Seating chart or place cards?

I am using a mirror to tell people which table they are at. Obviously they dont want to wander to each table looking for their name/spot. And then at the place setting a luggage tag with each guests name in it. I have to do very formal seating as the caterer relies on my seating plan to note who has allergies etc.

You could do the same window to let guests know which table number they are at and wine corks for individual seat at that table

We had a mirrored seating chart, loved how it turned out

Love these ideas!!! @tiffany thanks that's a great idea so I can incorporate both!

I like the idea of a seating chart much better. Place cards just take up space to me, lol

What do you do in the event you get a super late RSVP after you've made a chart/mirror? That's my issue, I'm scared my family will send in late RSVPS.

Kim S.- I waited until the very last possible minute (that she gave us) to give the final list to the calligrapher. Anyone rsvp'd after that point (which was like a week before the wedding at most)? Too bad

What do you ladies think of this? We're going with a rustic theme so I feel like this would definitely go with the rest of our decor.

How do you mark food preference without cards?

Btw Happy Easter ladies I hope you had a great day!

Kim I would say if people rsvp very late then you could text them and explain that since they rsvp-ed later their names may not be on the seating chart... and then I would tell them where you will be putting them.... that's honestly the only way I would think you could do this.... unless you want to slap a sticky note on there hahaj

I'm actually doing family style for our dinner. They give us 2 entrees, 1 pasta, 1 veggie and 1 potato and will place it all on the table for everyone to pick and choose what they want. I fell in love with this option as soon as the chef mentioned it because it reminded me of the holidays with my family. :-)

If you are planning on having a platted dinner then I would go with escort cards that indicate their meal option....

We are in between as well. We are having a plated dinner, but orders are taken at their seats, not ahead of time. I like the seating chart because it's prettier, but FH says that people will forget their table number on the short walk to their table.

This isn't the advice you asked for, but this is the internet, so I'm chiming anyway....

Whatever you pick *please* make it logical and legible! My younger brother got married 18 months ago-- it was a rustic theme, so the place cards were written on bags of seeds (the venue was a barn) and then you had to hunt around for the 'pea' table, or whatever. Totally confusing, not to mention that the lovely calligraphy on the bags was hard to read. On the other hand, my younger brother got married just 6 months ago-- his tables were numbered (Yay!) so once you knew what table you were at, finding it was not tough. BUT his board listing names and tables was glittery sharpie on glass. It looked terrific in the sun, but was nearly illegible when they grought it into the venue and laid it on black fabric. Believe me, no one was thinking, in either case, "Wow! This chart/place cards are so unique!" All the guests were thinking was, "I have no idea where to sit. WTF!?" Lastly, I went to a wedding last weekend-- seating chart was printed in block letters plain and simple, tables were numbered. Finding out what table we were at and where that table was was a breeze.

@ZoeM I'm glad you brought that all up! I will definitely be thinking logical on this! We have close to 200 people attending so maybe the seating chart would be easier and less time consuming over the place cards.

This is what we will be using. Our venue uses "social tables" so they will know meals for the tables even though it's not the exact seat.

I love the mirror glass idea. And am battling with place cards or chart as well! Lol

@becomingamrs this is such a cute idea!

Unless you are having a preference meal, I'd do just a chart and table numbers. We are doing this big chart with a green wreath at the front of the venue, and that way YES the table is chosen but not chair and that takes off a load of planning.

But obviously, with preference meals it is necessary.

Very pretty display @MattB!!!