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Empty Seats Waiting for Guests at a ReceptionIt may seem like you have thousands of details to track when you’re planning your wedding. Deciding your reception seating might feel like one more thing to worry about. Since organization is an important key to ensuring your event goes off without a hitch, you’ll need to set some details in stone ahead of time before the big day arrives. If you’re confused about where to even start, try some useful approaches tailored to the size and formality of your event.

Do You Need Formal Reception Seating Arrangements?

You might be tempted to forgo prearranged seating at your reception, but whether that’s a wise move depends on how many people you’re inviting. The Knot discloses that unless your guest count is under 50, you’ll require a formal plan to ensure everyone is seated comfortably. It will help you circumvent potential bottlenecks that can form as invitees try to discern where they should sit upon arrival or when returning from a buffet line. Not only that, it can aid you in identifying and providing accessible seating for elderly and disabled attendees.

Mapping Out a Detailed Seating Plan

Thankfully, Martha Stewart Weddings writer Kayla Pantano lays out some good advice for pulling your reception seating plan together. Your first task is to find out what kind of tables you’ll be using and how many each one will comfortably seat. If you’re renting your own furniture, you’ll have more control over this detail. Pantano explains that rectangular tables may be more conducive to guest conversations, but round ones are more standard for most venues. Your location will probably give you an estimate for how many each table can safely seat, but resist the urge to squeeze in more to maximize room. In fact, you may want to add an extra table or two and spread your guests out as opposed to packing them in.

In addition to these recommendations, Pantano also suggests the following smart maneuvers:

  • Drawing out your physical seating space with its table arrangement
  • Dividing your guest list into categories
  • Seating yourselves, your wedding party, and parents first
  • Avoiding the creation of a “singles table”

Don’t forget to heed her warnings about seating disabled or elderly attendees too close to loudspeakers or too far away from restrooms. Furthermore, she advocates placing friends who don’t know any other guests at tables with people who share common interests. 

Suggestions for Smaller Weddings

If your affair will be smaller and less formal, you may want to check out Brides writer Elizabeth Mitchell's article. You don’t have to dictate exactly where everyone should sit, but assigning friends and family to specific tables gives them some guidance while cutting back on possible traffic jams. For an approach that’s less formal but still organized, Mitchell advises setting aside just a few reserved tables for you, immediate family and your wedding party along with disabled and elderly attendees.

These recommendations can help you reap the true benefits of no-chart seating. You won’t spend as much time planning this aspect of your reception, leaving you time to finish other tasks. Moreover, you’ll probably sidestep the stress and drama of making sure that guests who don’t get along are seated far apart, as they’ll probably take the initiative to avoid each other.

Charting Your Unique Seating Solutions

Handy tips like the ones suggested above can help you create a reception seating arrangement that works best for your wedding. Smaller events can get by with a few assigned tables while larger affairs might require a more detailed plan. No matter which approaches you pick, you’ll cut down on potential chaos and create an atmosphere that everyone can enjoy.

Category: Wedding Planning

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