A new beginning: Seating Arrangements Tips and Ideas (For Weddings)

One of the first things your guests will be doing when they first enter the reception (aside from getting a cocktail) will be looking for where they are to be seated.

Depending on the scale of your event and the people that are attending (and the drama some may bring) - this could get tricky! Guests generally like pre-arranged seating arrangements for sit-down dinners. It shows you thought about whom they'd be best seated with, and it cuts down on confusion when it's time for the meal to begin.

The first thing you need to do is talk with anyone else who is directly involved with planning. This is where you need to decide if you will be taking the advice of others or determine among yourselves where everyone will sit.

The head table can be just for the honorees. In a wedding setting it can be for the bride and groom only. Or they can invite other heads (such as the maid of honor; best man; or the entire wedding party). Traditionally the bride sits at the groom's right, with the maid of honor on his left and the best man on the bride's right. The rest of the party follows suit in an alternating male/female pattern. However - more and more - we see the groom's party on his side, and the bride's party on her side.

If you are having a small wedding party, you may want to include their spouses or dates at the head table. Or, you may choose to spread your wedding party around at the guest tables, which would also allow them to sit with their partners.

The table of honor - located near the head table - is where the parents of both the bride and groom, the wedding officiant, and sometimes grandparents sit during the reception. If there are several people you would like seated at this place of honor, you may have to have two tables - perhaps on for the bride's family and one for the groom's.Divorced parents should be seated at different tables of honor with their partners and close family and friends.

Always seat married couples at the same table. Younger children should be seated with their parents or, if you have a lot of children attending, you might want to have a "kids" table - strategically placed near their parents - with some crayons and paper or other games and toys to keep them buys.

If you have a large group of griends you need to divide, split the group down the middle and fill each tble with other people. That way no one feels completely left out. For single friends, judge which seating situation will make them happiest - a table of unattached counterparts or a few couples mixed into the scene. Never, and we do mean never, seat only one or two singles at a table full of couples, and try to avoid tables of all strangers.

Younger people - or people who love music - should be at tables close to the music makers, while older quests may want a quieter table.
Guests should be informed where they are seated...and this is where my next piece comes in.

I love the original ideas that are coming out. So many to choose from. There is certainly a style for everyone.
Here I have added some of my favorite ideas.

♥ Seriously, how stunning is this?! Details of each persons seat hanging from a cherry blossom tree! Sure, your guests will have to rummage through to find their name but that’s all part of the fun!

♥ Names in numbered plant pots! Perfect for a garden themed wedding or for a couple with a love for the outdoors!

♥ Let your guests know where to sit when they pick up their glass for a drink!

♥ For a rustic looking seating chart you can use wood as a major part of the display, we love the use of hearts here too!

♥ Window pains are becoming ever more popular in the wedding world, simply list the names using a white pen for an easy yet quirky seating chart.

♥ Possibly our favorite seating chart ever! We love how personal this is to each of your guests and plus, it must be pretty funny for all of them to gawk over the photos you've chosen! I’m sure Ella on table 5 appreciated that one!

♥ Using the favors as part of the plan works great too! Simply attach their names and table place to whatever your favors may be and you've got some pretty happy guests!

♥ For a romantic touch to the day, displaying the seating chart on a scroll is super cute and clearly looks great outdoors!

♥ If you want something with more of a ‘wow’ factor then creating an entire display around the chart is gorgeous. You could even add pictures of the bride and groom! Be sure to tie in other details of the day too like the color scheme or if the day has a theme to it.

♥ If you've gone vintage for the day then typing up the seating chart on a typewriter and leaving it on display looks so classic!

♥ Again, for a shabby chic, rustic feel, using a wooden door with keys displayed all over it is very effective!

♥ For a DIY seating chart using mini pieces of patterned card embellished with buttons gives a really personal touch to the day!

♥ Here’s another amazing DIY too! Cover old CD’s and use them as the letter markers in a box! This is also super efficient for your guests to easily find their name!