Seating charts

Is your wedding date of May 14, 2022 correct? If so, I would hold off on the seating chart until you get your RSVPs in. Otherwise, you're going to have to redo everything later. What I did was write every guest (or couple) on an index card. Then I grouped them with others who were within the same group (i.e. friend groups together, immediate family, etc.). I knew I could have a max of 10 people per table, but I wanted 8 ideally. Any group that had 8 people already in the pile, great...put them aside. Then I looked at those piles that had less and tried to match them up with either people they knew or we thought they may get along with based on common interests. Having the index cards to physically move around and group together made the process much simpler. But definitely don't start it now. My wedding was pre-covid and we invited 160 people for a final guest count of 115. If I had done it ahead of time, I would have had to scrap the whole thing anyway.

Agree with the above ideas! We didn’t start putting together a seating chart until we had at least half of pur RSVPs back. But I do think it’s worth the trouble to put one together so that people are searching for an open seat all on their own. My wedding planner also told me if you don’t have a seating chart you usually have to have 20-30% more place settings available because people won’t want to sit right next to ppl they don’t know so there will be empty “buffer chairs” all over. Also, if you’re having a plated dinner you will have to have a seating chart.


I put mine together the old school way with a massive sketched venue layout and post it notes!

I haven't started on our seating chart yet (waiting for the RSVPs), but I've been to wedding lately where the couple just did assigned tables and there was definitely some confusion at the beginning, people had to switch seats because a lot of people left just one place free between their seat and the next guest, and everybody had to shuffle closer. So that made me decide that we're definitely doing a seating chart.
I've already put our guests in groups (family 1, family 2, close friends, work, etc). Some tables fill up quickly, and then you'll have some people left over, so I'll probably try to put them with someone they know or who I think will get along well. There are two couples that no one likes ())), they will be all about damage control and sitting with people who don't know them... If you're not sure, just wing it, it doesn't have to be perfect.

I'm getting married the same weekend as you. There's no point making anything now, since you can't know where to seat people until you actually know who's coming. Everyone here will highly recommend a seating plan as opposed to open seating (unless it's a tiny wedding like 15 people or less). Please don't make your guests suffer by having to figure out where to sit themselves.

There's going to be tables where people are not going to know each other so it is what it is. i would say try your best grouping people together but if you can't, then even putting them in tables nearby works out

View Quoted Comment Thanks so much for the advice. I am waiting on RSVPs but I was looking at who all we invited & more trying to even get an idea of where to place everyone & it was hard.. lol

View Quoted Comment Thanks so much for the advice. I'm waiting on the RSVPs but I was trying to even get a general idea of how I would do it. I'm all over the place. I'm excited, impatient, and every other emotion wrapped in one.. lol

View Quoted Comment You can of course start brainstorming who should go together -- for example, your college friends and their dates would obviously get a table. But you're not a control freak for wanting a seating chart! Not having one creates chaos and makes guests very anxious.

Skip the difficult to read poster and do escort cards for each guest. But you need table assignments.


Keep couples and families together. Match up people who have common interests. Guests will only be sitting there for dinner so they can get up and mingle with others. Don’t stress.
There are apps such as rsvpify.com that let you arrange guests or you can use a Google spreadsheet. Or make a poster board with post it notes for each guest that you can move as needed and finalize when you get rsvps.

Every time I think about doing a seating chart, I instantly get a headache. Seriously.

I've been to weddings that have had them and many that have not had them. If it's causing you too much stress, DON'T DO IT. It's your wedding. Save a few tables for the people you need to and then have others find a spot for themselves.

I'm still on the fence but I will have over 200 people and think a seating chart will be the best option.