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Seating Chart Etiquette

Knottie39998946Knottie39998946 member
First Comment
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
Hi Everyone,

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I was wondering how everyone listed guests on their seating chart?  I am doing a board that has each table on a separate section, with names listed below.  My question is- do I list them alphabetically?  If I do this, it will not have couples listed together if they have different last names.  But if I put the couples together on the list, then there is no order to the list and I think it's confusing.  Any suggestions?  I already know who will be seated at each table, just not sure how to list it....

Thanks!
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Re: Seating Chart Etiquette

  • PupatellaPupatella member
    Eighth Anniversary 100 Love Its 100 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited September 2015
    How many guests are at each table?

    ETA - I would list alphabetically, but put the guests name beside it if that makes sense.

    Mr. and Mrs. Joe Alpha
    Mr. Joe Beta and Ms. Jane Sigma
    Ms. Jane Delta

    etc.



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  • anjemonanjemon member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    I'm unsure about exactly how your board is going to look. Are all the guests just going to be listed with their table number? Or are you listing names by tables?

    If you are just listing everyone and putting a table number after, I would do alphabetically. It's much easier for people to find. Maybe for the people who don't share last names but are coming together you can list them twice. Once under each last name so whoever locates their name first will find both people.

    Otherwise if it's just a table with the people sitting at it underneath, I wouldn't worry about the different last names making it not alphabetical. I'd put couples together - both because I like having them near each other and it makes it easier for one person to find both names.
    image
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  • ThankfulSnailThankfulSnail member
    500 Comments Third Anniversary 5 Love Its
    I didn't do a chart but had escort cards sitting out on a table for each guest to locate. I did one table full of cards all in alphabetical order and no one was concerned about not being with their guests. 

    If you're doing your chart by Table 1: List of Names format, I would do alphabetical but then put the person's guest/spouse immediately following them. Ex: 
    Table 1: 
    John Anderson
    Wife's Name
    Jack Black
    Wife's name
    Etc.

    If you're doing one list formatted like: 
    John Anderson ............................. Table 1 
    and then a list from there, then I would just do them all in alphabetical order and let them find their own names.
    image
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  • lyndausvilyndausvi mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its




    Pupatella said:
    How many guests are at each table?

    ETA - I would list alphabetically, but put the guests name beside it if that makes sense.

    Mr. and Mrs. Joe Alpha
    Mr. Joe Beta and Ms. Jane Sigma
    Ms. Jane Delta

    etc.


    This is how I would list them. 






    What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
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  • Newborndoc2008Newborndoc2008 member
    Seventh Anniversary 25 Love Its 10 Comments Name Dropper
    I think this depends on how many guests you have.  40 people sorted first into tables then alphabetically is an easy list to skim to find my seat.  300 people listed in 30+ tables is time consuming.  I'd think 6-8 tables would be the limit to sort by table (~50-60 guests).  Any more than that and I would sort guests alphabetically by last name.  It'll expedite people finding their seats.  

    I get the different last names thing.  I have a different last name than my husband and automatically skim where my name would be then where his is in case people don't know I didn't change it (which has happened at both weddings we have attended since our wedding).  People are smart enough to find their own last name on a chart.  And by etiquette, you should find out all plus ones/guests names prior to the event anyway to list them as well.
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  • JoanE2012JoanE2012 member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 5 Answers
    FeeleyToBe said:
    I want to find my name alphabeticall and then see what table I'm at. Do not make me read eight separate lists for each table before finding my name- you will jam up your Escort "station" that way- I've seen it happen.
    This,
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  • Jen4948Jen4948 member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    JoanE2012 said:

    show previous quotes
    This,

    I agree. I'd rather get a table number and then find that table number. I don't want to have to check every single table list on a chart and then have to walk around the room trying to find my table.
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  • aliwis000aliwis000 member
    250 Love Its 100 Comments Third Anniversary First Answer

    Pupatella said:
    How many guests are at each table?

    ETA - I would list alphabetically, but put the guests name beside it if that makes sense.

    Mr. and Mrs. Joe Alpha
    Mr. Joe Beta and Ms. Jane Sigma
    Ms. Jane Delta

    etc.


    This is basically what we are doing. Alphabetical by last name. If people have a guest that does not share their last name the person we are closest with is used and the other is listed after them.
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