The Wedding Seating Dilemma

The easiest way to alert guests to their table assignments is to place table cards at a table near the reception room entrance.

Trying to come up with a seating plan that pleases everyone isn't impossible, but it may very well seem so at times. It's best to realize early on that no matter how hard you try, someone— your mother, your fiancé's mother, your cousin Marta —is bound to be unhappy with some aspect of the seating plan. Don't lose any sleep worrying about who Aunt Sue should sit with. 

The easiest way to approach the seating plan is to get input from your mother and future mother-in-law; if possible, the three of you should sit down and come up with the plan together. If you all have equal input, coming up with a seating plan should go (relatively) smoothly.

Is a seating plan really necessary?

Unless you're planning a cocktail reception with hors d'oeuvres, a seating plan is a must. Guests, especially those who don't know many people, often feel uncomfortable without assigned seating. But if you're not planning to serve a full meal, you should have enough tables and chairs to accommodate all of your guests.

How can I let guests know where they'll be sitting?

The easiest way to alert guests to their table assignments is to place table cards at a table near the reception room entrance. Table cards simply list the name of the guest and their table assignment. Another option is to set up an enlarged seating diagram at the reception entrance. Simply posting a list of names and table numbers is not appropriate for a wedding reception.— From “The Everything Wedding Book,” by Emily Ehrenstein and Laura Morin, 2000

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