seating assignment wedding

Wedding   Seating Chart

Use our unique wedding seating chart tool to effortlessly plan the arrangement of your reception or ceremony.   Create your personalized wedding plan. No hidden fees!   No sign-up required!

How to Make a Seating Chart for a Wedding

Creating your own wedding floor plan has never been easier with our user-friendly free tool. Whether you’re organizing the seating chart for your reception, or the wedding ceremony, you’ll find our template makes the whole process so straightforward. And not just for marrying couples. Wedding venues, planners, and catering teams will all find our seating chart maker streamlines the entire planning experience. With food choices, allergies and specific requirements all displayed on the chart in a style that makes it quick to understand what is required.

How to Use Our Seating Chart Template to Build Your Own Arrangement

The beauty of our wedding table and ceremony seating chart tool, is that once your guest list is ready, you can simply import it onto our template. And quickly start placing guests in their correct positions, while dropping and dragging decor elements of your reception or ceremony. When you feel everyone is sitting in their appropriate places, you can simply download your seat map as a PDF. Ready to be sent to your caterer, venue, stationer, or whoever requires your guest seating information.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Our Seating Chart Maker

To help you get started with our seating chart tool, we thought we’d share a simple step-by-step guide.

• Upload your Excel guest list  to your private project, or manually add your guests.
• Open our wedding reception seating chart, and  browse the items already on the template .
• Click the ‘edit’ button  to open up the template.
• Click the ‘add element’ button and select straight wall  from the dropdown.
• Give your chart 4 surrounding walls , using the measurements from the floor plan provided by your wedding venue.
• Add any inner walls, columns or dividing walls using the dropdown.
• Place the relevant number of tables  required for your guests.
• Begin adding guests to each table  by clicking the circles with numbers inside, and  selecting a name from your guest list  on the right.
• Drop and drag the tables, and organize them using the ruler tool  and floor plan provided by your venue. Creating an accurate representation of the reception space.
• Decide on where the  dance floor, stage and any large reception decor items  will be.
• Add in miscellaneous decor,  safety points and utilities .
• Download your floor plan as a PDF , including or excluding different presentation options, which can be found in ‘Export Settings’.

Tick off this wedding planning task in your project, and start onto the next!

What is a Wedding Seating Chart?

Creating a seating chart for any kind of event (especially a wedding) makes the whole process of visualizing where guests will be positioned within a space, so much more straightforward. It allows you to take a list of names and turn it into an accurate depiction of how the room will actually look. This graphical representation is almost a must for any large-scale event, especially when organizing a something as grand, and important as a wedding.

Wedding Seating Chart Etiquette

Diplomacy is key when arranging wedding guests for a reception, or ceremony. Not all guests will know, get on with, or even like each other! Which is why it’s critical to think clearly, and carefully, about where each guest will be seated. Otherwise, you may end up with little pockets of anarchy, rather than a room full of celebrations!

Beyond dealing with any tricky relationships, it’s wise to consider family first when seating guests. For instance, yourselves, your parents and your partner’s parents should share a table at the reception, unless you opt for a sweetheart table for just the two of you.

Grandparents, siblings not in the wedding party, and the officiant and their spouse should also join the head table. That is assuming your parents aren’t divorced, which may mean you need to create another ‘head table’, which’ll allow parents to sit apart.

How to Arrange Wedding Guests

If you’re unsure of the personalities, or interests of all your guests, gather your close family together when preparing ideas for your seating layout. As they’ll be able to enlighten you on just what everyone is like. Getting a clear picture of who knows each other, and who will get along, is key to creating a harmonious reception.

A lot of your guests will not know each other well before sitting down together at the reception. This can be discouraging for some, but it often can’t be helped when arranging such a large number of people.

To help guests quickly spark up conversation with one another, consider the work, interests, and ages of loved ones when pairing people together. By thoughtfully matching guests up, you’ll quickly find that on the night they have lots in common. And that’ll hopefully avoid any awkward silences.

If you’re struggling to remember which guest should, or could go with another type of guest, consider starting a color coded system on your invite list. By having a multicolored excel template and a wedding seating chart maker such as ours, that allows you to easily incorporate colors into the template, you’ll be able to quickly match up compatible guests.

How to Organize Wedding Reception Tables

A massive benefit of using a seating scheme, is that it allows you to clearly see which type of table arrangement will work best for your reception. Rectangular and circular are the two most popular table shapes. But there are many others, such as family style, which is great for informal weddings. Or there’s the U shape design, an arrangement that lends itself to intimate celebrations.

Consider thoroughly the type of table arrangement you choose, as it will greatly affect the interactions guests can have with each other.

For instance, round tables are much-loved as they, depending on their size, allow all guests to interact with each other. Whereas rectangular tables, due to their long shape, often create two or more groups of guests. But, this shape of table is perfect if you have a large guest list, as it’ll allow you to fit numerous guests on one table, and not take up too much space within the room.

How to Organize Wedding Ceremony Seating

There are many ways you can configure your wedding ceremony seating chart , but typically the style you select will depend on how formal you want the occasion to be. And importantly, where it’ll be taking place. As some wedding ceremony venues, such as churches, will have set, structured seating in place.

If this is the case, then all you need to worry about is seating guests appropriately within the space. With VIP’s such as parents, grandparents, close family and the wedding party all sitting in the first and second rows. Typically, each family sits on either the left or the right-hand side of the marrying couple.

In the rows after immediate family and the wedding party, sits the rest of the guests, in order of importance or closeness to the couple. With this in mind, it’s good to use a wedding seating chart when planning your ceremony, as it helps to alleviate any confusion your guests may feel when they arrive. Unsure of exactly where, and which side they should be sitting on.

By having a clearly laid out seat map, you’ll also be able to evenly distribute your loved ones. Something couples often regret not doing when they look back at their pictures, and see big gaps of guests, or uneven spaces.

Organize people ahead of time using a wedding seating chart app or tool, and you’ll find the whole ceremony experience is a lot smoother.

How to Use a Wedding Seating Chart for your Reception

Starting any kind of project with a blank page is typically pretty daunting. Which is why we created our wedding seating chart template. A useful starting off point that shows straight away the types of elements usually included in a wedding reception, and a suggestion as to where guests could be placed. From there you’re free to customize as you wish.

The best place to start when assembling your wedding reception seating chart , is with the layout of your tables and chairs. As the style you choose will determine what else can be placed within the space, while also dictating the guest experience.

When deciding between table shapes, it’s important to reach out to your wedding venue, and request the full layout specifications of the reception space. That way you’ll know how much room you have, not just for tables, but also the dance floor, stage, decor elements etc.

When you’re ready to place guests at their tables, you’ll quickly realize how powerful a wedding seating chart tool can be. A huge advantage of our seating chart maker, in particular, is that it allows you to simply import your guest list spreadsheet from Excel, and then instantly place invitees at their appropriate tables.

Before, or after guests are positioned on the floor plan, you can personalize their avatars to better represent each guests’ individuality. For example, you can highlight the age group each guest is in, such as adult, teen, or infant. Following that, you can signify skin color, gender, and which side of the couple invited them — this final selection automatically gives avatars a signifying color.

Once guests are seated around the tables, and you’re happy with the arrangement, it’s time to place the rest of your decor! With our online wedding seating chart tool, you can drop and drag all the major focal points and elements you’d expect to find at a wedding reception right onto your chart!

To get you started, our template features items most couples would consider standard, such as a dance floor, stage, and restrooms. So all you have to think about is adding the fun stuff! Like smoke machines, DJ booths and your cake table!

Why a Wedding Seating Chart is Such a Useful Tool

Every guest is different, and when planning a wedding with lots of loved ones, that can lead to confusion. Food choices and intolerances are the perfect example, as each of your guests will likely need to choose their main course and could potentially be allergic to something on the menu. This information is vital for those in your catering team, and should be presented in a style that can be understood quickly by them.

By having a clear seating scheme for your reception, with all the important information about each guest clearly visible, the organization of your wedding will run a lot smoother than without.

Moreover, by utilizing the seating chart, it becomes effortless to create table seating cards for each layout's table. Afterward, you can produce an attractive grid of cards and display them on the wall, aiding guests in finding their designated places with ease.

This is an example of how the final result will look.

Table numbers will be automatically generated based on the table layout, and of course you can customize design.

Name cards are also automatically generated based on the seating layout.

With our free wedding seating chart template, you can quickly and easily download your finished board using whichever details you need it to feature. Meaning, individual seating charts can be created for each of your respective vendors. Eliminating any confusion between them.

The Benefits of an Online Wedding Seating Chart Maker

When planning a wedding, at the very least, there will be two people organizing things (hopefully!). But typically, a wedding is not simply planned by the marrying couple. Mom, Dad, best friends, brothers, and sisters are all usually drafted onto the big day team to help in some way.

What’s great about using an online wedding seating chart, such as ours, is that everyone can share their input in real-time.

Wedding Planning Assistant is an online, cloud-based tool that helps couples plan every aspect of their celebration, not just their seating arrangement. From creating a free wedding website, to organizing a checklist and preparing place cards – you can do it all on our site, for free!

Each member of your wedding team, including planners and vendors, can be provided access to your online project. Anyone can get involved, whenever and wherever works best for them. Helping you to throw the best wedding ever!

When it comes to the seating chart for your wedding, being online, with all the information synchronized in real-time, is a game changer. For instance, whenever there’s an update to your guest list, anyone on your team will instantly be able to see it.

Maybe Mom has finally got an RSVP from your cousin in London, and has now found out she’s gone vegan. Mom can easily update that guests’ RSVP status, adding in her dietary requirements and potentially the meal choice too.

Having a wedding seating chart that’s online and instantly updatable by your whole team, stops anything being forgotten, and helps everyone stay on the same page, at all times. Key when trying to organize such a large group of people, each with needs and desires.

