Why do people have seating plans at weddings?

A great wedding seating chart helps guests feel comfortable and at ease, while facilitating new introductions. Guests generally prefer to be told where to sit – and it can also help out your caterer, if not everyone is eating the same food.

Are seating arrangements necessary at a wedding?

While assigned seating at a wedding certainly isn’t mandatory, most couples do opt to create a wedding seating chart. At any kind of sit-down dinner affair—including your wedding reception—assigned seats just tend to make things simpler. To begin with, it ensures each table will be filled to max capacity.

Who should have reserved seating at a wedding?

Your parents, immediate family members, and grandparents deserve a front row seat to your “I dos,” and while it’s always a good idea to appoint ushers to help handle reserved seating, it’s also thoughtful to go the extra step into making a “reserved” row or chair signs.

Do parents of bride and groom sit together at reception?

Traditionally, the bride and groom’s parents sit at the same reception table, sometimes with the officiant and his or her spouse (if they attend the reception) or with your grandparents. If either of your parents is divorced, you’ll probably want to have each parent and his or her spouse host their own table.

Why is the bride always on the left?

We hate to break it to you, but you might not love the reasons—the tradition behind the bride standing on the left side of the altar actually stems from the old days of “marriage by capture,” meaning the groom needed to leave his right hand (aka, his fighting hand which he used to hold the sword) free in the event that …

What is a sweetheart table?

What is a Sweetheart Table? A sweetheart table in a small table that seats only the wedded couple at the wedding reception. The happy couple sits together, facing their guests. Their wedding party and families are then seated at tables in close proximity.

Who walks the mother of the bride down the aisle?

groomsman
The most traditional choice is for a groomsman to walk the bride’s mother down the aisle. This can be an especially good choice if the two sides of the wedding party are uneven or if you’d like to give this gentleman some additional spotlight.

What side does the bride walk on?

left
The bride traditionally stands on the left—but why? Traditionally speaking, it’s customary for the bride to stand on the left side in a wedding ceremony.

Should you create a seating chart for your wedding reception?

One of the most complicated aspects of planning a wedding is creating a seating chart for the reception. Not only do couples need to divide guests evenly among the tables, they also have to consider family tensions, relationships, friendships, and more. It may seem easier to forgo a seating chart altogether, but is this really a good idea?

Is seating seating at a wedding stressful?

Seating guests in this way is often even more stressful and time-consuming for a couple, especially if they’re having a large number of people attend the celebration. Given the stress of assigning seats at a wedding, couples may think that eliminating a planned seating arrangement of any kind will save unwanted frustration and keep everyone happy.

Should you eliminate seating arrangements at your wedding?

Given the stress of assigning seats at a wedding, couples may think that eliminating a planned seating arrangement of any kind will save unwanted frustration and keep everyone happy. In reality, though, this tempting option raises some pesky issues.

Is it OK to have no seating assignment at a wedding?

Your maid-of-honor, best man, or parents may end up in back corner of the reception, while your great aunt thinks she deserves a spot at the head table. Despite the downsides, having no seating assignment is acceptable in a few select situations.