Am I the only one struggling with guest seating plan?

[cathybride]

Hey,
As my wedding day draws closer, I've found myself diving deep into the world of seating arrangements for the reception.

Recently, I stumbled upon an article https://eventioo.com/blog/post/table-planning that caught my attention. It highlighted a guideline that I think I would never give a thought - the importance of not seating older guests near the air conditioning vents. It's one of those things that seems obvious once you think about it, but it's easy to overlook in the midst of planning...

To other future brides - Am I overthinking?

To those who are already wifes - are there any other often-overlooked details or tips that you wish you had known when planning your own wedding? If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? I'd love to hear any additional insights or experiences you have to share..

Best,
Catherine (Bride To Be)

[PlantDoctor]

I'd say yes, you're overthinking it! What if the light coming through the window is particularly warm and makes them overheat instead? Sit people with others they know. That way they'll be happy chatting and could even ask to swap places if they feel too hot or cold.

[Lizzieregina]

Yes you’re overthinking!

Do your best to make sure everyone is seated with at least one person/couple that they know quite well so they’re not feeling uncomfortable and maybe people might also make some new friends!

[cathybride]

Probably you're right. But from other hand - now (obviously after reading the article and not before) I can recall one wedding at which I was sitting under the air vent, it was kind of annoying at it was noisy and also I am kind of person that easily gets cold. But that was fine for me - I just spent the majority of time on the dance floor. But now when I plan form my own wedding, and thinking that I could unconsciously (and unfortunately) seat the table of my elders in such conditions.. Well, definitely something that I would prefer to avoid.. Probably you're right that we could figure something out on the fly though..

[KCSIE]

I had no idea where the vents were at our venue. Still haven't the foggiest now a few years after the event.

Maybe consider providing blankets or pashminas to tables under the vents instead of you really want!

I organised our seating plan by accessibility first (wheelchair user, walking stick user, guests needing swift access to the lavs) then by friendship groups and commonalities so everyone had someone and something to talk about.

Don't overthink it.
And don't seat flaky guests together.

[Aquamarine1029]

How would one even know where the aircon vents are at a venue.... Anyway!

In my experience, the best weddings are ones in which people are sat with people that they know, maybe not immediate family/very close freinds, but people they are familiar with. A wedding is really not the time to make new friends. It's often hard work, irritating for most, and downright uncomfortable for many to be sat with total strangers. Your guests just want to be comfortable and to have a good time.

[Contraversialcate]

Don’t be bullied in to inviting people you don’t want to! I couldn’t invite some close friends of mine who I still see regularly because my MiL insisted on inviting some distant relatives who have since separated and noone has seen plus didn’t even speak to us on the day! She gave us a token contribution to the event and therefore assumed she could invite who she wanted

[KCSIE]

@Contraversialcate same experience for me too! MIL friend who I'd never met ended up with an invite (DH caved to MIL pleas)...she didn't once approach me or DH on the day and left during the sit down meal, asked the servers if she could take dessert to go and didn't bother telling those on her table or sitting next to her that she was leaving (or us) either. The rest of her table thought she'd gone to the bog for a long time and then that they'd done something to upset her! And never an apology came afterwards either, MIL was fuming and hasn't spoken to be her since!

[cathybride]

Many thanks for your thoughts. @KCSIE - love the idea with blankets. I think that I will just make sure to seat elderly members of my family not to close to speakers - that part I should be able to figure out with the DJ. Otherwise I will just plan tables with the person to person connections in mind.