Ensure that Everything Fits in the Room Without Estimating

Experimenting with a seating chart, placing guests around tables and dropping elements of decor is fun. But without real-world measurements, there’s no way of knowing if your table design will actually fit within the space. Which would be a disaster!

Thankfully, our wedding seating chart tool allows you to easily, and accurately construct a scaled down version of your reception room. While also giving you the ability to precisely measure just how far each element (table, stage, large piece of decor) actually is from one another.

Then, once you’ve mapped out exactly where everything should be, there’s no need to worry about scaling your wedding table seating chart to fit on a poster board. Because our tool will automatically scale your plan to fit on either a portrait or landscape A1 page. The perfect size for your caterers, planners, venue or yourselves to print it out on .

All the key information will be visible, and you’ll get a clear feel for how the space will actually look.

Export Your Wedding Seating Chart Template to Excel

To serve your wedding guests successfully, your vendors will need as much information as possible, and have it displayed in a format that works for them. Usually, a wedding seating chart will work perfectly for them, as it’ll allow them to explore the room and get a fantastic overview of your guests.

But occasionally, it’s more useful for vendors to scan through a list of your guests, and filter out the information they require. And that’s precisely what our wedding seating chart template can do, with its export to Excel function via your guest list! This straightforward to use tool allows you to download your full list of guests, with all the information clearly laid out in pre-formatted columns.

Your caterer will love how easy it is to access the information they need about each of your guests, and it’ll (almost) eliminate any possibility of mistakes in service. But it’s not only your caterer who will benefit greatly from having your wedding seating chart template exported to Excel . Your planner, coordinator, and your wedding stationers will all do better at their jobs with this function.

Create Your Wedding Seating Chart Poster in No Time

Couples typically find piecing together their guest list and the seating assignment the most time-consuming, and arduous tasks during wedding planning. And we understand why! It’s hard to pick and choose who, and who not to invite to your wedding. But this painful task has to be done. And while we can’t make the job emotionally easier to deal with, we can make its operation, and subsequent application onto the seating chart, seamless.

From the moment you receive your first RSVP, to exporting the finished floor plan, you’ll wonder how else you could’ve got the job done. Couples often start their reception, and potentially wedding ceremony seating chart roughly 3 weeks before the big day. Once all the RSVP’s have been received.

By hand, pen on paper, this task can take days. And involve countless do-overs, scribbling out and frustrated nights. But when putting together a wedding seating chart using an online tool, you remove all of that stress.

Suddenly, late RSVPs can be easily dropped and dragged into position. Table configurations can be altered at the click of a button, and you’ll instantly get a full picture of how your reception, or ceremony will look as soon as your guest list is uploaded.

Every guests’ icon can be quickly customized to represent their gender, race, or age bracket. While color coding is also available, allowing you to easily mark people according to their jobs, interests, or personality type. A huge advantage when attempting to pair up single guests, or create a harmonious table.

The entire process of using our wedding seating chart maker has been designed to be accessible. Easy for all to use. Meaning, no matter your experience level with online tools, you’ll be able to create a professional wedding seating chart board in much less time than it would to piece it together on paper, DIY style. And when planning a wedding, if any task can be made easier or quicker, that’s a massive plus!

Professional Seating Chart App Designed for Couples & Vendors

All the tools available on Wedding Planning Assistant have been designed thoughtfully, with both engaged couples, and professional vendors in mind.

Created to be useful to those busy planning their big day, in need of templates to help them work out their budget, or somewhere simple to build a wedding website.

While also being invaluable to wedding professionals who require a space to create a seat map, find other vendors and share their work with clients.

Sharing is a key part of why couples love creating not just their wedding seating chart with us, but many of the other vital parts involved in planning a big day. Because our platform has been designed to be collaborative. A place to build something together, with family, friends, but also wedding professionals.

If you’re at the very beginning stages of wedding planning, and you’ve recently hired a planner, or coordinator to help you put things together. You’ll understand how vital communication is when trying to keep things on schedule. Without regular check-in’s and confirmations, things can get forgotten, and a once well-planned timeline can begin to slide.

Avoid over-running your schedule, and always be up-to-date with what your planner is doing, by creating a project together on Wedding Planning Assistant. And our wedding seating chart app offers the perfect example for why you should.

This task in particular is typically completed within the final stages of wedding planning, and the process usually goes through many iterations before it’s ready. These last couple of weeks are frequently a stressful time for couples, with guests often sending RSVPs back at different times, dropping out last minute, or suddenly requesting special requirements. It’s a lot to deal with and can be hard to keep track, especially when you have a planner or coordinator who also needs updating.

Source: video example how to create seating chart

By using our online wedding table seating chart , you’ll be able to keep your whole team in the loop, including professionals, at all times. As soon as someone confirms their attendance, you or your planner can place them in the appropriate place on the seating scheme. Along with their unique set of requirements. Nobody skips a beat, nothing gets forgotten.

Wedding Seating Chart Ideas

Our wedding seating chart is an incredible reference to have when wedding planning, and your vendors will love its usability. But on the day, your guests will need something that’ll show them where their seats are. And there are so many ways you can present your reception plan that’ll not only coordinate nicely with your theme, but also delight your guests.

After only a quick Google search for wedding seating chart ideas , we’re sure you’ll discover a limitless amount of inspiration for your reception, or ceremony. And that’s without even looking at Pinterest! Having such a wealth of decor ideas at your fingertips can be a massive bonus when trying to find the perfect look. But it can also become a little confusing.

Our advice is to start, and concentrate on functionality. First and foremost, your wedding seating chart is there to direct guests to their place. It needs to be clear, obvious and enable loved ones to find their name and corresponding table in seconds. If not, you may end up with a lot of confused guests and a bit of a bottleneck, as people desperately try to find their name on the board .

Typically, the best way to avoid having lost guests is to simply list out your tables in numerical order, with the names of each guest under their corresponding table number. Whether you’ve got three tables or twenty tables, this system works. As does listing guests alphabetically, alongside their table number.

As long as the sign is big enough, and the font is clear. An A1 size board is typically a good size, but it will depend on your space and the number of tables/guests.

Once you’ve formatted the reception plan, found a font that works and maybe added a background or floral element. It’s time to find a pretty frame, an easel, and set it up somewhere guests will spot it easily.

Floor plan creator

Seating plan, seating arrangement, seating diagram, seating layout, seating scheme, seating assignment, seating chart generator, digital seating chart, electronic seating arrangement, seating chart builder.

Build your wedding seating chart effortlessly with our intuitive wedding seating chart builder.

The Wedding seating chart builder , along with all the accompanying tools on the Wedding Planning Assistant, have been meticulously designed to cater to the needs of engaged couples and professional vendors alike.

The seating chart builder empowers you to effortlessly create and customize your wedding seating chart. This intuitive tool provides a user-friendly interface where you can easily drag and drop tables, arrange seats, and assign guests with just a few clicks. With the seating chart builder , you have the flexibility to experiment with different layouts, seating arrangements, and guest assignments until you achieve the perfect seating plan for your special day. Simplify the process of designing your seating chart and ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience for your wedding guests with this powerful tool.

The floor plan creator is an essential tool that allows you to visualize and design the layout of your wedding venue. With this innovative tool, you can easily map out the arrangement of tables, dance floor, decorations, and other elements to create a comprehensive floor plan that aligns perfectly with your vision.

Crafting a well-organized seating plan is crucial for ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for your wedding guests. The seating plan tool enables you to assign guests to specific tables, strategically grouping them based on relationships, preferences, or any other criteria you choose. With this tool, you can easily create a seating plan that maximizes comfort, interaction, and overall guest satisfaction.

The seating arrangement feature allows you to arrange individual seats within each table of your wedding reception. With this tool, you can precisely position and assign seats to ensure optimal seating arrangements for your guests. Whether you prefer a traditional or alternative seating arrangement , this tool provides the flexibility to accommodate your unique preferences and guest dynamics.

Visualize your wedding seating arrangements with ease using the seating diagram tool. This tool generates a clear and comprehensive diagram that illustrates the seating layout of your venue. It helps you visualize the relationships between tables, seating positions, and the overall flow of your reception space, ensuring that every guest has a designated place in your seating plan.

The seat chart tool assists you in creating a detailed chart that displays the seating positions of individual guests at each table. This tool allows you to assign specific seats to guests, providing a precise and organized representation of your seating plan. Utilize the seat chart tool to efficiently manage guest seating and ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience for everyone.

With the seat map tool , you can generate an interactive map that showcases the seating arrangement in your wedding venue. This tool allows you to view the layout of tables, designated seating positions, and even provides additional information about each seat if desired. Use the seat map to assist guests in locating their assigned seats easily and efficiently navigate your reception space.

Designing the perfect seating layout is made effortless with the seating layout tool. This feature enables you to create a visual representation of your desired seating arrangement , illustrating the arrangement of tables, chairs, and any additional elements. With this tool, you can experiment with different seating configurations until you achieve the ideal layout for your wedding reception.

The seating scheme tool provides a systematic approach to planning your wedding seating arrangements. With this feature, you can organize and allocate guests to tables, ensuring a harmonious blend of relationships and preferences. The seating scheme tool offers flexibility and efficiency in creating a well-balanced and enjoyable seating plan for your special day.

Efficiently manage guest seating assignments with the seating assignment tool. This tool enables you to assign specific guests to designated seats or tables, ensuring a personalized and organized seating plan. With the seating assignment feature, you can effortlessly accommodate individual preferences, relationships, or any other criteria to create a memorable and enjoyable seating arrangement for your wedding guests.

