7 Reasons Why Assigned Tables Benefit Everyone at Your Wedding
With just a few weeks left before your wedding day, you’ve probably tied up most of the loose ends of your wedding planning. Now it’s time to take all of your RSVP’s, obtain a floor plan from your venue, and assign guests to tables. This usually feels overwhelming to the bride or couple at first, but the benefits far out weigh any small discomfort you might feel about it. It takes a little time and thought, and probably causes some stress if you have any unfortunate family conflict, but it’s not as painful as you think. On the flip side, the risks of not doing it can be very painful for both of you, your guests, and the venue staff who try to please unhappy guests who can’t find seats together. We’ve been venue owners for 21 years in the Denver area, and we’ve seen far too many feelings get hurt around seating locations. Probably the worst situation we’ve seen is when the groom’s father and step mother had to sit in the far corner of the ballroom because they didn’t take their seats right away after the cocktail hour. The only seats open were facing away from the head table in the corner. They felt very left out, were very unhappy, and unfortunately ended up leaving the reception immediately after dinner. Although this is a rare case, this is just one example of how pre-planning and assigning tables could have avoided hurt feelings and the extra stress on the couple on their very special day.
Here are 7 Reasons Why Assigned Tables Benefit Everyone at Your Wedding
Ensures Couples and Families Sit Together
Open seating creates a lot of unforeseen issues, and guests can get upset if their family can’t sit together. It’s very awkward. In your mind you’re probably thinking that if you paid for 100 chairs and place settings, and the correct number of linens and centerpieces, everything should work out smoothly. Unfortunately this isn’t the case, and what really happens is when your 100 guests are ushered into the dinner ballroom, there are many families who can’t find enough open seats at one table so they can sit next to each other. This happens all the time! Families will stand to the side of the ballroom just looking at the staff hoping someone can help move chairs and place settings around or roll out additional tables. Assigned tables will guarantee that couples and larger parties can sit together, preventing them from being separated.
Strategically places high-conflict divorced parents at distant tables
Costs increase to have extra tables and decor for overflow with open seating
It’s more organized, stress-free, and prevents awkward situations
Guest experience in enhanced
It can enhance the guest experience by ensuring everyone is seated with people they know or are likely to enjoy spending time with. It also helps that they know their seat will be there for them if they don’t go and sit down immediately after cocktail hour.
Creativity – table #’s and seating charts add to your theme and fun
Assigned seating allows for creative and personalized seating chart designs, which can be a fun and memorable part of the wedding decor. This Lord of the Rings inspired wedding gave the bride so much room for creativity with their seating chart, and the guests loved it! Each table had a creative DIY Lord of the Rings Wedding inspired table # too.
Check out these free seating chart templates and ideas on Canva
In the photo below the couple had touches of the bride’s hometown of New Orleans throughout their wedding, such as this little detail of having each table named after a famous street like “Esplande Ave”.
Table #’s add a touch of detail, class or personalization to your table too!
Venue Requirements for Meal Service
Why couples resist creating assigned seating:
You may be wondering if it is even worth the time and effort it takes to assign guests to tables and create a seating chart, and you may be tempted to skip this step for “open seating”. However, our experience over the past two decades has shown us that assigning guests to tables creates the very best experience for everyone. You don’t have to assign the guests to an exact seat or have place cards if you’re not having plated meal service.
Time and Effort:
Creating a seating chart and assigning seats can be time-consuming. However, if you have all of your guests in a google sheet or excel spreadsheet, it should be very easy to do. Once you receive a blank floor plan from your venue, you will just begin by assigning your parents and grandparents first, then your wedding party, and then work your way to the outer edges of the room. The “VIP” section should be those 6 – 8 tables that are closest to your Head Table.
Family Drama and Favoritism:
It’s important to consider guest preferences and any specific requests they may have when assigning seats. If you have a situation where there is family conflict or drama, you may feel it would be easier to just let them all deal with it and sit where they want. This rarely works out in your favor unfortunately. It’s always best to inform them in advance so everyone can process the logistics and know what to expect.
Another expense:
In summary
If you are planning an upcoming wedding, reception or special event at The Bella Sera Event Center, we do require assigned table seating to enhance the guest experience in every way. We have expertise in this area, and know that the small amount of pain you’ll endure, and the extra time spent, is well worth the benefits. We’re all about helping you create the best guest and overall experience possible, and we make it really easy for our couples by supplying them a very accurate floor plan. Search wedding event centers near me to find venues close to you also.
The last thing you should be dealing with in the middle of your special day worrying about too many or too few seats available, and any unhappy guests. This is all preventable with a little time and planning.
Affordable Wedding Venues in Colorado
If you are still looking for the perfect wedding venue near Denver, Colorado for your special day you can learn more about Bella Sera Event Center by clicking this link.
For more inspiration on our Italian Inspired Wedding Venue check out our PINTEREST PAGE.
Written by Bella Sera owner – Elisabeth Montoya
Brighton Reception venues.
Special thanks to some of the most amazing locally owned and operated wedding venue owners in the country who continue to inspire and support us daily! Check these out…