If you’re thinking about your wedding table plan, your big day must be getting closer, and we bet you can’t wait to tie the knot! In this blog, we’re helping you with organising the wedding table plan.
Before you start thinking about your wedding plan, you need to ensure that all guests have RSVP’d to your special day.
If you’re planning ahead, it’s a good idea to send out invites with an RSVP date of at least one month before the wedding. This will ensure that you know the exact numbers in good time. Be aware that some guests may drop out of the wedding, so plans may need to change.
Once you have RSVPs from everyone on your guest list, you can start thinking about your table plan.
Before you start planning the table plan, ask your wedding reception venue for a room plan with dimensions, and also ask whether they have circular or rectangular tables – we’ll come onto the benefits of each soon! All of this will help you to plan your seating chart.
Planning the top table for the wedding party
Traditionally, the top table follows this formation from left to right: maid of honour/chief bridesmaid, father of the groom, mother of the bride, groom, bride, father of the bride, mother of the groom, best man.
However, just because that’s traditional doesn’t mean that’s what you have to do. It can be particularly hard to follow this tradition with divorced parents. In some cases, the couple will leave the table as it is, and other times they may add new partners to the top table plan too.
Some couples choose to have what’s known as a sweetheart table. A sweetheart table only seats the newlyweds and will usually be at the back of the room, with other tables facing their way.
If, for whatever reason, you’re struggling to organise the top table, a sweetheart table is a great option to consider. After all, the newlyweds don’t actually spend too much time as a pair on the wedding day, so having some time together while eating the meal can be lovely.
Table shapes – Round tables or rectangular tables
There are benefits to having either circle or rectangle tables, so it’s completely up to you. Round tables can make it easier for guests to chat as everyone can see each other. In contrast, rectangular tables/long tables can make it easier to organise the room, as more space tends to be available.
Based on whichever option your wedding venue offers, make sure you ask for the table dimensions. This will allow you to determine how many tables you need for the number of wedding guests you have attending. Different table shapes will take up different amounts of space.
Organising the wedding table plan
The thought of planning the wedding seating plan can be stressful for many couples, but there are options. Some couples choose to let guests sit wherever they like; however, this is not always an option. Some venues will request a seating plan as it makes it easier for them when delivering meals.
Another reason why it’s a good idea to assign guests to particular seats is that you’ll want your closest people to sit near to you. The idea of a seating plan is that you seat guests in order of closeness to you. So, family are likely to be closer to you than, say, university friends.
Here are some questions that may help you decide who sits where:
- Would a singles table be helpful?
- Are there enough children attending to create their own kid’s table?
- Can you think of people you can group together based on interests?
Tips for planning the wedding seating chart
Place the DJ or live band first
This is important, as you don’t want to forget about them and have no space when you’ve finished planning. You also need to make room for the cake too. Consider the requirements of each guest, for example, if you have any pregnant women or elderly guests attending or those who need things to be accessible.
Start with the tables closest to you
These are likely to be your family members. You’ll need to add these people to tables and potentially mix the couple’s families if it makes sense. This is a lovely occasion to get everyone together. You may also include some close friends on these close table plans.
After selecting those you want close to you during the wedding breakfast, find spaces for the other guests. You may find it easier to group guests together based on interests.
Try to consider people’s feelings
It can be hard to make everyone happy, but people will see you’ve tried when it comes to your final seating plan.
After the wedding breakfast, guests will normally move around anyway. During the wedding reception, you’ll likely have a dance floor where guests can mingle too.
Decide what to call certain tables
Some couples choose to give each space a table number, while others may name them after something different. Most couples choose things like flowers or champagne brands. This can help you when seating people so that no one feels less valued than someone else.
Find a creative way to display your wedding seating chart
Every aspect should match your wedding style and come together seamlessly. Our Manchester wedding planners can support you by piecing every aspect of your wedding together.
Take a look at our website for inspiration. If you can’t find anything similar to what you’re looking for, get in touch anyway – we love a challenge. We’re passionate about seeing every couple’s wedding dreams come together.
We hope this blog has helped you with organising the wedding table plan. Even though it may seem like a stressful aspect of your day, it doesn’t need to be.
The best thing to do is create a rough plan for your seating chart and be aware that some last-minute changes may be necessary. Get in contact with us if you have any questions or need help with your wedding planning process.
