In this blog, we will review the top 5 reasons to create a seating chart for your gorgeous West Michigan wedding! Every wedding has its own unique personality. Some weddings are glamorous, some are casual, some are filled with tradition, and then some are just focused on FUN!! But the one thing they all have in common is that at some point in the day, guests will be looking for a seat at mealtime. So the big question on everyone's mind... Do you create a seating chart? From the perspective of a West Michigan wedding venue owner, I vote YES, and here are the top reasons why:
Panic: nothing disrupts cocktail hour more than the panic that ensues when people realize that there is no pre-determined seating chart. This realization will inevitably interrupt your cocktail hour. When no seating chart is present, guests will often begin sneaking into the reception space during cocktail hour to leave handbags, scarves, or other personal belongings on tables and chairs to "claim" them.
Hurt Feelings: Inevitably, someone who is a member of a family or friend group misses their opportunity to sit at the table or within proximity of everyone else. Those hurt feelings can dampen an otherwise blissful evening because nobody likes to feel left out.
The "Randos": No, this is not a family with the Rando family last name. These are the people with no clear connection to anyone else attending your wedding. We all have them. We love and care for these people dearly, but they have no clear community at any table. These poor guests will find themselves hopping from table to table asking "are these seats taken?" Don't do this to people.
Table Conversation: When people come together at a table by mere chance, it is unlikely that a magical conversation will bloom. In most cases, there will likely be a few awkward introductions followed by small talk, and some pleasant dinner conversation about how you each know the couple. It's not the most interesting, but also not the worst. However, you run the risk that your sweet Aunt Bettie will spend her evening sitting with the best man's little brother who just wants to shotgun some beers.
You Know Your People BEST: Yes, you can rely on your guests to self-assemble in the best way possible, but at the end of the day, nobody knows your guests like you know them. You can think through which groups of people mix well together, which ones will not. When your guests have a level of comfort with the company of others, the underlining vibe of the night is all happiness and contentment. This is ultimately the goal.
With all of the things to plan, it makes sense why the seating chart is often overlooked. You have already planned a fantastic wedding, so give yourself a huge pat on the back on the monumental task that it takes to do so. And with all of the time you've spent agonizing over the details such as table decorations, why not take this last step toward making the guest experience all that it can possibly be? Years from now, nobody will even remember your table decorations. But they will never forget their experience of being there.. and that includes the memory of who they sat next to in celebration of your marriage.
At our wedding venue in Rockford, MI, we set up each individual table to match the seating chart to make the set up as smooth as possible. To schedule a tour of our venue, and to discuss how we can best help you with these details among others, contact us at events@belltowerfalls.com
Thank you for stopping by our blog! This blog is written in support of locally owned wedding venues. As a locally owned venue in the Grand Rapids & West Michigan area, we hope that you select a locally owned wedding venue in your area. A map to locally owned wedding venues can be found here https://weddingvenueowners.com/venue-map-search/
Here is a shout out to other locally owned wedding venues around the country!
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