The seating chart generator is a dynamic tool that effortlessly creates personalized seating charts for your wedding or event. With its intuitive interface, you can quickly input guest information, designate table layouts, and optimize seating arrangements. Whether you prefer traditional or unique seating styles, the seating chart generator allows you to experiment and refine until you achieve the perfect arrangement. Save time and eliminate stress as this powerful tool streamlines the seating planning process, ensuring a harmonious and enjoyable experience for your guests. Create a seamless seating chart with ease using the seating chart generator , and make your special occasion truly memorable.

A digital seating chart refers to a virtual or electronic representation of the seating arrangement for an event, such as a wedding, conference, or performance. Instead of using traditional paper charts or physical table layouts, a digital seating chart is created and managed using software or online tools.

Overall, a digital seating chart streamlines the process of planning and organizing seating arrangements, making it more flexible, efficient, and convenient for event organizers and attendees alike.

An electronic seating arrangement , also known as a digital seating plan or electronic seating chart, refers to the use of technology to create, manage, and organize the seating layout for events, gatherings, or venues. Instead of using traditional paper-based seating charts or physical diagrams, an electronic seating arrangement is created and manipulated using software, applications, or online tools.

Electronic seating arrangements are particularly useful for events with large numbers of attendees, such as weddings, conferences, banquets, and performances. They offer a modern and efficient way to manage seating logistics and enhance the overall event planning experience.

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Andy Hammond

Wedding expert and writer working for wedding industry

Uncover other relevant topics that are associated with the seating chart

The online Wedding Planning Assistant comprises a comprehensive collection of professional tools designed to assist you in independently organizing your celebration seating chart.

We offer an international wedding planner service , open to all. Soon we hope to make our software available in all languages, so far, we have created versions for these languages:

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Your Guide to Wedding Reception Seating Chart Etiquette

• Kim writes and edits articles for The Knot Worldwide, specializing in etiquette and planning advice
• Kim manages freelance writers for The Knot Worldwide
• Prior to The Knot Worldwide, Kim was Associate Bridal Editor at Washingtonian magazine and Associate Fashion Editor at Conde Nast’s Brides Local magazines

Your parents are divorced, your last unattached friend is hypersensitive to being seated at the "singles" table, and you have one couple coming in from out of the country who only know you and your partner. What should you do? With a little tact, diplomacy and common sense, you can create wedding seating arrangements that will make everyone happy.

Creating a wedding seating chart is a task that you can start thinking about early on in the planning process , but you can't complete until all of your RSVPs have come in (usually less than a month before the big day). You'll also need to work with your wedding planner and wedding venue to determine the reception venue's layout, including the shapes and sizes of your tables, where the dance floor will be located, and more. Once you have all of this information at the ready, it's time to create your seating chart. Here's everything you need to know to figure out the seating chart etiquette of who sits with whom at your wedding.

In this article:

Do We Really Need a Formal Wedding Seating Plan?

What should you keep in mind when assigning seating, who sits where, what other factors should we take into account when choosing wedding seating arrangements, should we seat all of our single guests at the same table, where should we seat young children, what are place cards, escort cards and seating charts do we need all three.

You may feel like developing a formal seating plan isn't really necessary, and that your guests are intuitive and go-with-the-flow enough to figure out where to sit. The logic: If you provide enough seats, can't everyone just figure it out on their own? The answer is: Yes...eventually. If you've ever been to a wedding without a seating plan before (and survived the riptide of guests trying to find their places, or seen the bottleneck after they've been through the buffet line trying to figure out where to sit), then you know why making one is a great idea. Taking the time to develop a plan will reduce your guests' anxiety of trying to find a seat (whether it's family and friend dynamics, not knowing if some tables should be reserved for VIPs, and not wanting to exclude anyone in a group or without a plus-one) and your involvement in mediating issues.

On the other hand, if you're having fewer than 50 guests, you may not need a detailed plan if you don't want one. You could also choose to designate the head tables (including you two, your wedding party and parents) with place cards , and allow the other guests to seat themselves. Some couples opt to have a cocktail party or buffet with a few tables, so guests can alternate sitting and eating. If this is what you plan to do, make sure your elderly guests have a place to sit down, possibly even by designating a separate table for them. But the bottom line is we always recommend having a seating chart—your guests don't want to make any mistakes and they simply like knowing that you thought of them and where to place them.

Relationships, and possible tensions , between guests should be kept in mind when creating wedding table assignments. If your wedding is going to serve as a reunion for many college friends, seat them together so they can catch up. If a friend is attending alone and won't know many people, put them at a table with strong conversationalists and naturally amicable people who will make them feel comfortable. Leah Weinberg of Color Pop Events shares that when she was planning her own wedding, "as soon as I sent out my invites, I started grouping guests into tentative tables and thinking of what groups folks would naturally fall in—my mom's family, my dad's family, work friends, college friends, family friends, etc. Then, as RSVPs came in, I was able to make modifications. But I had the bulk of the work done about two months before the big day, so that made it a much less stressful task once I did have my final numbers."

Adds Natalie Good of A Good Affair : "Don't procrastinate in preparing your seating chart. Often this is where the drama comes out within families so it is best to work on it early and hear your parents requests so you have time to come to an agreement without the pressure of a deadline."

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Trying to figure out where to put all of your guests? We've got the answers to all of your wedding seating chart etiquette questions.

The Head Table or "Table One"

Before we settle on who sits at the head table , let's define exactly what it is. Planners often reference head tables, estate (or king's) tables and sweetheart tables, all of which are different but can serve as table one, depending on your needs.

The newlyweds may sit at a long rectangular head table or round table at the focal point of the room, or alternatively, at their very own sweetheart table. Some couples choose to have no table at all, but to leave a few seats empty at every table so they can mingle throughout the reception.

Classically, the groom sits to the bride's right and the best man sits to her left. The maid of honor sits to the groom's right. Depending on how large the table is, the other attendants can also be seated near the couple. Back in the day, spouses and significant others were relegated to different tables, but this tradition is now generally ignored. If you can only fit the best man and maid of honor along with their dates at your table, do so. Seat remaining attendants and their plus-ones at another table.

While table one most frequently includes the couple, their wedding party and the wedding party plus one's , "a head table can really be constructed in whatever way makes the most sense for the couple and who they want to sit with," says Jamie Chang of Passport to Joy . "Table one could be the couple and their wedding party and their partners, it could be the couple and their family or parents. There is no right or wrong way to construct the head table as long as it's created with everyone's enjoyment in mind."

Karese DeHaan of Detailed Floral Design agrees that you and your partner's preferences should be the guiding force behind the decision of who sits at table one at the reception. "One fun decision to make early in wedding planning is who you would like to sit with at the reception. Do you prefer to sit with your friends at a head table or would you like to sit at a sweetheart table just the two of you? There is no right or wrong, and the decision often comes down to your unique personality and the feel you are going for at your reception. However, this decision will be integral in the layout of your whole reception and will determine your course for details such as which tables to rent and the florals to order. A head table generally seats the couple, their wedding party and often the wedding party's significant others. This can create a more energetic and fun atmosphere as the large group interacts. Seating so many often requires a very long table. A sweetheart table will create a more romantic feel, designate a little time alone, and feature you as a couple. This allows the wedding party to be with other guests they know and are closest to. Choosing who you will sit with at the reception is an opportunity early in the planning process to create the mood you envision for your wedding day."

Family Tables

The parents of the couple often sit opposite each other at a large family table, with grandparents, the officiant and other close friends. Another option is for the parents to head their own tables, with their close family members and friends. In the case of divorced parents, each parent may also host his or her own table, smoothly diffusing any awkwardness or discomfort.

Mix and Match

As for the rest of your wedding guests, should you put friends together or seat them with people they haven't met? While it's may seem like a great idea to mix in a few new faces at each table (and totally okay to do so sparingly), remember that people are most comfortable when they know some of their dinner companions. Ashley Thompson of Ashley Creative Events suggests to-be-weds "group your guest list in ways that will maximize the fun they have at the wedding! For instance, designate a table of college friends or work friends."

As you seat guests, be considerate. Not even your most gregarious friends will want to sit at a table full of complete strangers, so put acquaintances together when you can. If you have guests who don't know anyone, seat them near guests with similar interests. If you have a group of friends that can't fit at one table, split them down the middle, and fill in each table with other guests. Whatever you do, don't leave one of the crew out.

If you have no idea what to do with your parents' friends, let your parents and future in-laws arrange those tables. They'll be thrilled to be involved, and this may keep them from trying to control the rest of your seating plan.

It's important to consider the layout of your reception space when determining your table arrangements, and consider guests with disabilities and other needs. For example, older guests should not be seated too close to the music (live band, DJ, speakers, etc.), but should have clear lines of sight to the dance floor. Make sure that guests in wheelchairs or with other movement concerns have clear and easy access to both the dance floor and the exit. And for guests in wheelchairs, make sure their chair at their table is removed in advance.

Immediate family and wedding party members should be seated closest to the dance floor, as they'll likely be the ones to hit the floor first—and most often—and will need to easily see and participate in toasts, speeches, special dances and more.

According to Thompson , "nix the idea of a 'singles' table. You may have been playing matchmaker behind the scenes to see if you could set your old co-worker with your cousin, but this may embarrass your guests or make them feel uncomfortable. Instead, you can sprinkle the singles in with their married or couple friends to give them a sense of comfort."

If young ones will be attending the wedding , a kids' table is a good idea, so long as it is located near where the children's parents will be dining. Consider placing some coloring books and other activities at the kids' table to keep youngsters entertained.

Now that you've figured out where to put everyone, decide how to lead them to their seats.

Place Cards

Place cards await guests at each table, designating their specific seats. They can be anything from a simple tented card to a tree leaf with gold calligraphy.

Escort Cards

These cards are displayed near the entrance of the reception in alphabetical order. They usually include each guest's name and table number. Once at the table, guests usually select their own seats, but escort cards can be used along with place cards as well to designate seats.

