Seating Chart

mrshall1027

We are going to do assigned tables, and I am kind of starting to stress out about figuring out who is going to sit where.

How are you all figuring this out?  I'm not looking for something to display at the actual wedding, but a tool to use to help make this last minute task easier.

lehc723

I feel like this is the number one complaint I hear from brides, and I don't know why I'm not understanding it well enough that I don't get why it'll be so hard? I was planning on using Excel. It'll help me see easily that every table has the right amount of people, and I'll color code by entrees once we get that info, too. We're not assigning seats at the table (I don't see that happen as much anymore? Maybe super-duper formal weddings), so that maybe that's what's so hard? Does anyone who's talked to someone who has done this (or people for whom this is a second wedding) have insights as to what will be so tricky about this? It scares me that I'm not scared, ha.

LDubHawksFan

I'm not going to start on mine until closer to the wedding.  I may start with my family, but I want to know who all is coming first.

mlperkins12

There is a great app if you are an iPad user called MyBanquet.  It allows you to import your list and make a seating arrangement.  The nice thing about it is that it allows you to visualize and move guests without having to draw, erase, etc.  I think it's $3.99 in iTunes.

mrshall1027

That iPad app sounds a lot like the seating chart tool on here.  I messed around with it a bit a few days ago, but I'm not sure if it user friendly enough for me.

I'm not doing this until all the RSVP's are back, but I'm wondering if there is something that I can do now to make it less stressful and time consuming when the time comes.

I was thinking of getting a poster board, cutting out circles for the tables, and then printing out the names and cutting those down into small squares and place them around the tables as needed.  I'm ultimately worried about forgetting someone and then they won't have a seat anywhere.

cbear215

I think I'm probably going to do something like this, which is pretty much what you mentioned in your last post:

http://somethingturquoise.com/2011/09/02/diy-easy-seating-chart/

I think the post it notes are a good idea!  You can probably have most of it ready to go before getting all your RSVP's back. 

had26

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_october-2012-weddings_seating-chart?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:56b9bcef-1e34-456e-81f5-cfaa107456b2Discussion:71169a74-b47b-4a9b-b6a7-55a01eaba9abPost:a9ddb67a-df21-435e-b34e-5ac48ab6c4fd">Re: Seating Chart</a>:
[QUOTE]That iPad app sounds a lot like the seating chart tool on here.  I messed around with it a bit a few days ago, but I'm not sure if it user friendly enough for me. I'm not doing this until all the RSVP's are back, but I'm wondering if there is something that I can do now to make it less stressful and time consuming when the time comes. I<strong> was thinking of getting a poster board, cutting out circles for the tables, and then printing out the names and cutting those down into small squares and place them around the tables as needed.</strong>  I'm ultimately worried about forgetting someone and then they won't have a seat anywhere.
Posted by ystaalenburg[/QUOTE]

I am thinking that I might do this.  I'm a visual person so to have the poster board so I can see the people will be really helpful.  Then I'll probably have a separate list to check off and put in the table number as I go along. 

mrshall1027

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_october-2012-weddings_seating-chart?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:56b9bcef-1e34-456e-81f5-cfaa107456b2Discussion:71169a74-b47b-4a9b-b6a7-55a01eaba9abPost:9aeece46-e16b-41eb-b1b3-35acb611fa27">Re: Seating Chart</a>:
[QUOTE]I think I'm probably going to do something like this, which is pretty much what you mentioned in your last post: <a href="http://somethingturquoise.com/2011/09/02/diy-easy-seating-chart/" rel="nofollow">http://somethingturquoise.com/2011/09/02/diy-easy-seating-chart/</a> I think the post it notes are a good idea!  You can probably have most of it ready to go before getting all your RSVP's back. 
Posted by cbear215[/QUOTE]

<div>This looks perfect!  Thanks!!</div>

Bryan&AmyC

In Response to Re:Seating Chart:[QUOTE]I think I'm probably going to do something like this, which is pretty much what you mentioned in your last post:<a href="http://somethingturquoise.com/2011/09/02/diyeasyseatingchart/I" rel="nofollow">http://somethingturquoise.com/2011/09/02/diyeasyseatingchart/I</a> think the post it notes are a good idea!nbsp; You can probably have most of it ready to go before getting all your RSVP's back.nbsp; Posted by cbear215[/QUOTE]

This is an awesome tutorial! Thanks for sharing!

