2 questions about table settings?? confused??

KASSE221

Not sure how to show the guests where they are sitting? Do I place their names at the table in advance? Or outside the dining area and let them place the cards themselves? I also have 3 entree choices as I have several jewish friends coming and cannot eat the meat, any creative ideas how to separate these so the caterers know who has what? Thanks Ladies!

erickaandscott

I would recommend the following (I am  wedding coordinator for a catering company):
Place the placecards alphabetical (not in table order) on a table in the dining area or where guests enter the reception for them to take themself- this way they can find their assigned table number when they enter the room and take a seat wherever they want at they table you assigned them.

If you only place the placecards at the place setting at each table, some guests will have to walk around for a while to find their table.

If you are serving 3 entrees, you should be keeping track of what entree each guest/couple ordered and then provide the caterer with the following breakdown to ensure quick and smooth service.

Table 1 (4 Chicken, 2 Beef, 4 Fish)

This way the kitchen can send out the order for table 1.  Now many guests often change their mind, forget what they ordered etc..If you want to avoid that problem than you should provide your caterer with the following:

Table 1 (4 Chicken, 2 Beef, 4 fish)
Jane Doe= Chicken
Bob Doe= Beef
Etc etc...

This way the servers can refer to the order sheet if needed while serving. Plus this way you wont run out of a certain entree because so many guests changed their minds the day of. Make sense? I hope this helps you!

I would definitely consult your catering coordinator otherwise and ask them what system they incorporate to ensure a smooth dinner service.

Best of luck! I hope this answered your question???

Catwoman708

Check with your caterer.  Some venues require seating charts so the right food goes to the right person. 

I've been to a couple of events where we picked the entree in advance, for example, beef or chicken, and did not have assigned seating.  When waiters brought the plates to the table and asked "did you order chicken or the beef?", some people changed their mind on the spot, and took a different choice.  That left  a handful of people served last the wrong food, and no way to change it.  It was awkward.

MOBinFLA

Most weddings have place cards set up the way the PP suggested. Guests then take their card to the table and sit at whichever seat they prefer. 

Many people use a sticker or colored ribbon that compliments their wedding decor to indicate the entree selection i.e. blue would be seafood, green would be vegetarian, and silver would be beef.