How to seat your guests at your reception
This great article by The Knot website • September 20, 2019
If you're having 25 guests at a buffet, you may or may not want to give people specific seating places. But if you're having 75 guests or more and serving a seated meal, you'll want to make sure everyone's got a specific place to sit.
Why? For one, people like to know where they're sitting—and that you took the time to choose where they should sit, and with whom. It's also helpful if you're serving several different entrée choices, because the caterer can figure out beforehand how many chicken, beef and vegetarian dishes a given table gets, because they know who's sitting there. Read on for stress-free tips on how to seat your guests.
Start Early
There are couples who've been at kitchen tables the night before the wedding (or even wedding morning) just starting their seating chart. Don't let this be you—you've got more important things to think about at that point. Sure, it's fine to make last-minute changes, but try to get the chart mostly done at least a week before the day.
Break It Down
Create a new spreadsheet. If you haven't already, insert a column into your guest list document categorizing all the invitees by relationship: your friends, your family, your partner's friends, your partner's family, your family friends, your partner's family friends and so on. This way, you'll be able to easily sort the list and break it down into more logical table assortments. Now you'll need to separate these lists into distinct tables.
Create a Paper Trail
If you're more visual, draw circles (for tables) on a big sheet of paper and write names inside them (make sure you know how many people can comfortably be seated at each table). Or you could write every guest's name on a sticky note and place it accordingly.
Have a Head Table or Not
A traditional head table is not round, but long and straight, and it's generally set up along a wall, on risers, facing all the other reception tables. Usually the newlyweds sit smack-dab in the middle (where everyone can see them), with the maid of honor next to the groom, the best man next to the bride, and then boy/girl out from there. But you don't have to do it that way. All the bridesmaids can sit on the bride's side, and all the groomsmen on the groom's. Or maybe you're not into being on display, or you don't want your wedding party to feel isolated from other guests. Let your wedding party sit at a round reception table or two with each other and/or with their dates, and have a sweetheart table for the two of you (to get a little one-on-one time). Another option: You two sit with your parents and let that be the head table, with the wedding party at their own tables.
Traditionally, your parents and your partner's parents sit at the same table, along with grandparents, siblings not in the wedding party, and the officiant and their spouse if they attend the reception. But if your or your partner's parents are divorced and are uncomfortable about sitting next to each other, you might want to let each set of parents host their own table of close family and/or friends. This could mean up to four parents' tables, depending on your situation—or have the divorced parent who raised you (or your partner) and their spouse/date sit at the table with still-married parents.
Remember, the parent-seating question is a flexible one. Set it up in whatever way best suits everybody. If you're unsure, don't hesitate to talk to the parents in question about it before you make your final decision.
Tame The Tensions
There may also be situations in which certain family members just do not get along. Maybe they haven't spoken in years. Maybe the last time they saw each other at the last family wedding there was a drunken fight. Understandably, you want to keep them as far apart as possible. Think about these kinds of relationships (or lack thereof) before you even start making your chart, so you can take them into consideration in the first place and begin by seating Aunt Jane at table three and Aunt Lucy across the room at table 15. Trust us—they'll appreciate it.
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Choosing the right musical entertainment for your big day is so important. The fact is, there are 3 things that people talk about after a wedding. 1- The Dress 2- The Food/Venue 3- The Entertainment. So who do you trust to provide the soundtrack for your big day? A Band? A DJ? Both?.. Lets take a look at the pro’s and con’s of each… A Band The atmosphere of a band is unique. The energy of live musicians. The interactivity of a charismatic lead singer. All pretty hard for a DJ to match. A band, while they may rock the songs they do know, they will only know a limited amount of songs. A band will almost always cost you more and take up more space in your venue. A DJ While a great band has an atmosphere that can’t be beat, a great DJ has a song list and a flexibility that can’t be beat. A great DJ can also have the same level of energy and charisma as a band lead singer. They generally take up less space and be more adaptable with the space provided. The better more experienced DJs can also act as MCs. While I’m on the subject, your MC (Master of Ceremonies), a great entertainer (DJ or Musician) can often act as your MC. Some couples ask a friend or family member to act as MC. It is a great honour, and if you know the right person, it can be a huge success. But remember that being a great MC isn’t just being funny and well spoken. A great MC will be half Entertainer and half event manager, co-ordinating with your other suppliers, your venue, your guests and you. In asking someone you know to do the job, you are also asking them to take a lot responsibility for your big day. -------------------------------------- This is just a helpful little advice for picking those 'special moment' songs for your reception...
Entrance Song(s).
Here is where we set the mood for your reception... Loving, Sweet, Fun, Funny or Party Party PARTY... Some couples have a separate song for the bridal party and a different song for the couple. And sometimes they use the same song for everyone... There are no set rules.. We say use this moment to say something about you as a couple.
Your first Dance
This moment is often one of the most emotional moments of the whole day. There is no rules for this song, this song is all about you. And don't stress about the dancing if you are not a great dancer, honestly the first dance is a beautiful moment whether you have a full choreographed routine or you just sway side to side...
Father/Daughter & Mother/Son.
A sweet moment to share a dance with a parent (or a child). Talk to them about what song makes them think of you.
The General Dancefloor.
We ask that you leave us some flexibility with picking the music, we welcome requests and a list of 'must play' & 'don't play' songs. But you hired us because of our knowledge and experience, and reading a crowd is our speciality..
The MC is more than just a funny guy with a mic. The MC should work with the wedding planners and coordinators as well as the venue, entertainment, photographers, videographers etc to ensure the whole event goes smoothly. They help keep to time, they help move people between places (eg, if you are having a fire works display and your guests need to move outside to a deck area) but also between activities – eg, cake cutting, dancing, meals. Perhaps most importantly, the MC helps set the mood.
