Is There Such A Thing As A Perfect Wedding Seating Plan?

We all know that weddings can be stressful, but as most brides will tell you, the real stress comes from trying to write a wedding breakfast seating plan. Few tasks are more fraught with potential fallouts and frustrations, and sometimes, it can feel like there’s really no way to get this task right. 

In truth, though, if you’ve chosen a wedding venue with plenty of room for everyone on your guest list, there’s no reason why this needs to be complicated. While there might not be any such thing as a ‘perfect’ seating plan that satisfies everyone, you can get pretty close by simply considering the following crucial tips. 

Stick to Set Groups

Some couples feel the need to mix things up with wedding seating plans, but this is a sure way to disaster. Instead, it’s worth sticking to set groups like ‘work friends’, ‘family friends’, and ‘childhood friends’, where possible. This is preferable because it ensures everyone feels comfortable with the people they’re sitting near. It also avoids any imagined hierarchy amongst your guests. 

This approach is perhaps only problematic for guests who don’t necessarily know anybody else, but in this instance, simply search for common ground like shared interests. Equally, if that guest attended your engagement party or hen do, you could seat them near people they gelled well with on that occasion. 

Avoid a ‘Singles’ Table

If movies are anything to go by, the singles table is a pretty fun place to be during a wedding. Here, single pringles can mingle and fall in love. Or, more likely, they can sit in an awkward silence, wondering why they ever considered you a friend. 
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Let’s be honest – no one wants to sit at the loser’s table, so scrap it from your seating plan. Instead, find suitable places for your single friends to sit on existing tables. If you’re worried about them feeling left out on an all-couple table, why not simply choose two single friends to occupy different spaces on each? This will give them both someone to talk to, without feeling like you’ve drawn unkind attention to their solo situation.

​Give Guests Some Say

Opening up your seating plan for everyone to comment on isn’t wise, but there’s nothing wrong with giving certain guests a say if you’re worried they won’t like where they’re sitting. This gives them plenty of chances to let you know if they want to move/where they would prefer. Equally, giving these guests the ultimate say ensures that there’s no risk of offending them on the big day. Simply be open about your struggle. They’re sure to understand, and will also probably be more willing to accept your placement simply because they have more time to get used to the idea. 
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Seating plans are undeniably one of the most stressful elements of wedding planning, and you’ll never keep every single attendee happy. However, you can avoid the worst fallouts by keeping these tips in mind during the planning stages.