Merry Brides: A Stress-Free Guide to Seating Plans

Do you enjoy puzzles? Well, when you engage in the task of creating seating plans, that's just what you'll be doing - tackling a puzzle. Only you won't get a finished picture after fitting all the pieces into place. Rather, you'll be rewarded with a wedding reception that goes smoothly for most involved. Follow an organized plan to make easier work of a challenging task.

The first thing you should do once you have the final head count for your reception is to make a seating chart. Draw large circles to represent the tables, dance floor, musical entertainment and entrances. (Or get a preprinted seating chart from your reception hall). Don't forget to find out how many guests can fit at each table. Then write everyone's name on a card or sticky note so you can play "musical chairs."

Another option is to go high-tech. There are now wedding-planning software packages that have a seating-arrangement tool. Store guests names and digitally manipulate where they will be seated.

In general, place guests in spots that suit them. Your friends will want to be near the band, bar or dance floor. Keep the elderly away from the band or DJ's speakers. Family and friends should be closest to your table. Acquaintances and your parents' friends should be placed farther away. Separate people who do not get along. Place handicapped guests in easily accessible spots that are close to exits.

As the happy couple, you have a few seating options. You can sit at a head table or dais, which is traditionally long and straight and faces the reception tables. Arrangement at the table can vary. The bride and groom usually sit front and center, with the maid of honor on the groom's left and the best man on the bride's right. The other attendants are seated male and female.

Still, you can stray from the norm. You can have the wedding party and their dates sit at one table while you and your new spouse sit at a table for two at the front of the room. You can also sit at a table with only the maid of honor, best man and their dates. Or you can sit at a table with your parents. Do whatever fits your style and makes you most comfortable.

Parent seating is flexible, too. Both the bride's and groom's parents generally sit together near the newlyweds. Siblings not in the wedding, grandparents and other relatives may also sit nearby. If your parents are divorced or don't get along, separate them. Your mother and her guests can sit at one table and your father can have his own table on the other side of the room. If you're unsure how to seat them, consult both your parents and in-laws to see what would they would prefer.

For family seating, it seems natural to sit people of the same side of the family together to guarantee that they'll be comfortable. Or mix and match: Consider sitting the bride's cousins with the groom's cousins so they can get to know each other. Put family members with a history of squabbles on opposite sides of the dance floor - you'll be happier for it.

Seating friends allows you more creativity. You can sit people who know each other together or you can play matchmaker by seating singles who have never met at the same table. Some opt for "singles" and "couples" tables, while others feel this seating creates awkwardness. Again, don't forget about people who don't get along. If your two college buddies aren't on speaking terms, now isn't the time to try to patch things up by seating them at the same table.

Sometimes, there are just some people who don't fit anywhere - your friend from camp, your boss whom you didn't think would show. Whatever the case may be, avoid seating all the random guests at one table; they'll know they're the misfits. Get creative. Consider ages, interests and marital status.

Now that you have everyone in place, identify each table. You can keep it simple with numbers or letters, or identify tables by themes or colors. Guests' names and their table assignments should be placed on place cards (Consider having a calligrapher write these cards, or print them on your computer.). Set them in alphabetical order on a table near the entrance.

You can't please everyone with the seating assignments, but you can try your best to make everyone enjoy hearing the words, "Please be seated."

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