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Formulate the final guest list from your wedding invitation responses. Then, decide between you whether the two families will be sitting together or separately. Make decisions on the groupings at each table. |
THE SET UP ----- |
Check with the banquet manager at your reception venue about the set-up for the reception room. Confirm whether they will be using rectangular tables, round tables or a combination of the two. Obtain a floor plan (layout of the tables) for the reception and make several copies as you will probably make a number of changes before you come up with your final draft. Use this to organize the seating of your guests, especially honoured guests and those guests that may require special seating. This will ensure that as your guests arrive at the reception they can be seated with a minimum of fuss. |
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THE PLAN ----- |
The "Seating Plan" should be placed in a clearly visible area (usually at the entrance to the reception area. To assist with the speedy seating of guests, the seating plan should be listed in alphabetical order with the table number/ name next to the name of the person. It would be a good idea to also have a table plan with the layout and table numbers/ names. If possible have one of the ushers or another competent person located by the chart to assist guests. |
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Click for printable table list. Make as many copies of this list as necessary.
Once completed, transfer the information from this list to the floor plan, using a pencil so that you can make changes as you go along. |
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There are many choices. Traditionally, the bride and groom, the parents of the bride and groom along with the maid of honour and the best man.
BAJAN FACT: In Barbados the bride sits to the left of the groom.
Maid of Honour |
Groom’s Father |
Bride’s Mother |
Groom |
Bride |
Bride’s Father |
Groom’s Mother |
Best Man |
Some other options:
Groom’s Mother |
Bride’s Father |
Maid of Honour |
Groom |
Bride |
Best Man |
Bride’s Mother |
Groom’s Father |
Or
Brides-
maid |
Grooms-
man |
Maid of Honour |
Groom |
Bride |
Best Man |
Brides-
maid |
Grooms-
man |
Or
Grooms-
man |
Brides-
maid |
Grooms-
man |
Maid of Honour |
Groom |
Bride |
Best Man |
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Grooms-
man |
Brides-
maid |
A long, rectangular table is preferable to a round table, as with a round table the view of the bride and groom may be blocked from their guests by others at the table. Some venues elevate the Head Table to give the guests a better view of the bride and groom. Ultimately, the number of people at the Head Table is really up to you.
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GUEST TABLE SEATING |
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This is a possible sample, but ensure that all of your guests can clearly see the Head Table and are not tucked away behind columns or in corners. You want your guests to be a part of your joyous celebrations and this will not be possible if they cannot see or hear what is happening. |
Again, there are many choices when it comes to seating arrangements for your reception.
- For very informal receptions a plan is not necessary but can be useful in ensuring that your guests meet new people and possibly make new friendships.
- You may allocate guests to tables but leave them to choose their seats.
- You may allocate guests to seats at specific tables
Whichever option you choose, wherever possible, ensure that the people at each table are compatible in age or interests.
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HONOURED GUESTS' TABLES ----- |
Tables for Honoured guests should be placed closest to the head table. Honoured guests would include bridesmaids, ushers, step-parents, the officiant, close family and friends.
Sometimes the parents of the bride and groom host their own tables and in the case of divorced parents, to avoid any awkwardness, they can each host their own tables. |
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Try
to mix the guests so that at each table everyone knows some of the members at their table but remember married couples are always seated at the same table.
Tables can either be numbered or to be different and to avoid the talk about who was seated at Table 1 and who at Table 20, you can name the tables maybe following the theme of the wedding. Each table should have a name / number card so that the tables can be easily located.
If you are seating guests at specific tables, name cards should be used and these should be handwritten and completed in the same style as your wedding invitations.
Children should be seated with their parents but if there are a number of children, a supervised children’s table might be a good idea.
Usually guests are seated alternating males and females and if you are using rectangular tables, couples are seated across from each other.
A thoughtful idea for your guests would be to put the place cards in small picture frames which the guests can later take home as gifts/keepsakes. |
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