Seating Charts
In general, I think having a seating chart (assigned tables, not necessarily assigned chairs at each table) is a great way to make your transition into the reception 100x easier. Despite adding a little bit of extra work, having a seating chart eliminates seating confusion as your guests enter.
Creating a seating chart is important for several reasons; first, most couples want their family/bridal party seated in a specific location, and typically they are the last people finding a seat due to family portraits following the ceremony and socializing with family and friends in attendance. This is the best way to ensure they have the seats you have in mind for them. It is also typically better than ‘reserving for family’ because ‘family’ is a very broad term. I have seen distant family members try to sit at these reserved family tables on many occasions, because if they are empty at the time and it is not communicated in advance, it can be confusing.
Also, depending on their personality type, guests who are attending that may not know anyone besides the bride and groom may be quite anxious when it comes to having to find a seat at a table, or if you have guests bringing their family (ie parents +kids) it is important that they be able to sit together, but sometimes if you do not do assigned seating there may not be enough spaces open at one table. You can eliminate this problem by placing them at a table you think they will be the most comfortable at based on your other guests seated there as well.
Of course, there is always an exception, and some people operate perfectly fine without a seating chart, but in general, I think it is totally worth a bit of work to add that ease for your guests! If you decide against a seating chart, I always recommend at least reserving family/bridal party tables and including the names of the guests expected to sit there, both to ensure your family is where you want them, and avoid confusion for other guests.
If you are worried about how to make a seating chart look like a cohesive part of your decor, rest assured that there are a million different ways to incorporate a seating chart without sacrificing your style!
Here are some ideas:
Signage - of course you can easily buy a template that matches your theme and simply have it printed
You can use a calligrapher to make a custom sign, keeping it elegant and timeless
I have seen a couple use wine bottle corks with a small name plate attached
A structure with bud vases to showcase some florals along with guests names
Something specific to your decor - I have had couples use lanterns with names on them, Christmas ornaments for holiday weddings, etc.
If you want to really elevate your seating and table decor, you can also make a simple seating chart sign, then have special nameplates on each plate, wether you decide to do something written, printed on acrylic, or crafted using dry fruit or other materials. That also allows your guests to have something to take home!
photo by https://brittanyphotographs.com/
