How To Number Tables At Wedding

Do Table Numbers Matter At A Wedding

Table numbers are extremely important if you are having a seating chart at your wedding. Wedding table cards let your guests know exactly where they will sit at the wedding reception.

This table assignment usually depends on the guests relationship to the bride and groom, as well as their relationship to one another.

Trending Wedding Table Number Ideas

Sarah Pierce

When it comes to wedding table decor, the magic is definitely in the details. From place cards to votive holders, the tiniest things can have a tremendous impact on your decor. Table numbers dont just direct guests where to sit, they also can add a bit of oomph to the tablescape around them. Here are some wedding table number trends to inspire your choices.

We all know that the last couple of years have been all about the golden glow. Why shouldnt your table numbers take part in this metallic craze? Above, this sparkling gold number rises out of lush, colorful centerpieces, playing off of the gold chargers and uniting the color scheme.

For the same type of effect, but on a simpler scale, create a swath of greenery and flowers in the center of a long table. Tuck in your gold table numbers and metallic candles to maximize the sparkler. If you prefer to spell out your numbers, you arent alone. Writing out the number allows one more calligraphy detail at weddings were script or typography is a dominant theme.

Put Up A Chart By The Entrance

To save your guests from the quest, give them something similar to a map to help them figure out how and where to find their respective tables. Most guests complain about never finding their tables every time they go to weddings with seating plans. It will be easier for them to locate their tables if you use a sign that serves as a map for everyone to see and guide them in the right direction.

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Seating Charts Escort Cards Table Numbers And Place Cards

Guests will need to know which table they are seated at so they don’t have to walk around every table to find their place. This is usually achieved by displaying a seating chart or escort cards prominently at the entrance to the venue.

Table number cards are placed on tables to display the number or name of the table. If you have a large number of tables you might also want to display a floor plan to show where the tables are.

Floor plan

Place cards are placed at each setting to ensure guests sit in the correct seats.

If you have assigned guests to seats you will need:

• seating chart + table cards + place cards or
• escort cards + table cards + place cards

If you have assigned guests to tables you will need:

• seating chart + table cards or
• escort cards + table cards

These can be as simple or elaborate as you like. More important is that you have a good table plan that seats the right people together.

Who Sits At Table One At A Wedding

Typically the bridal party makes up the first table. Depending on the bride and grooms preference, they will sit at this table, or they will have their own sweetheart table.

Just members of the bridal party such as bridesmaids and groomsmen will sit at this table if you choose to have a sweetheart table.

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Make A Digital Seating Chart

Sites including WeddingWire, AllSeated, and Wedding Mapper make it incredibly easy to design a seating chart online. As an added bonus, these sites have drag ‘n’ drop seating options, which makes it so simple to arrange to your heart’s content. You can also customize the templates and try out different table options. AllSeated even has an extensive library of dimensions for actual venues if yours is included, you can select it and the dimensions will auto-populate. In addition to customizing layouts for tables and seats, you can add other space-consuming setupssuch as bar locations or additional seating areasto really get a sense of how the space will flow.

Agate Wedding Table Numbers

There’s no doubt about it: This wedding’s agate table numbers rocked. Love the look? Purchase your slabs then find table number stands to hold them. From there, you can handwrite the numbers or commission a calligrapher for the penmanship. That said, there’s always the option to purchase pre-numbered agate slices and coordinate wedding table number holders.

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Share With Caterers Venue Rental And Other Important Decision Makers

Theyll be able to quickly gather information on the party and the space. If any changes need to be made, you can be confident that the whole team will be on the same page at all times, as your diagram will automatically update. The catering team can even sort guests by their meal preferences. Florists can plan out the number and positioning of their arrangements. And day-of coordinators can stay in the loop without missing a beat using real-time collaboration to see instant updates.

Start Figuring Out Where People Will Sit

Once you have an idea of how many tables and chairs will be at your wedding, you can start assigning groups. There are two general ways you can do this: table assignment and seat assignment.

Table assignment is the easier option, as it requires less planning. You assign your guests to a specific table, but they can choose where they sit. As such, you do not need to prepare a place card for each guest.

Seat assignment requires more work however, in some ways, this method makes some logistics more convenient. You have control over where each guest sits. This option is better for accounting for specific needs, such as meal deliveries and speeches.

In general, it is best to fill one table with people who know each other. Your colleagues from work can go to one table, and your friends from university can occupy another. Here are other tips for creating a seating arrangement:

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Seating Nightmare : One Of The Guests Doesn’t Have An Assigned Seat

Organizing the seating chart, escort cards, and place cards is a big task, so it’s understandable to be anxious that it will somehow get screwed up. The only way to ensure every single guest has a seat and is able to find it? Cross-reference your spreadsheet of confirmed attendees with the alphabetized escort cards and place cards, and double-check your reply list to make sure you haven’t mistakenly marked someone as a “no.” Finally, make certain the seating chart you give to the planner or maitre d’ matches the info on the table cards. “Don’t go over it just once or twice,” says Tutera. “Go over it four, five, or six times — organization is key.” Don’t worry about being a bridezilla on this one. It definitely pays to be overly conscientious.

The Ultimate Guide To Wedding Reception Tables

PHOTO BY HENRY + MAC Planning by Glass Event Planning Floral Design by Flowers by Semia

From yacht club to ballroom to beachside, a wedding reception is full of logistical decisions youve been working through over and over again in the months leading up to your big day. The biggest decision is perhaps how exactly the room is going to come together. Design elements aside, the question of Whos going to sit where? is preceded by How many tables can we fit in this space? and How many people will this table actually seat?

