Navigating the minefield of wedding-day seating plans

(Image courtesy of D&A Photography)

If you've been putting off tackling the seating plan for your wedding celebration; grasp the nettle as help is at hand.

Often one of the most dreaded tasks on the wedding to-do list, a well-oiled wedding needs careful planning and often a little political consideration too, especially when it comes to the seating arrangements.

Getting it done means you can start looking forward to enjoying your day with all your loved ones. To help get your table plan spot on, general manager of Suffolk wedding venue Bruisyard Hall shares some top tips:

1. Plan early
How early? As soon as those RSVPs come in, that's the time to start thinking about your seating plan. Think about the big issues first. Where to sit your opinionated uncle? How to place that ex, and their exes, to avoid any awkwardness. Considering these prickly issues early on will give you chance to think about how you want to proceed. Getting it out of the way will allow you to put it out of your mind.

2. Work out your tribes
Which guests know each other already? Work colleagues, uni friends, family and so on. Grouping these together will help you place them around their tables, but there may be an overspill, so think about who might get on together and mix them up. While you're at it, don't be afraid to mix up generations too. This can help older guests to unlock their inner party animal, and immerse them into the celebration.

3. Think about the whole room
Sit your friends near the top table so they can laugh and clap at the speeches. Consider keeping the elderly relatives away from speakers and the band, allowing them a quieter spot at the back. This will also enable them to remain seated if the tables are moved later to make way for the dancefloor.

4. The top table
There's a traditional layout for the top table, but let's face it, not every family fits comfortably into that format, nor should it need to. You can fit your best man, chief bridesmaids, bride and groom's parents either side of you if you wish in the time-honoured way. However, what if your family politics don't sit comfortably with that? Divorced parents who want to attend with their new partners, for example? Rather than be cause for concern, disagreement or strife that can overshadow your big day, this can be an opportunity to mix things up a little. You could allow each set of parents to host their own table, for example. Or perhaps, if you consider your friends as your close family, you can choose to place them around you. You could even add extra chairs to each table, which will allow you to circulate the room and mix with different groups as the wedding celebration gets underway. Just remember, it's your wedding day, so you get to decide.