Once you begin receiving RSVPS from wedding guests you should start arranging them in possible seating groups. Decide who must be seated at the same table, as well as who cannot be seated together. To help you find the ideal seating chart for your wedding, here are some tips from iVillage Wedding Etiquette Expert, Sharon Naylor's book, Notes From the Mother of the Bride.
Getting Started
Seating kits are available through party planners or party stores. They are a huge help in arranging your tables. If you cannot find them, here is an easy way to do your seating:
Buy packages of sticky notes in the smallest size in two different colors: One for bride's guests, one for groom's guests. Use regular sheets of 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Write the last names of each guest on the appropriate color sticky note, using one for each unit (a unit being a single person or a couple). Arrange the sticky notes on the sheets of paper in numbers corresponding to your table size, i.e., eights or tens.
At a glance you can see your guest "mix." Each sheet is a potential table. Once you are reasonably sure that a table is complete, transfer the names to a seating chart. Write in pencil or have lots of white-out handy. Next to the name, you can write in any dietary requests in order to facilitate the servers.
Arranging the Tables
Obtain the configuration of the reception room with the placement of tables from the caterer; then assign table numbers. Know where the band risers will be and how much room to allow for them, where the cake table will be, and which table will be for the bridal family.
Arrange the guest's names alphabetically with the corresponding table numbers on another list in addition to the seating charts. Make copies for yourself, the caterer, the party planner, the calligrapher (tablecards/place cards), and anyone else needing this information. Understand that at the very last minute things will change. Be prepared to rearrange those sticky notes. Have extra place cards on hand or with the calligrapher. Once everyone has copies of the seating charts, it is easy to call in changes by table number and/or alphabetical names.
Ask Sharon your wedding etiquette questions on her message board, Ask the Wedding Etiquette Expert.
Excerpted from Notes From the Mother of the Bride by Sharon Naylor. © 2005 Source Books.