Wedding planner Haley Kelly prioritizes all of these when it comes to making a plan with her clients, and knows with so many options, theres a reception layout perfect for every kind of couple and celebration. Navigating the process of room styles and guest counts, determining the best table setup for a reception can be daunting to say the least, especially when you factor in the changes that are necessary because of appropriate social distancing protocols.

Meet the Expert

A full-service planning company based in Charleston, Haley Kelly Events specializes in events that are thoughtful and intentionally organized, from ceremony to reception.

With help from Kelly, were breaking down your wedding reception table options that will leave guests happy and comfortable.

Photo by Rebecca Yale Planning by Matthew Oliver Weddings Floral Design by Madame Artisan Fleuriste

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Preparing For Your Special Day

Since these pressed flowers will retain their color for an extended period of time, you can make them a few months in advance and store them in a cool, dry place.

Dont forget to create a seating chart or table number cards to guide your guests to their tables .

If you would like to preserve your wedding bouquet, then you must head over to read my post about drying flowers with silica, too!

If you have any questions about this tutorial or have a request for another post, please leave a comment below.

Creative Ways To Display Your Wedding Table Numbers Or Names

Want to skip the plain old cards and make your wedding table numbers or names into mini works of art? Heres how to do it.

Your wedding table numbers or names wont be the biggest pieces of decor at your wedding, but that doesnt mean they dont matter! Make yours into mini-masterpieces by stealing inspo from these real wedding designs. From frames to transparent blocks to wine bottles, youre pretty spoiled for choice when it comes to options.

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Playing Card Wedding Table Numbers

Playing cards work with so many themes , especially with all the themed decks out there . This wedding went with a whimsical, vintage event design. Check out those key table number holders! Color us impressed. Now impress your guests by replicating the look. Pro tip: Give attendees matching card decks as wedding favors so they’ll never forget your amazing decor.

Growler Wedding Table Numbers

This idea is perfect for a brewery wedding or a couple who just really likes craft beer. Similar to the wine bottle idea above, all you have to do is collect a few growlers and customize them with numbers. In this case, vinyl decals work great. And again, they make excellent take-home gifts for the couple or their wedding party.

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Table Size Shape And Layout

You might want all the tables to be same size and shape or you might want to vary them. Find out what sizes and shapes are available.

The figures below give you a rough idea of the venue size required, depending on the number of guests and the type of seating. Note that it doesn’t allow for dance floors and other unused space.

Recommended space per guestExample: a room that is 10m x 10m = 100 sq m will hold a maximum of approximately: 200 standing guests, 140 guests at rectangular tables, 100 guests at circular tables and 176 guests seated in rows.

The image below gives you a rough guide for minimum table spacing.

Recommended minimum table spacing

Make sure the tables are placed so that serving staff have easy access. Don’t place a table blocking a door, especially a fire escape. If you have a large venue for the number of guests you may want to put all the tables in one corner to avoid the venue feeling empty.

A good number of seats for a circular table is ten. If you have more than this not all the guests on a table will be able to see/speak to each other. If you have less than this you may have problems fitting all the tables into the venue. The figures below give you a rough idea of the number of guests you can fit on a circular table:

Recommended circular table seating capacities

Tips For Numbering Tables At A Wedding

When it comes to numbering tables at your wedding reception, there are a few tips you can take advantage of to help guests easily find their table and keep the entire even organized.

Dont overthink it. Some people have wondered if there is a certain way tables should be numbered so that the head table is #1 with the other most important tables following in order. However, sometimes its not very easy to accomplish this and thats okay. Some people have even intentionally made the head table number somewhere in the middle . This way people couldnt complain about being less important because they were seated at table 18 when the bride and groom are seated at table 9.

Make a chart to display near the entrance. Giving your guests something like a map so that they can figure out how to find their table. Many guests complain that they can never find their table when theyve gone to weddings with a seating plan. If you have a sign that works as a map, theyll be able to easily find their table.

Make the signs tall and/or big and bright so guests can see them from a distance. As soon as guests arrive, and see their assigned seat, theyll be looking around for their table. Make sure your guests can easily see the table numbers so they dont have to search hard to find the table theyre looking for.

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Wedding Table Settings On A Budget

If you are on a budget, you would have to create your fairy tale wedding, but at less cost. There are certainly a few steps you can take to cut cost and not break the bank.

• Dont cover your tables. The design of your tables could add to the beauty of your table setting.
• Dress up your table with a lot of greenery. This is more cost effective than purchasing flowers.
• Re-use the flowers from your bridesmaids bouquets for the table setting in addition to the greenery. They wont need the bouquets after the ceremony after all.
• It doesnt have to cost a fortune to set your wedding table. You can still have a lot of detail but at a fraction of the costs.

The beauty of your wedding table settings adds a lot to the total décor of your wedding. Whether you are on a budget or not, it is a great idea to decorate in line with your overall wedding theme. When you have your theme, take some time to browse pictures of wedding tables around this theme this could help too. Either way, we hope that we have been able to give you sufficient wedding table setting and even centerpieces tips to inspire ideas for your setting. However, if youre having a unique, casual or simple table setting, then the world is your oyster, as they say.