We can't decide whether to have a table plan or not. OH thinks no. He thinks let people sit where they want and beside who they want. But I'm worried it will end up a bit like a cattle market and a fight for seats! Also worried about people having to end up sitting beside complete strangers. Then there is the stress of actually doing the plan! I know I'll never please everyone and OH will be of no help as he doesn't want one. What's everyone else doing?
21st May 2016 xxx
CommentAuthorWundatigga
I had been struggling with this as we're having family style seating (one big table). I thought about doing a free for all, but the problem with this is people will be milling around for ages looking for seats, and people will still end up on their own/split from partner etc and it will detract from your day. Just experiencing dinner at my FIL to be's on a Sunday, where we only have 13 to seat has put me off doing this.
Why not do a table plan, rather than a seat plan - so list people at a specific table but they can choose their own seat?? It might make things a little less stressful, you can ensure there are people who know each other on the same table but also ensure a good mix?
Started dating: 10th February 2011
Welcomed our little girl: May 2015
I proposed: 23rd December 2015
I finally become Mrs R 17th August 2017
CommentAuthorSusanM34
I didn't want a table plan, but the more I think about it the more I do. My main worry is that there will be couples/families split onto different tables because there aren't enough seats left at a table for all of them. I think I'm going to say what table they are on, but not which chair they have to sit on (if that makes sense?!) x
Became Mrs Maunders on 22nd October 2016!
CommentAuthorDanielleS0709
Yea it would be a table not, not specific Seats. Susan my worry too is that there won't be enough seats at a table for one group of friends then they will be split and who do you split? One thing I know for sure is we will never please everybody
21st May 2016 xxx
CommentAuthorInDreamland
I wanted control over who sat closest to the top table. Family members (aunts uncles and cousins) and closest friends we wanted on the tables immediately next to the top table. There was also someone I can't stand the sight of so wanted to ensure he was at the back in the corner facing away from the top table so I minimised how much I saw him.
It's up to you but every wedding I've been to has had a table plan. It'd be awkward if say your grandparents or really close family and friends ended up farthest away from the top table.
Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!
Well we did say we would reserve the 2 tables at front for family. I think I'll have a play about and see how it works out. Can't do much until I get rsvps back though
21st May 2016 xxx
CommentAuthorInDreamland
We had 5 prime spot tables around the top table so made sure the most important people to us were allocated a seat on those. We also wanted to keep friendship groups together so that everyone was sat with people we knew they'd have the best time with. It was surprisingly easy to do our seating plan.
Give it a go just to see how it comes together, you can always scrap it if you think it doesn't work.
Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!
CommentAuthorDanielleS0709
I've had a little play about. It's tables of 10 and we have some groups of friends which are 12/14 so gonna make it awkward. Hopefully no one will be put out and will get to know others
21st May 2016 xxx
CommentAuthorDanielleS0709
OH still saying no so looks like I'll be doing it on my own!!
21st May 2016 xxx
CommentAuthorRachaelH705
I think that unless it's a really small wedding, or no sit down meal, then a table plan is a good idea. You don't have to specify seats though.
CommentAuthorDanielleS0709
We are having about 160/170 people with a sit down meal so I guess it is a good idea!
21st May 2016 xxx
CommentAuthorStephH96
Do at least a table plan. I'm sure the groups of 12/14 will split themselves up evenly on the tables. That number of people is a lot to not have any arrangements at all for.
CommentAuthorFutureMrsW
We'll definitely have a table plan as our venue is small and there won't really be much room for people milling about trying to find seats.
If you have larger groups maybe consider splitting them half/half (6 on one table, 6 on another) rather than 10/2? x
CommentAuthorElinor Claire
It can work well depending on your guests. We had to have a table plan due to family politics. My brother and his wife allocated seats at the top table and everything else was free seating, and it worked fine. No one ended up totally alone, and as the food was a buffet it was easy for people to switch around. I heard of another wedding with no table plan where it was chaotic, as everyone was trying to crowd round tables with their friends. I would think about the guests who have and think about how they will respond. If there are big groups that will want to sit together it might be necessary to allocate, but if they're largely relaxed and outgoing it probably won't matter.
30th August 2014 was the best birthday ever.
It was the day that I became Mrs. Dixon.
