Once your RSVP’s have come back, you’ll want to decide if you’re assigning seating for your reception. Seating assignments are entirely up to the bride and groom; if you want to designate a seat for each guest that’s entirely up to you. It’s also becoming popular to allow guests to seat themselves wherever they like! In general, if you have more than fifty guests and your reception is formal it’s considered appropriate to put time into setting up a seating arrangement so that guests don’t have to mill about trying to find a table with enough seats for those in their party.
Here are some etiquette tips to help you make your seating chart simply and easily:
1. The bridal table is reserved for the bride and groom at the focal point of the room. Some may choose to sit alone as a couple or to include the wedding party with the best man at the left of the bride. The maid of honor sites to the grooms’ right. If you cannot fit all your attendants and their spouses at the bridal table it is acceptable to have the bridesmaids, groomsmen and their significant others at a different table right near the bridal table.
2. Family tables traditionally have the parents of the bride and groom as well as the grandparents and the officiant. You can also have the parents host their own tables or divorced parents host individual tables to ensure things go smoothly without any awkwardness.
3. Avoid making singles tables. Instead mix and match your guests so that they have the opportunity to meet new people while chatting with old friends. In general you’ll want to seat people together that have similar interests. If you don’t know how to seat someone then ask for help from your mother or mother in law, they may know a guest better and have some ideas!
4. You can use place cards, escort cards or a seating chart, but definitely avoid the name tags. Your guests can introduce themselves as they feel comfortable!