Seating Chart

Usually displayed alphabetically or by table in a pretty frame near the entrance of the reception, seating charts list your guests' names with their designated tables. Additionally, place cards may be used at each table to designate assigned seats, if you wish.

Note: Guests should never alter seating assignments or switch assigned seats at a wedding reception, but it's perfectly acceptable to mingle at different tables after dinner.

Before creating your seating plan, it's a good idea to obtain the floor plan and make several copies. This way, you can experiment with various different arrangements before making your final decision. When in doubt, trust your instincts. And no matter how perfect your final seating plan seems, you'll undoubtedly receive at least one last-minute phone call begging you to change something to make a guest happy. Try to be accommodating, but don't let it stress you out. Chances are, after dinner, everyone will get up and mingle anyway.

Hannah Nowack contributed reporting to this article.

How to Create a Wedding Seating Chart

Don't let creating your wedding seating chart stress you out. Keep it simple with Zola's rundown of exactly how and where to place all of your wedding guests.

By Emily Forrest

The First Look ✨

• A wedding table seating chart isn’t mandatory, but it can help you, your guests, and your catering staff maximize your reception venue space.
• Consider your venue size and decide, based on your desired reception vibe and your guests, the type of tables you need and the floor map that best suits them.
• Start your seating chart with the head table then seat your relatives, friends, coworkers, and others. Make sure you consider guests' relationships and personalities when you sketch your plans.

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Whether it's rustic , modern , or vintage , you can add a personal, diy touch to your wedding table, centerpieces, and table setting settings with unique wedding table numbers that stand out. Plus, Zola makes it easy to manage all your Day-of Paper , integrating details from your Guest List, RSPVs and Seating Chart seemlessly into your wedding planning process. Shop Zola's new table numbers today!

Where your guests will sit at your reception probably isn’t the first thing on your wedding planning checklist —and it doesn’t have to be. Once you receive those RSVPs , though, it’s time to start mapping out your wedding seating chart. Like lunch tables in high school, seating arrangements can carry a lot of weight. There are plenty of variables to consider, but making a chart for your wedding seating doesn’t need to be overwhelming—and can actually be fun. Here’s everything you need to know about your wedding table seating chart.

Why do I need a wedding table seating chart?

Well, you technically don’t. While open seating is always an option, many couples will create an assigned seating chart for their wedding. It’s traditional, sure, but a clear seating arrangement benefits everyone from the guests to the catering staff and helps you maximize your reception venue space . Assigned seats just tend to make things simpler. (You can always assign tables and let each guest choose their individual seat, too.)

Here are a few reasons to create wedding seating charts:

• It ensures each table will be filled to its maximum capacity.
• It makes it easy for servers to locate guests and provide them any previously requested meals or meal substitutes. (Some wedding venues may even require reception seating assignment for this reason.)
• Wedding guests actually like to know where they’re sitting—it cuts confusion and any potential awkwardness.

How do I even begin making a guest list seating chart?

Before you even think about each wedding guest and their needs, first you need to consider the size of the space and of your tables. The size and shape of the tables will tell you how many guests can sit at each table. Wedding tables come in four basic shapes: round, rectangle, oval, and square, which should be discussed during the wedding planning process.

Square and rectangular tables make it easier for guests to chat across the table and next to one another. You can also typically fit more of these shapes into the space. Round tables, on the other hand, provide guests more legroom. These tables also may make your job easier as you’ll only need to pay attention to who’s sitting directly next to one another.

Once you choose your tables, map them out in the space, and know how many each will hold, then it’s time to start filling in your wedding seating chart with your guest names list.

How To Make Wedding Seating Charts

Now the fun begins. Whether your wedding venue is big or small, organizing your wedding guests into tables comes with a number of considerations. So, before you start making your name cards, consider these factors. Here are some things to think about as you create your wedding seating plan.

1. Start with the head table.

It’s a good idea to seat the two of you first at your wedding table. Decide if you want to sit at a traditional head table made up of your wedding party or if you would prefer to sit together as a couple at your own private sweetheart table.

Traditionally, a head wedding table is long and straight. The couple sits in the center and the wedding party (and sometimes their dates) fills in the rest. If you go the sweetheart table route, you can place the wedding party at one or two other tables nearby. It’s up to you, but be sure to place yourselves first.

2. Place your parents and grandparents.

Next, it’s a good idea to figure out where your parents and grandparents will sit. If they’re not sitting with you (some couples will include their parents at the head table), be sure to keep them close. It’s common for both sets of parents to share a table at the reception so they can bond and bask in their children’s newly wedded glow. This table will also typically include both sets of grandparents and any siblings that aren’t in the wedding party.

In the case of divorced parents, things can feel a little more sensitive. You likely know the situation best so proceed with care. If things between your parents are comfortable—meaning, they can spend quality time together without any palpable tension—you may feel fine placing them together at a table.

If things are a little more strained, be sensitive. Consider letting each parent host their own table (if space allows) of close family and friends. Be sure to keep these tables equally close to yours so everyone feels included. Depending on each family’s situation, this could mean potentially four parents’ tables. If you feel unsure, talk to your parents. They most likely want what's best for you and will do what it takes to help you figure out a solution that works for everyone.

3. Figure out your family and close friends.

Once the key players and planners involved in your wedding are situated, it’s time to move on to your extended family and friends. Barring any significant unrest, your family should be pretty easy to place. Traditionally extended family members sit together with their immediate family members. So, your aunt will sit with her partner and their children, grandchildren, etc. Each family group can cover a full table or, depending on family size, you can, of course, combine families into one table.

It’s more common to place members of your respective families together, but feel free to mix it up if you want. Why not set one of your extended family groups with one of your partner’s? You’re all family now after all.

You know the saying “keep your friends close.” Well, that same sentiment works at your wedding. Simply put, sit your close friends together—and definitely mix them in with your partner’s BFFs, too. More likely than not, many of your friends already know each other and are eager to reunite to celebrate your fresh union.

4. Categorize the rest of your guests by groups.

Beyond your family and best friends, weddings also usually include other attendees from the various parts of your life. This mix is a little more random and, therefore, can be a bit more challenging to place in your wedding seating chart. The easiest way to handle the last handful of guests is to separate them by groups. For example, these wedding guests may fall into the following categories:

• Your boss and colleagues
• Your parents’ friends
• High school friends

When seating your remaining guests, it’s nice to consider things like backgrounds, personalities, and interests. Many of these people will end up at tables together so it’s best to always take a moment to think about who could really mesh well together. Here's how we recommend handling each of these groups.

Boss and Colleagues

This group is totally dependent on your relationship with your boss and coworkers. It’s also important to consider your coworkers' relationship with your boss—they may or may not want to spend the night sitting next to their daily manager or colleague. Hopefully, though, if you invited people from your work life, you did so because you know they’ll have a fun time together and with the rest of your wedding guests.

If that’s not the case, you can seat your coworkers with a group of your close friends or high school friends. You can place your boss with a group of your parents’ friends or even with members of your extended family, depending on how the tables work out.

Parents’ Friends

Instead of stressing over this as a couple, let your parents take the reigns here—they’ll be happy to be involved. Trust us. They may even invite some of their closest friends to join them at their table. Either way, they’ll be the best judge of where to seat and how to group their attendees.

Additionally, you should also include your parents in any decisions about placing non-family members at family tables. If there are seats to fill at tables with your families, they’ll likely have an opinion about who should fill those places.

High School Friends

Depending on how many high school friends you invite to your wedding, they may take up a table of their own or you can likely combine forces with your partners’ friends from back in the day. However, if you don’t have enough old friends in attendance, find seats for them at tables with your college friends or even your coworkers. As always, consider personalities and interests. Presumably, though, anyone you put on your wedding guest list is there to celebrate you and your new spouse so there shouldn’t be any weirdness regardless of their setting assignment.

This group can go a number of ways. Typically, the vendors you'll include and feed at your reception include the DJ or band, your photographer(s) , and your wedding planner. Depending on your relationship with any other vendors, though, that could increase. If your wedding florist is a family friend, for example, you’ll, of course, include him or her, too.

In the case of vendors who don’t qualify as family friends, it’s best to simply ask each vendor what they would prefer. Many DJs will eat at their station because they usually play music during the cocktail hour and dinner. Similarly, wedding photographers are still on the clock. They may also prefer to grab a plate and eat somewhere quickly before getting back to work.

However, if you have a group of vendors that you would like to include in your wedding seating chart, offer them a table. If you are tight on space and need to fill in remaining seats, seat some friends or colleagues with them. Maybe you have a friend with an interest in photography or floral design—he or she could enjoy discussing these crafts with the experts behind your big day.

If you choose to include children at your wedding reception—and many people do—it’s best to consult your parents and the kids’ parents. These kids are likely your cousins so you can sit them with their parents at family tables. Alternatively, if you have a large number of kids in attendance, consider setting up a designated kids’ table. Have some crafts or activities at each place to keep everyone occupied.

Wedding Seating Chart Etiquette

As you plan your wedding seating chart, there are a few considerations to keep in mind while you’re placing all of your guests for your wedding day.

Think about past relationships and histories.

There will undoubtedly be a few wedding guests that share some kind of tense history—exes or old frenemies or even family members who don’t get along. Stay cognizant of these past relationships and be considerate when making your seating plan. Yes, it’s your day, but don’t throw people together who really don’t mesh. It will only create an awkwardness that you don’t want at your reception.

Avoid the singles’ table.

It’s tempting to throw single guests into a table with the hopes that they’ll mingle and maybe even match up throughout the night. However, try to skip the singles’ table altogether. It could be embarrassing for your guests once they realize where they landed on your wedding seating chart. Similarly, don’t place your unmarried friend at a table of married couples. Try to use your best judgment and make everyone feel comfortable.

Consider personalities and interests.