LDubHawksFan

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_october-2012-weddings_seating-chart?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:56b9bcef-1e34-456e-81f5-cfaa107456b2Discussion:71169a74-b47b-4a9b-b6a7-55a01eaba9abPost:9aeece46-e16b-41eb-b1b3-35acb611fa27">Re: Seating Chart</a>:
[QUOTE]I think I'm probably going to do something like this, which is pretty much what you mentioned in your last post: <a href="http://somethingturquoise.com/2011/09/02/diy-easy-seating-chart/" rel="nofollow">http://somethingturquoise.com/2011/09/02/diy-easy-seating-chart/</a> I think the post it notes are a good idea!  You can probably have most of it ready to go before getting all your RSVP's back. 
Posted by cbear215[/QUOTE]

This is what I'm doing too.

achiduck

Try not to stress before you have all your RSVPs back.

I'm planning on grouping by family and then tables of friends, coworkers, etc. There are some family members that I know don't get along so they'll be a different tables. FI's parents are divorced so they'll each get their own table with their families.

Other then that I'm trying to keep the old people away from the DJ (noise) and my Dad away from my gay coworker and his husband. My Dad can be very embarrassing sometimes.

goatlady12

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_october-2012-weddings_seating-chart?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:56b9bcef-1e34-456e-81f5-cfaa107456b2Discussion:71169a74-b47b-4a9b-b6a7-55a01eaba9abPost:a9ddb67a-df21-435e-b34e-5ac48ab6c4fd">Re: Seating Chart</a>:
[QUOTE]That iPad app sounds a lot like the seating chart tool on here.  I messed around with it a bit a few days ago, but I'm not sure if it user friendly enough for me. I'm not doing this until all the RSVP's are back, but I'm wondering if there is something that I can do now to make it less stressful and time consuming when the time comes.<strong> I was thinking of getting a poster board, cutting out circles for the tables, and then printing out the names and cutting those down into small squares and place them around the tables as needed.</strong>  I'm ultimately worried about forgetting someone and then they won't have a seat anywhere.
Posted by ystaalenburg[/QUOTE]

I'm planning on doing this also.  I think sometimes it's easier to work with when it's not on a computer screen.

kimm260

A few years ago when my friend got married she used the post it note idea.  she said it worked very well for her because she could just move them around as needed.  I am most likely going to do it this way. 

FI is very excited to do the seating chart he says it is like controlling the world, lol! 

Ividian

I'm not stressing out about it, I have a general idea of who I want to seat with whom and where in the room I would like them to be. The details will obviously depend on who exactly is coming. If it helps, I'm basically trying to keep families together, there will be a couple of 'friends' tables, and obviously the two tables closest to our sweetheart table will be our immediate families.

fishinflagrl

I used Excel. I am a big Excel person, and it worked perfectly. I am still debating on a seating chart, I hate telling people where to sit. My family is almost 80 people and some hate this person and this other person is just annoying..its just difficult.

tamrahelmer

I am not doing assigned seating, just reserving the closest few tables for immediate family. However, if I was, I was going to use that poster/post-it note idea. Its so awesome because you could start now and have the bulk of it done and just change it up as you get rsvp's in

brainybrunette

Wedding Wire has a really great seating chart tool, you should check it out  I plan on using that one.

RockstarWifey0912

Once I get RSVP's back, then I'll decide if I'm doing a seating chart or not.  Probably not, but I imagine it would be easier with the RSVPs and to know who's coming.