The Seating Plan
Trying to come up with a seating plan that pleases everyone seems like an impossible task, but rest assured it does all work out — eventually. Realize that no matter how hard you try, someone — your mother, your fiancé's mother, your cousin, even your fiancée — is bound to have an opinion. You may feel like giving up, but don't despair; it really is worth the effort.
How to Do It
Is a seating plan really necessary? A seating plan falls just short of being considered a necessity, but it is a courtesy and a convenience. Guests, especially those who don't know many people, often feel uncomfortable without assigned seating. If you're planning a cocktail party or not serving a full meal, a seating plan isn't necessary, but you should still have enough tables and chairs to accommodate all of your guests.
How do I develop a seating plan? Once the responses have been received, these simple steps will help you with the seating plan. Keep in mind that it may take a couple of revisions to get it just right.
Obtain a floor plan from the venue that outlines the layout of the room (dance floor, bar, guest book, gift table, etc.).
Decide where the head table, parents, and any other persons of honor will be sitting.
Know how many guest tables you need. A general rule is eight to ten guests per sixty-inch round table.
Match guests by families, where you know them from, or similar interests, and place them at tables.
Essential
Place guests with special circumstances within the room so as to best accommodate their particular needs. Chances are Grandma doesn't want to sit by the band's speakers and the kids' table shouldn't be next to the head table. You will also want to think about wheelchair accessibility.
Escort Cards
How can I let guests know where they'll be sitting? The easiest way to indicate table assignments is to have escort cards situated near the reception room entrance. Guests pick up the escort card to find their table assignment. If you are only assigning guests to a table, they may then find any seat they wish at that table. If you would like to designate a place setting, you will also need place cards on the dining tables. You do not need place cards if you are not designating place settings. But you should use place cards at the head table if your entire wedding party will be joining you.
