NER: Seating Chart Help!

lcatterton

So, I realize that this topic has probably been discussed time and time again, but after much searching I can't find anything that addresses my main concern with this.

Now, I know my options for seating charts.. I can list them by table or alphabetical, I can use a poster board, chalkboard, etc. If I have a seating chart, I can also use placecards at the table or I can just let them pick their seats. OR, I can do escort cards. Using either cards, or something unique and then just putting the table number (name, in my case) on the cards and they sit wherever within their table.

This is all fine and dandy and although I haven't decided which direction I'm going, I think I have a handle on the logistics of the chart and what not.

My question is: Since I am having table NAMES instead of table numbers, how will guests find their actual tables? Will they wander aimlessly until they finally stumble upon the table called "The Beatles" (or whatever)? Should I have someone (guest book girl) direct them towards where their table is located? Or possibly have some sort of map for them to find it? Or, is this something that I am overthinking and shouldn't be too concerned about?

HELP!!

KellyBrian2013

Can you do a chart (or two) that shows a basic layout of the reception spacing with the tables on it? I think providing some sort of direction as to which tables are where is nice, especially if you are naming tables instead of numbering them.

On a sidenote, I hope your "guestbook girl" volunteered for that position. People can figure out how to pick up a pen and sign a guestbook on their own...

OliveOilsMom

You should create a map of the tables so people can quickly find their seats.  Also please don't have a guest book girl.  Jobs at weddings are boring and unnecessary.  People know what to do when they see a guest book.

kmmssg

Please do a chart showing where tables are.  DH and I wandered aimlessly (looking stupid) at a really big reception trying to find our table.  I think it was "enchantment" or something like that. At least a lot of looked stupid while we tried to find our table.  It was something I side-eyed as poor planning.

Maggie0829

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-seating-chart-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:284a8bdb-5d04-48fb-9b9d-8019e4b107c0Post:6d64c30b-cea4-45b4-92fd-ff9e2113a59e">Re: NER: Seating Chart Help!</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Can you do a chart (or two) that shows a basic layout of the reception spacing with the tables on it? I think providing some sort of direction as to which tables are where is nice, especially if you are naming tables instead of numbering them.</strong> On a sidenote, I hope your "guestbook girl" volunteered for that position. People can figure out how to pick up a pen and sign a guestbook on their own...
Posted by KellyBrian2013[/QUOTE]

This is what we did for our wedding.  We used names (Baltimore Ravens Players names) instead of numbers for our tables as well.  When we made the seating chart we made sure to have the chart setup exactly how the tables were layed out.  This way people would have a better sense of where their table was.

But I have been to weddings where the tables were numbered, and I guess the person who put the numbers out didn't know how to count because table 2 was next to table 5 and table 10 was near table 15 insted of 9.  Needless to say, that was more confusing then just having to look around at 15 tables to see which one was which .

Oh, and I second the sidenote that PP has written.

lcatterton

Maggie, when you say "When we made the seating chart we made sure to have the chart setup exactly how the tables were layed out." do you mean you just listed the tables in the order that they were located around the room? Or did you lay out the columns on the chart to match exactly where the tables were located?
Not sure if I worded that well enough to get my point across.. Haha.


Also, my cousin really wants a responsibility at my wedding. She WANTS to do it, so she can. I'll make sure to tell her that she doesn't have to stand their the whole time and that if she gets bored, she can feel free to venture away and hit up the snack table!

Meegles4

We had table names and I think they were listed in order from the one closest to the door to the one furthest. Can't remember for sure though. We definitely didn't have a map and I can't recall ever having been to one where there was a map so that didn't even occur to me as an idea.

I think if you can have a little map nearby that's great, but I don't really understand why wandering around is such a problem? It's not like the tables are half a mile away from each other. As long as the table names are in a large enough font that's readable without being up close and personal, you just sort of walk through the reception area and briefly glance at the signs until you find yours. Unless it's a huge 300 person wedding with like 30 tables, it's not going to take that long for guests to find the right spot. It's never taken me more than a few minutes, and every guest is looking, so I don't understand why you (general you) would feel stupid wandering when everyone else is doing the same thing.

But, I know I'm in the minority on this one.

Ajuliana

Can I just ask, out of pure curiosity, why people do seating charts? I mean, I get reserved tables for immediate family, but...it just seems like such a time consuming pain! Disclosure: no one could pay me any amount of money to do one for my 600-700 person wedding...

Ali092011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-seating-chart-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:284a8bdb-5d04-48fb-9b9d-8019e4b107c0Post:13bdce57-c31f-4f17-baab-a27d2b39f752">Re: NER: Seating Chart Help!</a>:
[QUOTE]Can I just ask, out of pure curiosity, why people do seating charts? I mean, I get reserved tables for immediate family, but...it just seems like such a time consuming pain! Disclosure: no one could pay me any amount of money to do one for my 600-700 person wedding...
Posted by Alaynajuliana[/QUOTE]

I can't really imagine when it would not be a good idea to do a seating chart. People like to know where to sit. The alternative is twenty people trying to squeeze into one table that holds eight, and a bunch of tables with only two or three people sitting at them. I imagine widespread confusion being the result of no seating chart.

You don't need to assign seats, but at least assign tables.

Maggie0829

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_ner-seating-chart-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:284a8bdb-5d04-48fb-9b9d-8019e4b107c0Post:1cc4dd68-06e3-411b-8479-70cdc179e16e">Re: NER: Seating Chart Help!</a>:
[QUOTE]Maggie, when you say "When we made the seating chart we made sure to have the chart setup exactly how the tables were layed out." do you mean you just listed the tables in the order that they were located around the room? Or did you lay out the columns on the chart to match exactly where the tables were located? Not sure if I worded that well enough to get my point across.. Haha. Also, my cousin really wants a responsibility at my wedding. She WANTS to do it, so she can. I'll make sure to tell her that she doesn't have to stand their the whole time and that if she gets bored, she can feel free to venture away and hit up the snack table! ;)
Posted by lcatterton[/QUOTE]

We had rows of round tables so our chart had the tables listed in accordance with those rows.  The top row of the chart represented the tables closest to the door/or when you first walk in/facing the room (I hope that makes sense) and so on.  The way our reception was laid out was that there was a big bar in the center of the room with lounge areas on the long sides of the bar, then on either side of short end of the bar was where the tables were and the dance floor on the opposite side.

Now if you were having your reception laid out with the dance floor in the middle and the tables surrounding it, then I would just have your chart made as you enter the room and then each table chart be placed in the "exact" spot as the real table.  Did that make any sense? LOL!

lcatterton

Totally made sense!! Your rows corresponded to your table rows, but if I had a circular set up that wouldn't work!! At least, that's what I hope you were getting at!!!

Thanks for the advice! I should be able to get something worked out!

lcatterton

Stage, that was brilliant. I've never thought about it that way. How ignorant of me! Haha. I had no idea how to answer that post other than, "Well, I think it would be more enjoyable for people if I seat them with others that have the same interests."

For example, I wouldn't want my 90 year old great grandmother to be seated with my dad's ridiculously obnoxious best friend. It just wouldn't mesh well and there's no way to be sure unless you assign tables!

Ajuliana

I've just never been to a wedding where they've had one...luckily I have lots of time to consider it!