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Wedding Seating Chart Maker
Bring in your guest list, set up your tables, and seat everyone by dragging or tapping. Then print an alphabetical seating chart, a chart by table, table numbers and escort cards.
How to make a wedding seating chart
- Wait for most RSVPs. Start about three weeks before the wedding, once your RSVP date has passed. If you keep your wedding guest list here, "Bring in my guest list" adds everyone who said yes, households kept together.
- Get the floor plan from your venue. Ask how many tables fit, what sizes they are, and where the dance floor, bar and exits go.
- Place the head or sweetheart table first, then parents, grandparents and close family near it.
- Group people who know each other. "Seat the rest automatically" fills tables by side and group (family, friends, work) and never splits a household. Move people around from there.
- Keep couples together, and seat young children with their parents or at a kids' table near them.
- Leave a seat or two free for late changes, and print once your caterer has the final count.
How many tables do you need?
Divide your guest count by the number of seats at each table and round up. Add the head or sweetheart table separately.
| Guests | Tables of 8 | Tables of 10 |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 7 | 5 |
| 75 | 10 | 8 |
| 100 | 13 | 10 |
| 125 | 16 | 13 |
| 150 | 19 | 15 |
| 175 | 22 | 18 |
| 200 | 25 | 20 |
| 250 | 32 | 25 |
How many people fit at a table?
It depends on the table size, and on whether there are chargers, centerpieces or wheelchair spaces. Typical capacity from a rental supplier's guide:
| Table | Seats |
|---|---|
| 48-inch round | 4 to 6 |
| 60-inch round | 8 to 10 |
| 66-inch round | 8 to 10 |
| 72-inch round | 10 to 12 |
| 6-foot banquet (rectangle) | 6 to 8 |
| 8-foot banquet (rectangle) | 8 to 10 |
Source: Chivari, Pro Table Seating Guide. For a plated dinner with servers, plan on the lower number, and check with your venue which tables it has.
Alphabetical seating chart, chart by table, or escort cards?
An alphabetical seating chart lists every guest A to Z with their table number. It's the quickest for guests to scan when there are a lot of names. A chart by table lists who sits at each table; it suits smaller weddings and is also what your venue and coordinator need. Escort cards are small cards with a name and table number, laid out on a table near the entrance. Table numbers stand on each table so guests can find it.
Posters are usually printed at 18 × 24 or 24 × 36 inches. Choose the poster size under "3. Print charts and cards", pick Save as PDF in the print dialog, and send the PDF to a print shop. Names are sized automatically to fill the poster. Escort cards print ten to a page at 3.5 × 2 inches, with light lines to cut along.
Wedding seating chart FAQ
When should we make the wedding seating chart?
Once most RSVPs are in, usually two to three weeks before the wedding. Caterers and venues often want the final count and table layout one to two weeks ahead, so check your contracts for the exact date.
Do we assign seats or just tables?
Most couples assign tables and let guests choose a seat at their table. Assigned seats with place cards make sense for a small, formal dinner, or when servers need to know who ordered which meal.
How many guests should sit at each table?
Most rental round tables seat 8 to 10 (60-inch) or 10 to 12 (72-inch). Plan on the lower number for a plated dinner, and leave room for wheelchairs and high chairs.
How do we print a large seating chart poster?
Choose "Seating chart, A to Z" and a poster size (18 × 24 or 24 × 36 inches), click Print or save PDF, and pick Save as PDF in the print dialog. A print shop can print the PDF on poster paper or foam board. Names are sized automatically to fill the poster.
Can I bring in my guest list?
Yes. If you keep your list in the BigDayKit guest list in the same browser, one click brings in everyone who said yes, with households kept together. You can also paste names from Excel or Google Sheets, with an optional column for the number of people.
Is my seating chart saved? Who can see it?
It is saved in this browser on this device only and is never sent to our server. There is no share link, because the chart holds your guests' names. To share it, download the Excel file or print a PDF.
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