We touched on this before, but keep your guests’ personalities and interests top of mind as you create your wedding seating chart . Don’t sit your more subdued coworkers with your rowdy college friends, for example. It might take some more thought and a few last-minute shuffles to really accommodate all of your wedding guests, but, again, it’s all in the name of a stress-free and fun reception.

Ultimately, your wedding seating chart should create a fun and comfortable atmosphere. Don’t let the seating plan drive you crazy, though. This is your celebration, and your wedding guests will treat it as such, regardless.

Even more answers

• Wedding Planning Glossary: A-Z
• How You (Yes You) Can Plan Your Whole Wedding
• How to Make a Wedding Guest List
• Guest List Timeline: When to Make Yours & When to Follow Up With Guests
• Philadelphia Weddings: Venue Ideas, Marriage License Tips, and More
• 3 Month Wedding Checklist–The Ultimate To-Do Guide
• The Ultimate Guide for LGBTQ+ Wedding Planning
• Ways to Celebrate All Your Wedding Planning Milestones
• The Ultimate Wedding Weekend Timeline + 5 Sample Schedules
• Wedding Planning 101: Ultimate Guide to Planning a Wedding
• 4 Hacks to Make Wedding Planning Easier
• Why You Need A Designated Wedding Email Address

Find even more wedding ideas, inspo, tips, and tricks

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Wedding Seating Chart

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YOUR WEDDING SEATING CHART CHALLENGES RESOLVED

How to make a wedding seating chart? Based on your RSVP list and floor plan, assign guests to tables based on family, family, friends, or other groups of guests that you want to sit together. Once you have assigned guests to tables, you can start assigning seats. Personalize Minted's wedding seating chart template to reflect yours. For further guidance, you can read Minted’s helpful guide on creating a seating chart .

How should I organize the chart for an easy read? There are 2 ways to do this:

• By Table Number: List guest names alphabetically by last name under each table assignment.
• Alphabetical by Name: List every wedding guest in alphabetically by last name. Next to each guest’s name you can list their table assignment. This is recommended if you have guests more than 80 people.

What is the size of a wedding seating chart? Minted offers two sizes of weddings eating charts: 16” x 20” and 18” x 24”. Choose based on your space and the number of guests.

Where should I display the seating chart? Consider the entry area to the dining area or the welcome table where gifts and the guestbook are located. High visibility areas are your best bet. Using an easel is a classy and simple solution. You may also consider framing it or hanging it with ribbon.

Read more ▶︎

For wedding planning veterans, it is a well-known fact that organizing a wedding seating chart can be a challenge. It is typically finalized weeks leading up to the wedding as the final RSVPs come in and table assignments are shuffled around to accommodate confirmed guests. There are countless ways to create your seating arrangements, such as grouping guests that have similar friends, live in similar areas, or maintain similar ages. There is also the added pressure of how you decide who sits at table 1 and how immediate family members should be grouped.

We understand that creating your wedding table seating can be overwhelming, no matter how you decide to organize the dining arrangements at your reception. Once your game plan is finalized, Minted is here to help ensure your layout is clearly communicated in a design-forward way so every guest can find their seat with ease. With over 40 original seating chart designs to choose from, you are sure to find one that speaks to the theme of your wedding, whether it’s modern, beachy , classic, vintage , rustic , bohemian, or otherwise.

YOU HAVE OPTIONS: TWO ORGANIZATIONAL FORMATS

There are two traditional ways to alert guests of their seating arrangements. Each of Minted’s wedding seating chart poster designs can feature either organizational option. If you’re looking for the pros and cons of both, review our helpful guide to creating a seating chart .

• By Table Number: Your seating board can opt to be organized by table numbers, listing guest names alphabetically by last name under each table assignment. This allows guests to quickly see all the people sitting at each table and who may be near them.
• Alphabetical by Name: This option simply lists every wedding guest in alphabetical order. Next to each guest’s name you can list their table assignment. It is recommended that you list alphabetically by the last name.

LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT MINTED’S SEATING SIGNS

Weddings are personal, and there is no reason why your wedding seating chart design can’t reflect your personal tastes and style. In addition to style, we allow you to order as many signs as you need to accommodate your guest list size. Depending on where you opt to display your signage, customize the size to be either 16” x 20” or 18” x 24” to best fit your space. Additional customization features include easily manipulating the color theme to correspond with your wedding look.

Complete your personalization using our online tools, allowing you to save time and money in lieu of hiring a graphic designer or calligrapher. When completing your order, select between two luxe paper stocks. Our Signature option is our classic cotton-texture offering Minted customers have grown to love over the years. Upgrade to our DoubleThick option if looking for a sturdy and durable material that can better withstand outdoor elements. Finish off the presentation by selecting either square edges or rounded edges.

VARIED DESIGNS FROM DIVERSE ARTISTS

Minted’s designs are created by artists from over 50 states and 100 countries. Because our artists have such different backgrounds and perspectives, our themes and looks are broad and range from rustic to tropical to floral, and everything in between. Our wide and continually refreshed assortment ensures you’ll have a one-of-a-kind look for your wedding, as each seating poster design is exclusive to Minted. Not only do the themes differ greatly, but so do the art mediums and techniques used to create them. Shop clever creations made from watercolor, graphic art, typography, and more. Find a sign that matches other wedding stationery you have ordered such as your wedding invitations or place cards . We also have a wide variety of wedding signs so you can broadcast cohesive information to your guests throughout your venue.

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How to Make a Wedding Seating Chart (Without Stressing Out)

Kayla is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com.

Some wedding-planning tasks are easier to cross off your list than others—but even the more difficult tasks can be done with minimal stress. Take making a seating chart for your wedding, for example. Many find arranging their guests among their wedding's reception tables to be a total headache, but it doesn't have to be that way. We're here to walk you through exactly how to make a wedding seating chart.

First things first: Start devising your wedding seating plan about two to three weeks before the big day , once you've (hopefully) heard back from everybody you've invited. To begin, you'll need to scour your RSVPs and figure out who's actually coming (which is who you need to seat). Once you have that list, you'll also need to decide on a wedding seating layout—what types of tables do you want to have and how are you going to arrange them in your reception space? If you're struggling to answer these questions yourselves, you can always consult your wedding planner. You can also turn to other factors, like your budget and venue, to figure out what makes the most sense in terms of furniture rentals and the like.

From there, you'll settle on where to place each person. Unfortunately, there's no steadfast approach for deciding who gets what chair, but the following tips will help you navigate a handful of situations. (Remember: You can always assign guests a particular table instead of a specific seat if that makes it easier!)

Choose Your Table Shape

Once your guest list is finalized, you'll need to determine how many tables you'll need and how many people will be seated at each one. Keep in mind that shape plays an important role. While rectangular ones make it easier for guests to chat, round tables might be simpler for you to sort (you'll only need to pay mind to who's sitting directly next to one another).

Put Pen to Paper

It's helpful to literally map out your seating chart. You can laminate pieces of paper printed with table shapes that you can label with dry erase markers, or you can use an online tool like All Seated . If you prefer color coordinating, divide your guest list into categories arranged by color (your college friends might be represented with pink, his in blue, and family in yellow, for example) and write out everyone's names on the appropriate colored Post-it flag. Then, arrange—and rearrange—them on photocopied outlines of your table arrangements.

Seat the Two of You First

Since it's your big day, your table should be centrally located. Typically, you'll sit at a table by yourselves with your wedding party or with your parents and a few close relatives and friends. You also have the option of sitting at a sweetheart table, which is reserved for just the couple of the hour.

Then Seat Your Wedding Party

Depending on the size of your wedding party—and how many of them invited plus-ones—you can seat everyone together at one long head table, or divide the group among several tables that are situated near you and the groom.

Put Family First

After you seat yourselves, place your parents somewhere close (unless they're sitting with you). Unlike the ceremony, where the groom's and bride's sides traditionally sit separately, at the reception, you can mix things up and seat everyone together.

Ask Your Parents for Help

Odds are that you don't know every one of your parents' friends as well as they do. Include them in the process by giving them a say as to where their friends should be seated.

Find Common Ground

When seating remaining guests, put people who know each other together instead of intentionally trying to mix things up. That said, when placing people who may not know each other at one table, consider their life experiences and interests. If you know your best friend, Rachel, is a hardcore hockey fan, you might seat her next to John, who played in college. Your ultimate goal is to create an atmosphere where your guests can have fun.

Avoid a Singles' Table

Although love is in the air, don't be tempted to play matchmaker and seat all of the single guests together. Instead, intersperse single guests among couples, focusing on common interests, not relationship status.

Bring Children Together

Kids like being around other kids, so a kid's table, and similarly, one for teenage guests, is a good way for everyone to have some fun, parents included!

Practice Sensitivity

In terms of table placement, consider your guests' specific needs. Grandparents will likely have a better time in a well-lit area away from the band and speakers within view of the dance floor, but not in the thick of it.

Get Creative With Table Assignments

Once you finally settle on seating assignments (phew!), use the seating chart and table numbers as opportunities to get personal. Whatever their form, arrange your guests' names in alphabetical order with legible table assignments in a format that will guide guests to their seats smoothly.

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In This Article

• Wedding Reception Seating Chart For All Types Wedding Themes

Wedding Reception Seating Chart Tips And Etiquette

• Wedding Party & Reception

Wedding Seating Chart Ideas For 2024 With Examples

Unless you’ve already planned a bunch of weddings it’s easy to underestimate how much of an impact your wedding seating chart can make to your reception. If you’re the type of person who likes a challenge, you’re going to have fun balancing making room for all your guests, allowing natural flow through the room, making it easy for your guests to identify their assigned space, and making the wedding reception seating chart match your theme.

Read on for seating chart basics and creative guidance for all types of wedding themes.

Quick Navigation

How do I make a seating chart for a wedding?

To make a seating chart for a wedding, create a list of guests and assign tables based on relationships and interests. Then, use creative displays like vintage frames or natural elements to showcase seating assignments.

