Wedding Seating Charts 101

Planning who will sit where at your wedding can be a huge headache. With that said, here are some tips to help make creating your seating chart a little easier to deal with:

• Take your time. Don't think you'll be able to complete this task the night before your wedding; it could take a while. Taking your time to make sure all guests are in the right spot will create a more pleasant reception for all.
• Categorize. Are you keeping a master guest list? If so, group each guest in of the following categories: wedding party, groom's family, bride's family, coupled/married friends, single friends, guests with kids and people with known, lasting conflicts.
• Create a plan. Take out a sheet of paper, and plan how the tables will be arranged, and include the bride or head table (or you can find a template online). If you'll be determining where each table will be placed, put yourself in a position where all guests can see you, leave enough space for dancing, and consider foot traffic.
• Begin with you. The first thing you need to do is decide who will be joining you and your new spouse at the head table. Some couples include the entire bridal party, some sit with their parents and others sit by themselves. It's completely up to you and depends on your venue as well. If you choose to have the wedding party sit separately, consider putting them all at one or two tables with their significant others.

For more tips on creating your seating chart, check out Seating Charts 101 - Putting Everyone in Their Place.