Seating Plans

Seating Plans

Seating plans can be just as hard to arrange as the venue its self. Trying to seat the right people next to each other can be hard.

Click here to see example seating we have supplied to customers.

Where do you start?

Doing a seating plan may sound like an easy job to do, but this can be the hardest thing to do as far as wedding planning goes. Careful planning is needed to ensure that your wedding party are comfortable with whom they are sharing a table with.

The main 3 or 4 tables closest to the top table should be reserved for close family and freinds.

It may seem like a good idea to break up small groups of friends and sit everyone with new people, but at the end of the day you want your wedding guests to enjoy themselves. It a safe bet to sit people with guests you know they get on well with. Leave the getting to know others to after dinner when guests are mingling, dancing and are a lot more at ease!

In saying this, avoid seating a recently divorced guest at a table full of married couples they don't know

You don't need to seat couples together however weddings are a happy affair, stirring memories in the minds of married couples, or thoughts of marriage in unmarried couples. A happier time will be had by seating couples together, and besides the last thing you need is a jealous partner constantly eyeing their other half throughout the reception!

If some of your guests do not know anyone, make sure you seat them with the most socially gracious of your guests, people who will make them feel at ease, not those who will have their back to them all night talking to only those they know at the table.

It is important to seat divorced couples, or guests who are notorious for not getting on, as far away from each other as possible. As we all know, arguements do break out after a few drinks, and the last thing you need on your wedding day is an unnecessary drama to spoil the evening.

An Open seating planis an option, this way your guests can choose where they want to sit, although to avoid one person running around trying to find a seat you are better to allocate guests to a table number and then place themselves where they like and next to who at that table.

Anticipate the needs of all disabled guests and any guests in wheel chairs and how they will get around the wedding reception. Seat them in a place of honour where they can easily see the bridal table and all the wedding speakers. 

Talk To Your Venue's Wedding Coordinator

Talk to your venues wedding coordinator, who will be able to tell you how most clients have there room layout.

Most venue's will set the room out in a way that allows the easy flow for the serving staff.

Guest Numbers

When your planning who sits were, be aware that a 5ft table will sit 8 and a 6ft table will sit 10. You also need too take account of the size of your centrepiece and any other items you are placing on each table. The more items your putting on the table the smaller space your guest will have.

Table Layouts

Here is an example of a room layout

Arrangement 1

Bridal Table Seating

Once you have seated your guests, it time to plan your top table.

The pictures below show different options to help you arrange the bridal table seating.

The traditional bridal table. The bridal table with parents.

Bridal party only.

Table layout if Bride's parents have remarried.

Table layout if Groom's parents have remarried.

Or

Both Bride & Groom's Parents have remarried