Wedding Seating Chart Ideas For All Wedding Themes

When designing your seating charts, borrow queues from the immediate area just like these wedding seating chart examples.

Wedding Reception Seating Chart For Country Wedding

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blossombaydesign via Instagram

The first piece of advice is to create a wedding seating chart poster that’s front and center for all your guests to see. Make your table cards equally accessible. For a country-themed reception seating stick with the definitions. Rural, unfinished, and specific to the area are the calling cards of the country style.

• Burned text on raw local wood. Find a large plank of gorgeously textured wood and write out the names and assignments using a wood-burning kit.
• Stretched leather and black ink. You don’t have to skin a hide yourself, but a large unfinished pelt will seem as though it came from the farm next door. Creating a wooden frame and handwriting names and assignments are a perfect DIY wedding seating chart project.
• Even destination weddings can indulge in a country theme since it’s defined as drawing from the local heritage. A Hawaiian ceremony, for example, can feature a transparent plexiglass box (where the writing sits) filled with luminous volcanic rock. Accompany this by table charts made from stone statues of Laka – the Hawaiian goddess of love.

Get your DIY materials here:

• Leather Pelt: Bed Bath & Beyond
• Live Edge Pine Slab: Lowes
• Volcanic Rock: Amazon
• Fibreglass Casing: Bed Bath & Beyond

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Seating Chart For Stylish Chic Wedding

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phuket_wedding_planner via Instagram

Next up in our series of wedding seating chart tips is to make a firm decision about the shape of your table and how many guests will be at each table.

Knowing how many people are sitting at each table really helps you plan where to seat your guests. If it’s a chic wedding theme you’re after, consider more tables and smaller groups so that conversations can be a bit more intimate.

Chic and stylish are a beautiful combination of trendy and trendsetting. Typically chic designs use time-tested elements with unique and creative spins, just like these table setting chart examples.

• Print your seating assignments on a sheet of metal like brushed aluminum or copper and set it on a delicate artist’s easel.
• Instead of one giant seating chart, choose an elegant frame for each table and hang them next to each other in an artistic arrangement.
• Many chic wedding themes feature generous use of lighting. Blend in your wedding seating chart decor by feature a plain, clean text backlight by LEDs.

Buy materials:

• Brushed Aluminum Sheet: China aluminum metal
• LED String Lights: Wish

Modern Wedding Seating Chart Ideas

The next step to creating successful wedding seating charts is to priorities your VIPs. You want your biggest fans as close as possible, which include both sets of parents, grandparents, and siblings. You also want your bridal party and their dates to sit nice and close too. Once you’ve coordinated their seats you can start to plan around them.

Modern wedding seating chart ideas take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. It can be something as simple as a wide board with your choice of fonts, or an everyday item artfully repurposed.

• Rent an oversized touchscreen or use a tablet that you already own. Simply have your guests type in their name which populates a screen showing an image of their table and highlights their seat. If you can spring for it, opt for facial recognition so that your guests can skip the name typing.
• For an outdoor wedding reception, set up a mock indoor space complete with an armchair, throw rug, and a bookshelf to house your seating plan.
• Use a printed map and name your tables as a state. For example, mom and dad will be assigned to the New York table while cousin Jesse and the party will be seated at the Chicago table.

Buy supplies:

• TouchScreen Rental: Oneworldrental
• Furniture Rental: EasyHome.com
• Printed Map: MapShop.com

Beach Wedding Seating Chart Examples

Once you have your VIPs seated, start filling the tables behind them. This is much easier if you break them into groups – distant relatives, work friends, etc.. – and ask your trusted advisors for some help. Making sure that everyone has a great seat and that each table has a good mix of old friends and new acquaintances is much easier as a group.

A beach wedding has the flexibility of being traditional, wild, and crazy, or anything in between. Whatever your choice of themes, it’s best to borrow from your surroundings.

• Stick a surfboard in the sand and write out your arrangements. It’ll be easy enough to find one that matches your color scheme.
• Adorn an arch with as many local plants and flowers as you can, and hang your table arrangements from a delicate string. This will look beautiful and natural as it flutters in the breeze.
• Write your wedding seating chart details in white on top of a slab of glass that sits on a thick wooden base. This looks natural by itself, but also allows it to blend in with natural surroundings.

Find materials here:

• Surfboard: surfstationstore.com
• Wicker Arch: Wayfair
• Glass Slab: fabglassandmirror

Vintage Seating Chart Ideas

heatherbengeofficial via Instagram

mymagicdreams via Instagram

Once your guests have found their tables, make it easy for them to confirm their seats with easy-to-find, easy-to-read Table Cards. These can be mini versions of the larger seating charts that you have out front. Or, they can be their own design so that it fits the table better. If you’re going this route, make sure that they integrate with your overall theme.

Vintage seating charts only work if you’re planning a wedding that draws from a specific era or decade. If this is your wedding theme of choice, you can have a lot of fun with your seating chart.

• Use an old window frame
• Use an old vintage suitcase. Open it up, stand it on its side, and decorate the inside.
• Find an old piece of wood and mount vintage kitchen knobs or vintage keys to hand the seating arrangements from.

For authenticity and the best bargain, head to your local thrift or antique store.

Whimsical Wedding Seating Chart

pasion_eventos via Instagram

Now that everyone has their seat, it’s time to think about Name Tags. Some think name tags are lame – you’re excused if you fit into that group – but a lot of your guests won’t know each other, and this is a really non-abrasive way to break the ice.

If your theme and design allow for it, try to make your table cards double as name tags your guests can pin to their tops.

A whimsical wedding theme is exactly how it sounds – a plunge into the odd and unexpected. Match your wedding seating chart template to your wedding theme by creating something eccentrically amusing.

• Indoor wedding? Bring a live tree inside and dangle the seating arrangements from the branches. This will look fantastic and force your guests to interact with the decor by poking through it to find their names and places.
• Create a wall of wine by mounting wine glasses to a garden wall. The glasses can either be stuffed with paper that carries seating instructions, or the glasses can be full of your best chardonnay with a label hanging from it.
• Fill balloons with helium and let them dance in the air as seating assignments dangle from each string. Not only will this force your guests’ eyes upwards to take in the entire venue, but the splash of color also makes for excellent wedding photos.

Get the stuff here:

• Decorative Tree: Wayfair
• Wine Glass Rack: Wayfair
• Bunch of Balloons: BargainBalloons

Seating Chart For Rustic Wedding

jennyyoonyc via Instagram

When creating your wedding seating chart make sure it’s at the front end of your wedding reception timeline . The first thing your guests should be doing is finding their seats, getting settled, and then socializing. Otherwise, you’ll have friends and family wandering around for far too long which throws off your speech, dance, and other timing.

Rustic weddings are fun to plan for. Use the same aesthetics in your wedding seating chart etiquette as you do for the rest of your ceremony and reception. Favor simplicity over beauty, and be proud of nature and Southern values.

• Repurposed pallets can be stood on their end and decorated with plants. Wood and greenery go great with the rustic look.
• Hang Horseshoes with attached seating tags from some weathered nails. This can be hung from a wall, but it’s best if you erect something temporary so that you’re not damaging anything.
• Write names and seating arrangements on the Old Door that’s placed front and center of your reception area entrance. This should blend into the “old barn” feel that you’ve established.

Get materials here:

• Wood Pallet: Businesses are constantly paying to get rid of these. Make a few calls and you can get one for free.
• Vintage Horseshoes: Etsy
• Old Door: Wayfair

Amazing Boho Seating Chart Ideas

jasmine_brida via Instagram

That’s all for how to do a wedding seating chart, but we have plenty more examples and resources for different styles and themes. Keep clicking or swiping to find the inspiration you need for your wedding seating charts.

The bohemian wedding style forms a firm connection with nature and draws from the hippy lifestyle of the 1960s.

• Adorn a Chalkboard with lace and other boho cues to create a simple yet elegant seating chart.
• Simulate the quintessential boho garland headpiece by decorating a Hula Hoop with feathers and flowers, and stringing the seating arrangements through its center.
• Stretch natural Burlap fabric over a base with alphabetized seating arrangements for a clean and simple design. For extra flavor, create a lace border.

Find DIY materials:

Seating Chart For Casual Wedding

jasmine_bridal via Instagram

Many couples choose to forego the glitz and glamor either to save a few dollars or to separate themselves from the fuss. Gowns, suits, menus, and decor are simplified in order to focus on the ceremony, the couple, and the company. These 3 wedding seating charts follow suit.

• Cut out the first letters of the bride and groom’s name. Post the bride’s guests’ info in her letter and do the same for the groom.
• Find the plainest Sign that you can. This can be a simple whiteboard atop a simple artist’s easel or posted on an easy-to-find wall.
• Make use of one of the most practical household items; a Corkboard. Pin your seating assignments and allow your guests to find their tables with ease.

Things to buy:

• Cut-out Letters: Amazon
• Plain Sign: Wayfair
• Corkboard: ULINE

Art-Deco Seating Charts

shawnayamamoto via Instagram

goodseedfloral via Instagram

If you’re not familiar with Art-Deco, think Great Gatsby. The style that swept Western design through the ’20s and ’30s is defined by strong geometric patterns and bold, contrasting colors. Use this style for your wedding theme for unmistakable decor.

• Create a simple board, but in the characteristic Gold and Black theme with art-deco fonts to match. Or, go with a classic Art-Deco print and write on top of that.
• Create a Geometric Archway where your guests will find their seating arrangements strung from.
• Collect 6-8 frames and paint them calling-card Gold to create one giant assemblage of frames.

Supplies for your theme:

• Art Deco Printed Board: Wayfair
• Art Deco Archway: Amazon
• Painted Frames: Indigo

Eco-Friendly Wedding Seating Chart

Eco-friendly is a way of life, not just a design theme. If this sounds like you, your decor of choice will have to have a 0-waste policy and should have some connection with nature.

