Gathering around the table: Seating got you stumped?

Kristin Bates, Up North Bride

Many little girls have ideas for their dream wedding planned before they have met the groom.

They know what style of wedding dress, what type of flowers, and they probably even know a favorite location they envision for their big day.
Now, add the groom, and all those childhood plans need some compromising.

Whether you are planning an outdoor wedding reception with an emphasis on the beauty of the area, or an indoor reception capturing the glamour of the moment, here are some ideas to keep in mind while planning the perfect reception.

“One of the most difficult decisions to make when planning your wedding is choosing a location,” noted Janelle Langmaack, lead event coordinator for Castle Farms in Charlevoix. “Your location will set the style of wedding that you are having. It is important to choose a venue that will not blow your entire budget and fits your theme or style.”

After choosing your location and creating the wedding dinner menu, the next question is where to seat the guests to ensure a fun, celebratory time for all. With many blended families, creating a seating chart will help make the event a success. This can cut down on the chances of a wedding scene from cranky Aunt Linda or a perpetually single brother, Jack.

“I always recommend to my brides to keep the seating committee down to a minimum. The less people you have involved in assigning the tables, the better. Couples that handle the seating assignment task themselves seem to have the least amount of problems — after all, it is their wedding,” said Angela Whitener, sales manager for Stafford’s Perry Hotel in Petoskey and Bay View Inn in Bay View.

Langmaack added, “When it comes to dealing with difficult family members, if they just can’t seem to deal with it for one day, the best idea is to not force them to sit together. If you can easily put them at separate tables, then why not? There are other things you should be thinking about on the day of your wedding.”

Whitener recommended that when dealing with divorced parents, discuss the seating arrangements with each set of parents in advance. This way, there aren’t any surprises when they arrive to take their seats for dinner. Or, rather than one table with parents and grandparents, have each set of   parents host their own table.

Also, according to Langmaack, don’t worry about seating the odd man or woman out. There is no strict rule to seating arrangements, so why not have a few tables with an odd number of guests?

Here are a few tips to successful seating arrangements from www.toptableplanner.com:

• Keep close family relatives and good friends nearest to the bride and groom. This will keep them happy and protect against hurt feelings.

• Try to keep a balance between family members and friends. You want to keep your guests comfortable, but also get them mingling amongst each other.

• Make sure to seat each guest with someone they know. This will allow them to be comfortable enough to enjoy the meal.

• Find a common interest. If you have several guests who don’t know each other, seat them with others they can relate to, even if there is an age difference.

• Avoid a singles-only table. It makes for an uncomfortable evening for most everyone at the table.

When all is said and done, Whitener offered this advice, “Try not to worry about upsetting guests with not seating them in the best location or with the most popular people. It is only for dinner and a very small portion of the reception time. Your guests will be happy to be included in your celebration, no matter where you seat them.”

Up North Bride Home » Fall & Winter 2010/2011 Edition » Gathering around the table: Seating got you stumped?