Photography: Notonthehighstreet.com
So you're a few weeks away from your wedding and all the RSVPs have come in. It's time for the tedious task of assigning seats. No one enjoys this part of the prep work but someone's gotta do it. Now is the time you can purposefully start and manipulate matchmaking, friendships and conversations. So just take a deep breath and plough through it with these very basic steps.
Check the layout
Check with your venue coordinator or wedding planner how the layout of the reception hall looks like. This will determine how to group your guests according to seniority and relationship to the bride and groom. Also find out where the nearest exits, restrooms and quiet corners are – these are ideal for older folks and people with children who need more room for wheelchairs and strollers, respectively.
Top table for you?
In Western wedding receptions, there is a long rectangular table that is placed at the front of the hall overlooking the other guests. The couple, their parents, and the best man and maid-of-honour will have the privilege to sit on this top table. In more Asian cultures, this top table is replaced with a VIP table (or two), seated at the front of the hall but amongst the other guests. Whether you want to follow the Western or Asian style of a top table, decide early which you prefer and who you would like to sit with you.
Simple grouping
The easiest way of grouping your guests is through their interests, stage of life, and age. Group guests together if you know they've got things in common — perhaps, they're all just starting out their careers, or they all have an interest in sports, or even maybe they're all slightly older. Whatever it is, never have a table of leftover people you don't know where to put. Mix these more individual people around to different tables. You won't want them to find out that they're on the leftover table. Something else you may want to take note off is the people with special requests — whether it is a family with kids who should sit together or a table with dietary specifications.
Chart it out
Most of us need to chart it out in order to visualise what the layout will look like. Whether you want to use kitchen plates on the table, stick Post-its, draw by hand, or even use the computer to help you, chart your tables out. Feel free to move the people around and mix-and-match wherever you deem fit.
Contingency plan
On the actual day, there's going to be some parts of your wedding that's going to be messier than you'd hoped. Stay calm and respond accordingly for moments when a guest RSVPs 'no' and turns up suddenly, or another brings an unannounced plus-one. Just be sure your bridal party knows how to respond. If you're using place-cards or escort cards, remember to always have a couple of extra card pieces and a marker just in case.
