How to Create a Wedding Seating Chart (Cheat Sheet)

Whether or not you’ll need a seating chart will depend on your type of wedding. For example, if you’re having an elopement wedding with just the two of you, you won’t need a seating chart. You might not need one either if you’re having a micro wedding of just ten people or less. Other than that, you’ll need to arrange how people sit at your celebration.

Seating charts make the arrangement and flow of guests at your wedding easier. Just like it’ll be letting a rental company ship you your pipe and drape DIY. Letting guests at a wedding of 50 or more people roam free can be catastrophic. Especially now that couples must keep social distancing in mind. They’ll also help you control how your guests meet, mingle, and have fun at your wedding. So how do you create one?

It can be a bit challenging to create your wedding seating chart. Most wedding planners will not handle this task but will leave it to the couple. This is because they feel like you’ll know your guests better than they can. But don’t worry, they won’t abandon you completely and will still share a tip or two on what to do. We also have some tips on what you can do. So, grab a seat (pun intended), relax and let’s talk about how to create your wedding’s seating chart.

First, Do You Need A Seating Chart?

Before you get started, you need to first determine if you’ll need a seating chart for your wedding or not. So, what are your answers to the following questions?

Will you be having a seating meal at your wedding with 50 or more guests?

Do you have guests you don’t know very well?

Do you have guests that you know need to sit separately?

Are you serving a seated meal?

If your answer to these is yes, then you need to create a seating chart for your wedding. Below is how to do so:

Getting Started on Creating Your Wedding Seating Chart

The first place to start when creating a seating chart at your wedding is by deciding what to work with. Will you be assigning chairs or tables? Assigning chairs is more specific, while assigning tables will leave your guests with the freedom to choose where to sit at the table. Here is what both decisions entail.

Assigning Tables

When you assign tables at your wedding, you start by giving every table a number. After that, you can then decide what guests you want on the tables. They can pick whatever chair they want on the table when they get there.

Assigning Chairs

When you assign chairs at your wedding, you tell every guest precisely where you want them to sit. You could also label spaces to let people know who is supposed to be at them. As obvious, it is easier to assign tables than it is to assign chairs, but it has its advantages.

Creating Your Wedding Seating Chart

Now that you have the above settled, it’s time to create your wedding seating chart. Start by making sure you set your RSVP deadline to between four to six weeks before your wedding day. At the very latest, you should have them two weeks before your wedding. That way, you’ll have enough time to follow up and sort things out. You shouldn’t be battling with a seating chart just before your wedding day.

In fact, we’d advise that you start as soon as possible. Once people start confirming their attendance at your wedding, you can create a preliminary seating chart based on those people. Then add or move people around as you get more confirmations. The following steps will help you create a beautiful and functional seating chart.

Sketch It Out

Use an old poster board or a whiteboard to sketch the floor plan of your wedding reception venue. Then draw rectangles or circles, depending on the type of table you’ll be using. When done, attach your guest’s name using sticky notes. That way, you’ll be able to easily move them around if there needs to be a change. You can also check online for a seating chart and use that to make things easier.

Determine the Different Tables

Will you be having a sweetheart or a head table? If it’s a sweetheart table, only you and your spouse will be on it. Your wedding party will sit someplace else. Where you’re having a head table, you’ll have to include yourselves, your wedding party, and their significant others. You can also place your parents, your grandparents, siblings, and your immediate close family together.

Creating a wedding seating chart is a good way to keep conversation flowing and maintain order at your wedding. Having the right uplighting shipped to you by a rental company can help to make the atmosphere even better with this kind of arrangement. Just remember to check the layout of your venue and table sizes before you start. You’ll also want to remember to put spaces for the dance floor, food, cake, and the foot traffic. Best of luck!!!