The Seating Chart: Helping Guests Find Their Way

It isn’t always easy getting the attention of a large crowd, the phrase “herding cats” comes to mind. But these four methods of organizing your guests and their seating arrangements will help you keep your sanity and help your guests from winding up at the wrong end of the table.

In order of least amount of work to most amount of work for you, the couple, and the staff who are setting up for your reception here are four options to help your guests get seated for dinner.

Open Seating: A free-for-all if you will. Guests have the freedom to sit where they would like and with whom they would like, with the exception of the best tables reserved for family and the wedding party. This type of seating arrangement requires almost no work for the couple but could put stress on your guests. This form of seating also results in a lot of unfilled tables so plan on more than you will actually need if doing open seating.

A Seating Chart: One or two blown up copies of the seating chart on easels as your guests walk into the reception is an easy and cost effective way to guide your guests to their table. With this seating arrangement, only tables are assigned and not individual seats so your guests will feel like they still have some freedom to choose but will not be overwhelmed as they might be with open seating.  

Carino & Co Photography

Meredith McKee Photography

Escort Cards: This seating method allows for the most creativity and is the easiest to cater to your wedding theme. With escort cards, you will need a large area to display all the cards at the entrance of the reception and they will need to be organized in a way that guests can easily find their name.

Place Cards: This option is the most work beforehand but the least work at the time of the reception. It also allows the couple to be in complete control of who sits where, which for some is extremely important.

Melissa Kilner Photography

DIY Guestbooks

Everyone wants their big day to be the best. Brides are starting to steer away from the “cookie cutter” weddings. They want to be unique and stand out among their guests. There is so many ways to make your big day unique and personalized.

One easy way is with your guestbook. This is something all your guests will interact with. Give them a place to leave you a little note or picture to commemorate the big day.

There are so many great directions you can go with your guestbook. Personally, I love the idea of a Polaroid camera that can be used to take pictures of your guest and wither inserted in a book with a comment or attached to a larger board. 

We loved this idea from Emily + Travis's Wedding where they had guests type their well wishes on an antique typewriter!

Another idea would be having some kind of sign for sign for guests to sign. This would be a great place to incorporate a pallet sign (check out last weeks post)! You could also use a larger letter sign, like your last name. 

Photo by Kate Price Photography

Photo by Maxine Toh Photography

This last idea is definitely for someone with a love for crafting. It a little more difficult but looks great. With some research pre-made ones could be found. The drop top shadow box/frame filled with hearts, or a shape of your choice has a rustic yet romantic look. Maybe be more difficult but I think it’s worth it. 

Traditional Details

After attending my first wedding of the season this past weekend, I couldn't help but fall in love with the traditional details of the ceremony and reception. I was reminded how keeping your wedding details classic can create just as much as a 'wow' factor than a nontraditional wedding. So when it comes to the dress, consider going back to the basic's and choose a dress that's effortlessly stylish for generations to come. Remember, there's a reason why it's call it 'the classics.'

Feast your eyes on some beauties below!