A seating chart organizes wedding venues to ensure that receptions are comfortable and convivial. Before getting started in planning your chart, read through a few seating do’s and don’ts.

Do:

Find out the floor plan.

Ask the manager of your wedding venue for a copy of the floor plan and how they typically set up tables. Find out the shape of tables and how many guests can be comfortably seated around each. A floor plan will show you where the wedding party will be seated as well as the location for musicians and dancing. You wouldn’t want to seat aging relatives near the band’s loudspeakers, for example.

Make categories.

Divide guests into categories—close family, college friends, and coworkers—then break each category into table-sized groups. If tables seat only 10 guests, set aside two adjacent tables for a group of 20 college friends.

Place parents & close family.

Parents and close family members usually sit near the couple. Some brides and grooms seat both sets of parents at one table. If one set of parents is divorced, consider relationships and feelings. If everyone gets along, seat parents and their exes together, but be sensitive about seating placements if they don’t.

Don’t:

Separate wedding party & guests.

If the bride and groom choose to sit at a table for two—at a sweetheart table—members of the wedding party can sit with their spouses or dates alongside other friends, family, and guests.

Forget to ask for help.

There may be guests on your list that you don’t know well. Instead of guessing where to seat them, ask for help. Your parents, for example, may know where they should sit.

Neglect a kids’ table.

Kids will make new friends and will feel special if you set up a kids’ table. Plan activities designed to entertain young guests, and position the table where their guardians can check on them periodically.

Hidden Lake Winery is a top wedding venue in the Aviston, IL area. It hosts elegant weddings of all sizes, with rooms seating 300 or more guests. The couple of honor can spend their wedding night in an on-site cabin equipped with a Jacuzzi®, fireplace, king-sized bed, wireless internet, and more. To learn about this winery and event center, call (618) 228-9111. Visit them online to browse cabin rentals and event packages.