CommentAuthorDanielleS0709
Thanks everyone. I tired to have a play about last night but it's hard to until we get confirmation of who's going so I guess it will be a last minute stressful job!
21st May 2016 xxx
CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
We were going to have no table plan also and let people sit wherever, I'm glad w had one now otherwise we would of had people sitting apart as there would have been odd seats left at the tables.
Our wedding day - 6 October 2012
CommentAuthorWundatigga
edited
With that many guests it would be best to have some sort of structured plan. It could take an hour just to get everyone seated otherwise.
I wouldn't worry too much about it at this stage but it is always good to have an idea. For now you could account for everyone and just put names together on a pieces of paper (name/number the papers in respect of how close to top table they will be. Don't worry about putting just 10 names on the paper either as you can narrow that down later, just make sure the VIPs are on the closer tables and other guests are further away. This will give you a good starting point for once the RSVP's come in. You can cross off the non-attending then work one the pre-arranged groups.
And don't worry about splitting up friends, usually as long as people are with at least one person they know they will be happy.
Best of luck
Started dating: 10th February 2011
Welcomed our little girl: May 2015
I proposed: 23rd December 2015
I finally become Mrs R 17th August 2017
CommentAuthorEmily17
With the number of guests you have I would 100% have one just to organise the chaos of getting that many people sat down in a reasonable time frame.
You big groups of friends. I would split these in 2 and mix and match them. Its good for guests from different places to get to know each other on the day too so you don't have to keep everyone side by side.
Met in 2009
He proposed Jan 2014
Will become Mrs P 7th October 2017
CommentAuthorFlossie
If you have that many people attending and are having a sit down three course meal I would definitely do a table plan x
Happily married
18th June 2016
xx
CommentAuthorKayleighS46
I was having a complete nightmare with the seating plan and was getting my hair off with it for weeks. Sat down 1 day while in the middle of doing something else and poof! all done. advise would be don't overthink it :) relax and it'll all come together! Not long now to go! Are you as nervous/excited as I am Danielle? xx
Met 2013
Propsed 2014
Will Be Mrs Brookes 2016
always & forever xxx
CommentAuthorDanielleS0709
Yes I'm definitely going to give it a go. Thanks everyone.
Kayleigh time is flying by. I'm def feeling nervous now. The excitement hasn't really hit yet. I wish it would hurry up lol
21st May 2016 xxx
CommentAuthorKirstyR386
We had friendship groups larger than one table so split them up evenly so half were on one table and half on another and then tried to match them with another group with similar interests, e.g. friends that were teachers (although I appreciate people may not want to talk about work but at least its a starting point). Don't worry about it too much. People will cope for 2 hours being sat on a table where they don't know everyone. Its part of being at a wedding. As long as they're with one or two people they know, people will make conversation with others they are sat with. X
CommentAuthorFayeH
We have tables of ten and had exactly the same problem with splitting groups up. We got around it taking the tables out of the equation at first and dividing the guest list into groups of 5 (or 4 or 6 where families were concerned) of people who would be happy sitting together. We then matched them up with each other to get groups of 10, usually with half from his side and half from mine. That way everyone has 3-5 people that they know and are happy sitting with.
If it helps, I went to a wedding last year and was put on a table full of people i don't know bar one friend and my ex boyfriend, who i was sat next to. It wasn't ideal but it isn't what I think about when I look back on the wedding - I still had a fantastic time :)
CommentAuthorSamanthaW362
you need the table plan!
CommentAuthorKayleighS46
my excitement quickly turns to nervousness at the moment Danielle! I just want to be excited about it but until I finish work on the Thursday before I don't think I will lol! xx
Met 2013
Propsed 2014
Will Be Mrs Brookes 2016
always & forever xxx
CommentAuthorclairenina
I couldn't imagine not having a table plan. We wanted our wedding to be as formal as possible, leaving the evening to be more relaxed
CommentAuthorStephanieM158
hehehehe this is why we skipped the wedding breakfast. So much hassle. Id not worry about it, I'm always seated next to some really random people and we always get along. I'd have one purely on the fact it does encourage people to mingle.... I hate the fact that people group together in their comfort groups. Have fun with it and don't over think .xxxx
Met 2004
Engaged 2014
Getting Married 2016
CommentAuthorDanielleS0709
I'll read all these replies to OH and hopefully in convinces him we need one lol
