This is one area (of a few) where I am REALLY stuck! Not about who to seat where, but how to display it or let them know where they are sitting. I could do individual placecards, but am not crazy about that as our reception is long and narrow and I think it would get crowded with everyone trying to find their name on a table. So, I am looking for ideas to make a 'board' of some sort, but haven't had much luck finding any nice pictures online. Also, I have no idea what is the best way to orgainize it, by table, by name... please help! If anyone has ideas or experience on how to orgainize it I'd really appreciate it! Or any nice design pictures or ideas would be so helpful.
I have been at weddings where there were posters organized both ways listed below. I preferred the alphabetical by last name. It elimiated the backlog of people waiting in line to find their names by looking through each table individually. So I would suggest that way.
Here is a link to one I found on a site online. This one organizes by last name and actually has the menu printed down the middle which is a nice option I think. There are a bunch on this site for inspiration.
We did something very similar to the first link hesallmine posted. Our invitation lady actually did it for us... but it was like a poster with all guests' names in alphatbetical order and then their table number. We didn't include the menu (there wouldn't have been room anyway), but did have a menu displayed near the poster in a (much) smaller frame We did this rather than place cards and had it displayed in a frame and then put on an easel. It worked very well for us. Good luck!
If you want people to have assigned seating, more then just what table they are at - yes do them with place cards. But the place cards would be waiting for them at the table.
I have to do it this way because I am offering two plate choices at my reception and the different colored place cards will tell the waiter what to bring each person.
I will justbe putting upa board, with the table names, and the guests at them listed below.
One other tip is to consider having the cards out at the cocktail hour - that way guests can pick them up at their leisure and you avoid the logjam coming into the reception....
Thanks so much for your help! I think we will do alphabetical with the table numbers. I think we will forgo the placecards and let people sit where they want at their assigned table, although I do like the idea of having cute little placecards with everyone's name. I did think about just doing the placecards and hope that people think to look ahead at where they are sitting during the cocktail hour, but the way our site is set up, I don't think people will go into the reception room during cocktails as they can be outside at the ceremony site instead. Since its an August wedding I think people will tend to stick outside.
Thanks again for the advice, especially for the links, that really helps!
What my girlfriend did for her wedding (and what I will likely do for my wedding) is have all the names arranged by alphabetical order on a poster board (which is a white poster board and is framed). It looks wonderful... Very very clean, elegant, and modern. I need to hunt down a picture to post on here so you can get a better feel for it... but it's easy to do.
This was basically framed and placed on an easel at the main entrance. Quick & easy for guests to look their names up.
This is one area (of a few) where I am REALLY stuck! Not about who to seat where, but how to display it or let them know where they are sitting. I could do individual placecards, but am not crazy about that as our reception is long and narrow and I think it would get crowded with everyone trying to find their name on a table. So, I am looking for ideas to make a 'board' of some sort, but haven't had much luck finding any nice pictures online. Also, I have no idea what is the best way to orgainize it, by table, by name... please help! If anyone has ideas or experience on how to orgainize it I'd really appreciate it! Or any nice design pictures or ideas would be so helpful.
Thank you!!
posted by MrsJones 27 posts 7 months agoI have been at weddings where there were posters organized both ways listed below. I preferred the alphabetical by last name. It elimiated the backlog of people waiting in line to find their names by looking through each table individually. So I would suggest that way.
Here is a link to one I found on a site online. This one organizes by last name and actually has the menu printed down the middle which is a nice option I think. There are a bunch on this site for inspiration.
http://tinyurl.com/4lk6ve
This other one I found looks like someone's DIY but it organized by table:
http://www.bloomeryweddings.com/blog/GerberaDaisySeatingChart.aspx
Good luck!
posted by hesallmine 43 posts 7 months agoSo are these posters done in addition to the place cards, or in place of? Should it be put on the placecard table?
posted by dressexpress 38 posts 7 months agoWe did something very similar to the first link hesallmine posted. Our invitation lady actually did it for us... but it was like a poster with all guests' names in alphatbetical order and then their table number. We didn't include the menu (there wouldn't have been room anyway), but did have a menu displayed near the poster in a (much) smaller frame We did this rather than place cards and had it displayed in a frame and then put on an easel. It worked very well for us. Good luck!
posted by NatalieL 56 posts 7 months agoIf you want people to have assigned seating, more then just what table they are at - yes do them with place cards. But the place cards would be waiting for them at the table.
I have to do it this way because I am offering two plate choices at my reception and the different colored place cards will tell the waiter what to bring each person.
I will justbe putting upa board, with the table names, and the guests at them listed below.
posted by Sweeney2Be 1,488 posts 7 months agoOne other tip is to consider having the cards out at the cocktail hour - that way guests can pick them up at their leisure and you avoid the logjam coming into the reception....
posted by Janna19 335 posts 7 months agoThanks so much for your help!
I think we will do alphabetical with the table numbers. I think we will forgo the placecards and let people sit where they want at their assigned table, although I do like the idea of having cute little placecards with everyone's name. I did think about just doing the placecards and hope that people think to look ahead at where they are sitting during the cocktail hour, but the way our site is set up, I don't think people will go into the reception room during cocktails as they can be outside at the ceremony site instead. Since its an August wedding I think people will tend to stick outside.
Thanks again for the advice, especially for the links, that really helps!
posted by MrsJones 27 posts 7 months agoI'm going to do this:http://www.marthastewart.com/article/see-through-seating-cards?lnc=bf89cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&rsc=cf_link
and I'm printing the names on avery clean edge business cards -- they look great!
posted by katiethelady 163 posts 7 months agoWhat my girlfriend did for her wedding (and what I will likely do for my wedding) is have all the names arranged by alphabetical order on a poster board (which is a white poster board and is framed). It looks wonderful... Very very clean, elegant, and modern. I need to hunt down a picture to post on here so you can get a better feel for it... but it's easy to do.
This was basically framed and placed on an easel at the main entrance. Quick & easy for guests to look their names up.
posted by lmsimeon75 8 posts 7 months ago