As you begin to plan your wedding reception, you may start with the large-scale details: venue, caterer, DJ, and decorations. However, as you progress, you’ll need to decide if you want to assign seating or allow your guests to choose their places for dinner. This decision is personal, but there are a few common ways that couples arrange guests.

Place Cards

Out of the three, place cards are the most organized option. This type of seating chart includes setting a name card at every seat, so guests will sit wherever their place card is. This ensures everyone has a seat nearby someone they know, and it avoids making those who don’t know many other guests feel isolated. Additionally, it gives the couple the opportunity to separate family members or friends who have feuded in the past to prevent drama. It is also helpful for plated dinners as the caterers will know who ordered which entree ahead of time. Unfortunately, because these plans are often so detailed and intricate, they can take a lot of time to organize. For some couples, the resulting formality and ease on the day of the wedding are worth the effort.

Escort Cards

If place cards are too formal for you, escort cards might offer a happy medium. Because they list which guests should sit at each table without telling them which seat to choose, it gives the guests a little more freedom upon arrival. Even with this flexibility, couples can still prevent empty tables, ensure all guests have others to sit with, and separate those who don’t get along well. This option is also ideal for family-style meals; you’ll know the correct ratio of entrees based on RSVPs, but the servers won’t have to ask every guest which one they requested.

No Seating Assignments

For those that are hosting a small, intimate wedding reception, it may not make sense to tell them where to sit. In a situation where everyone knows each other, you can reasonably expect them to group up accordingly. Even for larger weddings, this arrangement can work; if couples feel that their guests know each other well enough, they may decide to forego creating an arrangement. This works best if you’re serving dinner buffet-style, though, as it would be challenging for servers to ask each guest which entree they ordered.

If you’re planning a wedding reception in the Columbus area, check out Makoy Center in Hilliard, OH. Voted Best of Weddings on The Knot® for 6 years in a row, the venue and staff are well-suited to host your dream ceremony and reception. With rooms that can accommodate up to 400 guests, the venue has the space for you to invite all your loved ones, and their caterers can cook a delicious meal for them to enjoy together. Their hands-on staff will help with everything from planning to tear-down. Learn more online about how they create dream wedding receptions, and call (614) 777-1211 to schedule a consultation.