• Burn your guests’ names and details into the ends of Wood Logs. This looks great, easy to find, easy to read, and when you’re done you can create a lovely bonfire to sit around.
• Etched Stones make a beautiful eco-friendly wedding seating chart. It’s best if you can find large stones that are naturally polished, they’re much easier to read than small rough stones.
• Reclaimed and Reused is just as good as zero-waste sometimes, which makes an Open Ladder a perfect seating chart option. Choose a few rungs at eye level to represent a table.

The great thing about eco-friendly designs, they’re mostly free! As long as you have a saw, wood logs are mother nature’s gift. The same goes with stones, and it’s very likely you already have access to an old ladder. Put a little time and effort into these little projects and they’ll look like a million bucks.

DIY Wedding Seating Chart

joyproctor via Instagram

Some couples prefer DIY to save a few dollars, and some feel a sense of genuine pride working as a team and completing a project. Whichever version describes you, these 3 wedding seating chart examples are gorgeous, easy, and low-cost.

• Write your guests’ details on a ьirror. Try to make sure the frame matches your theme, and make sure to practice your calligraphy before attempting the final product.
• Choose an assortment of Planters and hand-craft your guests’ cards to sit inside like feeding instructions. Take it a step further by creating homemade shelves or platforms for them to sit on, or create a giant planter that sits on the ground.
• Create a lattice wedding seating chart where simple cards sit in a nice arrangement. This is great for outdoor, rustic, and casual-themed weddings.
• Mirror: Bouclair
• Planters: Walmart
• Lattice: Wayfair

missstellayork via Instagram

To make your life simple and your wedding seating charts a great success, just follow the advice we listed above.

• Choose your overall wedding theme first, your charts and cards should match.
• Create your entire guest list so you know how many people you have to accommodate, then decide on a table shape/size so you know how many guests a single table can handle.
• Place your VIPs upfront, and break the rest of your tables into groups to make their experience social and fun.
• Make sure your seating chart is immediately visible when your guests enter the venue so they don’t have to walk around looking for it. Place table cards at their seats so they can confirm they have it right.
• Work your seating chart into your overall wedding timeline and budget so you know what you can afford and have enough time to do it right.

Like everything else on your wedding planning to-do list, a wedding seating chart becomes simple and beautiful if you put in a little research and planning ahead of time. We hope that these samples triggered your imagination and that our guidance inspires you to create the wedding of your dreams.

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10 Escort Card and Seating Chart Displays to Inspire your Wedding Reception

     Featured Collective Members     

Escort card and seating chart displays are often an overlooked element of a wedding reception. If you’ve taken the time to agonize over a custom seating chart for your guests then the escort card display is something you’ll want to put some thought into! The escort card or seating chart display is the perfect time to showcase your personality or something special that you and your new spouse share in common. Or, perhaps the display simply ties into the wedding theme and design. Get creative and think outside of the box for this detail of your wedding reception. If you need a little inspiration to get your creative juices flowing, we’re sharing some of our favorite escort cards and seating chart displays from the last year! Be sure to check out the vendors featured for even more ideas.

1. Our Favorite People in our Favorite Places:

This beautifully crafted escort card display is lifesize and draws the eyes of everyone in the room! Or, outside in this case. Designed by Sweet Zion Paperie and First Look Events , this escort card display showcases the bride and groom’s favorite places. Each place has a custom drawing near it, and guests are represented by custom stemless champagne glasses! Cheers to the new couple as you find your way to your seat! What a great way to share something about yourself with all of those you love and care about.

Captured by: Amy Caroline Photography

2. Custom Seating Chart Vases:

This beautiful setup was featured in the 2019 Colorado Fall/Winter Magazine . Designed by Sweet Zion Paperie, this seating chart was displayed at a styled wedding shoot at The Broadmoor’s Cloud Camp. The earth tone vases blend in well with the surrounding elements, while also serving the purpose of displaying what table each guest is assigned too! Simple, yet elegant.

Captured by Carrie King Photographer

3. Moscow Mules Escort Card Display:

We love an interactive escort card display, especially when it involves Moscow Mules! Guests can grab a drink to go. Sip and mingle while finding your seat. Choose a common staple for the drink or opt for you and your significant other’s go-to happy hour cocktail.

This fun setup was designed by Michelle Leo Events for a Utah Wedding.

Captured by Alixann Loosle Photography

4. Western Christmas Tree Escort Card Display:

This darling Utah couple brought the farm to the party! The cute cow escort cards tie in perfectly with the cowhide decor. We’re here for this touch of western.

Designed by Michelle Leo Events

Captured by Heather Nan Photography

5. Classic Escort Card Display:

Guys, there’s truly nothing more beautiful than a classic escort card display. These beautiful cards are stamped with bronze wax seal custom made with the couple’s initials. Guests’ names are imprinted with a gorgeous script.

Designed by Beautifully Noted

Planned by Tied with a Bow Weddings

Captured by Lauren Lee Photography

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Cat Schultz | Stationer (@beautifully_noted) on Apr 24, 2020 at 6:04pm PDT

6. Sophisticated Lifesize Statement Seating Chart:

This lifesize seating chart is bold, sophisticated and makes one heck of a statement! We love the sleek, black color that was chosen for the background. It stands out. The candles and greenery add a nice elegant touch. Opt for a lifesize seating chart because, well, frankly they’re easier to read! Guests will be able to locate their name and seating assignment much quicker.

Originally featured on the Rocky Mountain Bride blog .

Planned by Sweetheart Events + Designed by Emily Cuthbert Designs and Classic Creations

Captured by Angela Ruscheunski

7. Acrylic Seating Chart:

This stunningly chic acrylic seating chart is breathtaking. This seating chart element was created to mirror the ghost chairs used for seating in the reception area and elevated the wedding theme by incorporating florals and moody candles from the tablescapes. Creating a cohesive design is the key to planning an unforgettable wedding day.

Design and Production by Adelaide Design

Captured by Vasia Photography

Florals by Floralista | Millinery and Signage by Flavelle & Co

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Adelaide | Fine Art Weddings (@adelaide.design) on May 23, 2020 at 4:00am PDT

8. Personalized Leather Escort Cards:

As seen in our 2019 Wyoming Magazine, these personalized leather escort cards are perfect for a sophisticated rehearsal dinner or wedding reception. Simple and organic, these escort cards add the perfect touch to your big day!

Designed by Ira & Lucy

Captured by Cassie Madden Photography

9. Floral Inspired Escort Card Display:

This Sun Valley, Idaho escort card display is breathtaking. This display was inspired by the flora of the valley. The escort cards had alternating watercolor painted wildflowers above calligraphed names. Combined with the stunning floral arrangements that surrounded it, the entire display was a show stopper! Let the beauty of your surroundings, the natural world, inspire not only your wedding day but the love you have for your significant other. Nourish your relationship and watch it flourish.

Planned by Brooke Keegan and Designed by Studio Luzance

Captured by Jacqui Cole

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Bianca :: Studio Luzance (@studioluzance) on Jan 7, 2020 at 1:07pm PST

10. Tequila Shots:

If you want to throw in the towel and forego the seating chart altogether then opt for this cute setup by Greenwood Events. Guests can grab a shot of tequila as they make their way from Cocktail Hour to the Dining Tent. We’re here for this!

Captured by Jeremiah & Rachel Photography // Tequila: Casamigos

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Greenwood Events (@greenwoodevents) on May 5, 2019 at 4:41pm PDT

For more seating chart and escort display inspiration, follow us on Pinterest .

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The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Ceremony Seating

Follow these tips when figuring out where to put your guests.

PHOTO BY TONY WODARCK / Design by Zackary Angeline

In This Article

While wedding reception seating can sometimes feel like a complicated game of Tetris, wedding ceremony seating is typically more straightforward. As with most aspects of a modern wedding, there’s no one right way to do it. “If you’re in a more casual space, you can pretty much decide what you want,” says event planner Aimee Dominick.

Meet the Expert

Aimee Dominick is the founder of A. Dominick Events , an event planning firm in the Washington, D.C. area. 

Whether that means adhering strictly to tradition or mixing things up to make them your own, all that matters is that those you care about most are present to witness you exchange vows . Still, having a starting point for planning is always helpful. Read on for everything you need to know about wedding ceremony seating.

PHOTO BY DENNIS ROY CORONEL

Who Sits Where at the Ceremony? 

The most attention and effort should be paid to where the VIPs of the wedding will sit: parents, grandparents, close family members, and if they won’t be standing at the altar, the bridal party. In most traditional Christian heterosexual weddings, the bride’s parents sit in the first row on the left side of the aisle, while the groom’s parents fill in the first row on the right side. In a Jewish wedding , this formation is flipped: the bride’s family is placed on the right, while the groom’s family is on the left. In some Jewish Orthodox and Muslim wedding ceremonies, attendees are divided by gender. 

Close family members such as aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings not in the wedding party will sit in the next row or two unless the wedding party won’t be standing for the ceremony. In that case, the wedding party will typically fill in the second row on either side of the aisle , though some houses of worship will have them sit in the front row.

In families with stepparents , the most traditional arrangement is to have the mother, her spouse/partner, and any other close relatives of hers take the first row, while the father and his group take the second row. If the parents are on good terms, it’s perfectly fine to sit them both in the first row, although usually not right next to one another. "A buffer of their spouses, or an aunt or a grandparent, works well," Dominick says.

When it comes to attendees beyond the VIPs, guests of the bride have traditionally filled in on the bride’s side, while guests of the groom have filled in on the groom’s side. But mingling is encouraged more and more these days, so don’t worry too much if guests mix between sides—especially because it makes for better pictures if there’s an even distribution across the aisle.

Wedding Ceremony Seating Etiquette 

Who should have a reserved seat at the ceremony .

