arrange the tables on screen, the Seating planner takes the guests who have replied from your invitations and lets you seat them table by table. You can follow the rest of your to-dos in the Wedding planner, and tips for dealing with guests are here.
