The Seating Plan

rebekahjaneparrott
3 days ago
2 min read

Everyone's least favourite part of the Wedding planning, possibly.

Figuring out seating arrangements can be an absolute nightmare, particularly when there are family disputes and disagreements.

From the start, it's important to note that the seating plan your venue uses and the one you present to guests are different and should remain so! The VENUE's seating plan typically needs to indicate the orientation of tables (such as which direction they face so elderly guests don't have to turn to see speeches), the placement of highchairs or wheelchairs, and the seating of guests with specific food allergies.

The seating plan your GUESTS see is entirely different. The main purpose is, to seat your guests as swiftly and efficiently as possible, whilst also being a beautiful piece that compliments your day and reflects you two as a couple.

The main thing I want to address with this blog post is the age old question...what happens when a guest / multiple guests pull out?

You've spent a huge amount of time arranging the seating plan, and at the last moment, a guest (or several guests!) announces they can no longer make it. This is a common occurrence. People have busy lives, work commitments, might be heavily pregnant, fall ill before the event, face transportation problems, and so forth. There are numerous reasons a guest might need to cancel, and the key is not to let it affect you too much.

So, what you do about it (and the seating plan) is dependent on many factors and personal preference. Below I'll look at what I'd recommend doing in a few common scenarios.

Guests have cancelled on the day itself.
Tell the venue, but ultimately let sleeping dogs lie. It's too late to do anything else now and will be the least of your worries.
Guests have cancelled after the seating plan has been printed / made. If it's just one guest, then I'd say to leave it as it is, it's not the end of the world. If it's a whole family, or many guests, and the tables need re-arranging, then you may need to ask for a reprint.
Guests have cancelled and you've been able to upgrade some evening guests. Lucky evening guests! Rather than reprint the seating plan, just tell those upgraded guests that they'll be sat under a different name. Obviously make sure the venue know too that there has been a change.

My point is this - nobody is going to criticise or care if your seating plan is 'inaccurate'. They probably won't even notice and will be too busy wanting to take the weight off their feet, and get fed and watered!

The most important thing is that the venue know of any changes.

So there we have it. I hope this little blog helps put you at ease somewhat regarding the seating plan. Try not to overthink or panic about it, don't sweat the small stuff, and enjoy your day!

Rebekah x