Anyone walking down the aisle —parents, grandparents, etc.—should have a reserved seat at the front of the ceremony, as should anyone who is doing a reading during the ceremony. (Readers should be seated on the aisle.) The dates of these guests should also be given a reserved spot next to them. 

Instead of placing generic " reserved " signs on the aisle entrances, Dominick recommends labeling specific seats with specific names to avoid confusion. (This also prevents third cousins from taking a seat in the family section that should really go to a grandparent.) In ceremonies done with individual chairs instead of benches or pews , Dominick often lays out the first few rows with the exact number of seats necessary for VIPs to avoid any empty spots.

Be sure to leave a program on the seats of guests who will be walking down the aisle because they won’t be handed one otherwise.

When should VIP guests be seated? 

In a traditional heterosexual, Christian wedding, this happens after guests are seated, but before the formal processional. As a general guideline, the person closest to the bride comes down the aisle closest in order to the bride. That means the grandparents of the groom go first, followed by the grandparents of the bride. Next up: the mother/parents of the groom, followed by the mother of the bride . After that, the formal processional kicks off, often with the groom and groomsmen entering from the side of the altar. (The groom may also choose to escort his mother/parents down the aisle before taking his place at the altar.)

How should ushers escort guests to their seats?

While the necessity of ushers at modern weddings is up for debate, more traditional weddings often still make use of the role. If a wedding has designated sides for each member of the couple, the usher should greet arriving guests and ask which side they’re attending the wedding on behalf of. The usher should offer their arm to female guests and escort them to a row on the appropriate side that’s closest to the front but still has seats available. (If the female guest is attending with a male date , the male will walk behind the usher and the woman.)

At a wedding in a large church , such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, guests of a certain importance level may be sent pew cards in their invitation indicating exactly where they should sit. In those instances, an usher would escort the guest directly to their designated pew.

PHOTO BY BOTTEGA 53 STUDIO

Ceremony Seating Tips

Figure out your wants and needs. .

If you’ve always envisioned a long, dramatic walk down the aisle, a larger number of shorter rows is the way to go, whereas the curving nature of a semi-circle formation encourages a more intimate feeling. "If you’re having a bigger wedding and you don’t want the last row to feel like the last row, this is a good option," Dominick says.

An in-the-round ceremony is also striking visually, but it requires certain sacrifices to effectively pull off. "This is really pretty if you’re okay with your bridal party sitting," Dominick says. "If they stand, they’ll inevitably block someone’s view of the couple."

PHOTO BY JOEL SERRATO

Make sure seating is comfortable.

Though rustic hay bales and boho floor cushions look beautiful on Pinterest, think about your guests. “If you showed up in a dress, you really don’t want to have to sit on the ground,” Dominick says, who encourages a similar line of thinking when it comes to benches: “If you have an older crowd , they might not be thrilled about not having a back to lean on.”

PHOTO BY LAURA MEMORY PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY

Don’t let décor obstruct anyone’s view. 

While lush aisle arrangements help any ceremony feel more memorable, they shouldn’t come at the expense of your guests. "If you have things that are really tall, you want to be sure they aren’t blocking the site lines of the ceremony," Dominick says.

PHOTO BY AMBER GRESS PHOTOGRAPHY

Guests with young kids should not sit on the aisle. 

If there’s a risk a young guest might cry during the ceremony, the guardian of that child should sit at the end of the row farthest away from the aisle, and, whenever possible, closer to the back of the ceremony. That way, they can exit the space as quickly as possible should a fuss occur.

The Ultimate Wedding Ceremony Guide

A Guide to Wedding Ceremony Order

Who Walks Down the Aisle and When

Everything to Know About Your Ceremony Exit

Writing Tips From Experts

How to Create a Unique Wedding Ceremony

How Long Should the Ceremony Last?

Tips for Writing the Perfect Program

Seating: Who Sits Where?

Modern Ways to Walk Down the Aisle

What Is a Unity Ceremony?

Creative Ideas to Personalize Your Ceremony

Questions to Ask Your Officiant

How Much Does an Officiant Cost?

How to Lead a Wedding Ceremony

How to Write Your Own Vows

Who Traditionally Goes First?

Quotes About Love to Get You Started

Traditional Vows to Inspire Your Own

Modern Vows That Are Unique

Unique Vow Ideas From TV Shows and Movies

Should You Exchange Vows Before the Ceremony?

The Best Vow Books to Keep Your Love Alive

How to Choose Music for Your Ceremony

Blessings and Prayers From Different Cultures and Religions

The Best Songs to Play While Guests Arrive

Non-Religious Readings We Love

The Best Songs to Walk Down the Aisle To

Incredible Altar Ideas

Beautiful Ways to Decorate Your Aisle

Unique Chair Layouts

Stunning Ceremony Locations

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DIY Copper Mug Favors for Weddings

Copper mug favors are beautiful (and functional) for guests! Find out how you can make these Moscow mule mug favors for your wedding. P.S. You’re on the list , right? ;)

Hi, loves! Emma here. We spotted the most beautiful copper mug favors at this Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park wedding and were eager to replicate it ourselves. Copper mugs make excellent wedding favors for guests. And while a copper mug looks cool, that’s not the only reason why people love to drink out of them.

As a matter of fact, the mug is named after the drink commonly served in them: The Moscow Mule. It is made of ginger beer, lime, and vodka ( get a recipe here ). I haven’t tried one myself (yet!), but apparently, a Moscow Mule is served in a copper mug because the cold metal enhances its taste. The cold copper also increases the amount of the bubbles in the carbonated ginger beer, so you get more fizziness in a copper mug than in a regular glass or plastic container. So, now that you know why people are crazy about these copper mugs, it’s time to talk about how to make your own copper mug favors for guests to take home. Find out more below on how to make these copper mugs more affordable, see a cute mini version, and get a FREE printable sign to use at your wedding! Enjoy!

It’s easy to make copper mug favors. All you need are: copper mugs, thank you tags, and twine. Now, if you’re like me and think these look amazing but you can’t fathom how to afford one for every guest, here are some ways to save money and make this a more affordable wedding favor. I’ve given this a lot of thought and I think I’ve come up with the perfect solution.

How to Make Them More Affordable

How do you make a wedding favor like this more affordable? That’s simple: just choose something which can fill many purposeful roles. For instance, your copper mugs can serve many purposes. These copper mug favors can be your 1) wedding favors, 2) escort cards , and 3) glassware — all in one. All you need to do is write each guest’s seating assignment on one side of the tag and “Thank You” on the opposite side of the tag. Place the copper mugs in a beautiful display with a thank you sign so guests know they may take one home.

You may wish to include a sign that tells guests to “Find Your Seat”, so they know to look for their name, too.

After finding their mug, guests are encouraged to bring it to the bar on their way to their seat to fill it up with a Moscow Mule , your signature wedding cocktail. Or anything else: water, lemonade, beer, soda, cider, etc.

In this way, you’re able to enjoy some cost savings from not having to create additional escort cards or a seating chart . You won’t need to worry about favors and glassware is totally taken care of.

Plus, guests go home with a copper mug they can enjoy for years to come. That’s money well spent, I say, versus other favors that are often thrown out not long after the wedding day.

Ready to get started? All you need are the following supplies:

Copper Mug Favors

• Copper Mugs / Moscow Mule mugs : quantity dependent on your wedding guest list

• kraft paper tags
• fine point permanent marker

All you need to do is hand-write each guest’s name on one side of the tag with his or her table number underneath. On the opposite side, write “Thank You”. Use twine to attach the tag to the handle of the copper mug. Place the mugs on a central table for guests to grab as they enter the reception space. A directional sign to the bar or a signature cocktail sign with Moscow Mule as your choice will encourage them to bring their mug to fill at the bar. That’s it! The permanent marker mentioned is one that won’t bleed through, so you can take full use of both sides of the tag. It also dries quickly, so you can write them all quickly.

Don’t Forget

On the table where the copper mugs are displayed, make sure they’re in alphabetical order according to each guest’s last name. You’ll also want to include a simple “Thank You” sign so guests know they can take one home as the favor. We’ve created this simple FREE printable you can use. It is easy to print and fits nicely in a 5×7″ frame to display on any table.

Click here for the file. Right click, choose “save file as” and save it locally to your computer. Then, just print and frame in a 5×7″ picture frame. We made it black and white to coordinate with any theme and signed as “The Newlyweds” so no customization is needed. Enjoy!

Mini Copper Mug Favors

If you want to save EVEN MORE money, we found these mini copper mugs which are essentially shot glass size. They will cost about half as much. You can get the stunning copper look at half the cost — but also half the size. You won’t be able to serve Moscow Mules in them, but if you’re just going for the look (and need to save some moolah), this is a great way to do it!

What do you think of this favor idea? Copper mugs are certainly a wedding favor your guests will love to receive (and most likely won’t already own). Tell us in the comments!

Happy Planning!

How exciting to come across this article today featuring my calligraphy work for this amazing wedding. Thank you!

We are doing this too but need a little advice- we are having a sit down meal with menu choices. This will get them to their table but how do we indicate their meal choice too? We want to assign tables but not seats so we don’t want to do placecards. We were thinking something at the table that they can grab and put at their actual seat with their meal choice but don’t know what….any advice?

I don’t know if this is too late, but what about using colored baker’s twine for the tags? The color could indicate which meal option your guests have chosen. At my cousin’s wedding they color-coded drink umbrellas for a Hawaiian theme.

[…] emmalinebride […]

These are so cool!

Thanks, Rachel! Glad you liked them!

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Emma is the CEO of Emmaline Bride, The Handmade Wedding Blog, published author, leading wedding expert, and wedding planner. Read her latest book: The Inspired Wedding . Wife, mother, coffee lover. Follow on Instagram and at Emmaline Baby for baby + kids inspiration.

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