So, your big day is coming up and you’re probably wondering if you should have a seating chart or not. Well, the answer is simple: yes! If you’re not sure if you want to do a seating chart or you don’t see the need, keep reading!
Photo by Out of Twig Photo, Sign by Zazzle
Your guests won’t be confused about where to go when cocktail hour is over.
People need direction! Telling your guests exactly where they’re going to go after the ceremony and cocktail hour will give them more of an idea of what the rest of the night is going to look like and who they’re going to sit with.
Photo by Emily Hancock Photography
2. Your guests won't have to ask you and your partner a bunch of questions.
This one goes with the first point. During cocktail hour, you're either taking pictures or enjoying getting to talk to all your guests. You aren’t going to want to be answering questions about where someone is supposed to sit! Having one spot where your guests can find their seat is efficient and easy for them and saves you a lot of time.
3. Ensures everyone has somewhere to sit and there isn’t any awkward seat shuffling when people have to squeeze into a table.
If you don’t have a seating chart, once the room gets filled up, the guests are going to run out of space if they don’t have reserved seats. This will lead to guests having to ask other guests to shuffle around and make space for them, and that’s always an awkward situation for everyone.
Photo by The Kama Photography
4. Catering knows what food to serve to which guests.
If you’re having a plated meal with different entrees, the catering staff will have to know what food to serve each guest. In this scenario, you will need a seating chart directing guests to their table and then a place card indicating which guest sits at which seat. The place card will also note the guest’s meal choice and food allergies. This eliminates confusion on the catering side of things and ensures smoother dinner service.
Photo by Jamie Vinson Photography
5. Guests don’t have to stress about who to sit with.
Even if you’re not having a plated meal, having a seating chart means everyone has a seat and doesn’t have to stress about who to sit next to. You get to ensure your friends are sitting with people they know and would probably want to sit with anyways. Also, assigning tables to your guests will help avoid any uncomfortable run-ins with friends or family members who may not want to sit near one another.
As you can see, there are many reasons to have a seating chart. There are also SO many different kinds of seating charts and ways to make it unique to you!
Like this advice and want more? Book a free consultation with us to find out how we can help you with your big day!
