EtiquetteSEATING YOUR GUESTS
SEATING YOUR GUESTS
Unlike seating arrangement at the ceremony, where the bride’s family and friends are separated from the groom’s, the seating arrangements at the reception should reflect the fact that the two families and friends have come together in their shared affection for you to celebrate your union. It therefore helps to have a seating plan that will make your guests comfortable, encourage conversation, at the same time honor special guests.
Your Options
You may assign a special table for the parents and honored guests and let the other guests find places to seat (free seating). For a seated dinner or buffet, you have two options: Assign seats at the table, or just assign guests to particular tables and let them sit where they like.
Things To Consider
- To foster good conversation and make the meal fun for your guests consider the shape of the table, round tables are great for encouraging conversation. Seat guests with similar experiences and interests together so you know they’ll have things to discuss.
Centerpieces should be low enough or high enough to allow guests to see and talk to one another across the tables. Place cards that display guests’ names on both sides to help tablemates make one another’s quaintances
- Ask parents to help with seating arrangements for their friends and relatives.
- Don’t seat all the single people together, instead, intersperse singles with couples.
- Take into account the special needs of your guests, such as elderly people with trouble seeing or hearing. Seat them in well-lit areas, away from the band or speakers.
- If possible, have an even number of guests at each table, since people tend to pair off in conversation.
COMMUNICATING TABLE
COMMUNICATING TABLE ASSIGNMENTS
To help your guests find their seats, below are your options
1. As the guests sign in at the desk give them their table numbers. This way, the ushers can direct guests swiftly to their seats.
2. Set out alphabetized seating cards in a prominent location at least an hour before the reception. Or for a small number of guests, you can have a waiter circulate during cocktail hour, handing guests their seating cards. A hand-lettered seating chart on display at the entrance to the reception area is a lovely extra touch. If you have a lot of guests, place several copies of the chart in different areas of the room to prevent a bottleneck at the entry.
It is also a smart idea to split the room in half, even numbered tables on one side, clearly identified, odd numbered table on the other.
SEATING ARRANGEMENTS
SEATING ARRANGEMENTS
The following illustrations are guidelines of how tables can be arranged. However, depending on the guest list and the reception site. There are many variations that will work just as well.
WEDDING-PARTYTABLE
Often raised on a dais, the wedding party table is located in a central location. The rectangular shaped table with seating on one side only facing the guest, is most popular for the wedding party. However, some couples prefer a less formal round table. In both cases, the bride and groom should face their guests.
PARENTS’ TABLES
At small weddings, the bride and grooms parents may sit together along with other honored guests. For large events, each set of parents may host their own tables populated with their close family and friends.
Two sets of parents can sit on tables adjacent to each other which symbolise oneness, however they can even be on the same table.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
The key to a successful event and that includes your wedding is a carefully planned sequence of events or Timeline which includes a detailed plan of what should happen at what time and who is responsible.
Get the Samantha’s Organizer and Keepsake for an itemized wedding timelines for the bridal party as well as service providers. Use these timelines to keep everyone on schedule.
These timelines help your wedding party and service providers understand their roles and where they need to be throughout your wedding day. This will also give you a much better idea of how your special day will unfold.
We suggest you create two different timelines or schedule of events for your wedding day: one for the various service providers you have hired, the other for the members of your wedding party. Make sure the service providers have a copy of it.
Customize your own time line using the sample timelines included as your guide. We have used a proximate time to give you an idea of how much time each event typically takes. Feel free to change the amount of time allotted for any event.
When creating your own timelines, first list the time that your wedding ceremony will begin, and then work forward and backwards. The space in the description column should be used to write any additional information, such as addresses, or any other comment that will help members of your wedding party to further understand what their roles are and where they need to be. Make a copy of your customized timeline and give one to each member of your wedding party and service provider.
THE PARTY:
The sequence of events at every wedding reception varies depending the style and taste of the newly weds. However there is a general sequence of events. If you have a wedding planner or coordinator she /he should help you map out every detail of the sequence of events.
If you’re planning the reception yourself, make your timetable about a week before the wedding. Discuss with the service providers involved with the sequence of events at the reception including the MC, the musicians etc and go over the timing of everything. Come up with a written plan, including contact names and numbers, and give each vendor and member of the wedding party a copy.
Receiving line:
The receiving line usually assembled either at the close of the ceremony or at the start of the reception. This gives an opportunity for friends and family come to congratulate the groom and express their best wishes to the bride.
Most couples prefer forming the receiving line at the close of the ceremony this also gives a chance for photo session with the different guests. It is advisable to have a list of the sequence of the different groups. Starting with family then friends to avoid large group at the same time. The diagram shown below illustrates a common receiving line order, but you deviate from this. If the guest list is small and you will get to speak to everyone personally at the reception, you can fore go this practice altogether.
Arrivals:
Guest should proceed to the reception venue where you have a choice to have a Cocktail hour as you wait for other guest to arrive. Cocktails can served in a separate room so that the beautifully set tables have real wow impact when the doors are flown open. The cocktail hr can be anything from 30 to 60 minutes.
Seating of guests:
Once guest are seated, the meal may be served and the entertainment may start as the bride and groom usually arrive some minutes later after they are through with photography and freshening up
Grand entrance of the bride and groom:
The new couple arrives welcomed usually with song and dance. The couple might head straight to the dance floor for more dances. At most receptions there is dancing the meal progresses.
Speeches:
Next comes the speeches and toast. Traditionally, the father of the bride or his representative speaks first,
followed by the groom’s parents or their representative, best man; the groom may say a few words. Other guests may want to speak as well; just make sure everyone knows beforehand when his or her turn will be and ensure they don’t give long boring speeches.
Cake Cutting:
The cake cutting takes place with the guests still seated, and then everyone can move to the dance floor. The bouquet toss, if you have one, comes approximately thirty minutes before the end of the reception.
