The organizational part of preparing the celebration necessarily includes drawing up a plan for how to arrange the tables for the wedding, because the comfort of the guests and the possibility of fulfilling the event scenario directly depend on this.
Thoughtful proximity of each group of guests, the ability to easily move (return) to the dancing or relaxation area allows you to create and maintain a friendly, cheerful atmosphere throughout the evening. An indispensable condition is that everyone invited from their place must have the opportunity to see the events taking place (young people, competitions, performances of artists). But, still: how to properly arrange tables for a wedding.
How to arrange tables at a wedding
Having a final list of guests, you can choose a room. When choosing, consider some points:
- dimensions of the hall for a wedding banquet,
- the presence of structures in the hall in the form of columns,
- is there enough free space for entertainment,
- whether the room matches your plans.
Variations of table arrangement at a wedding event:
- ordinary long tables standing in a row or in the letters T, W, P;
- free-standing tables are round or square with a small podium;
- herringbone buffet tables.
But first things first.
With your own hands
Having decided to make banquet cards with your own hands, remember two points:
- it is necessary to start production in advance in order to have time to prepare all the signs for the ceremony;
- Be sure to make several spare cards so that, if necessary, you can enter the guest’s name manually at the banquet.
The simplest option is classic paper postcards. Using scissors, cut out a rectangle of the desired size. Then they bend it in half and decorate it with prepared decorations, securing them with glue, double-sided tape or a stapler. Use a hole punch to make a hole and attach the guest's name to the ribbon.
Materials
Decorations for banquet cards are selected individually. Ribbons, rhinestones, sequins or beads are perfect for a classic wedding. If the celebration is decorated in a marine style, then pebbles, shells, and corals are used for decoration. Decorations in the form of flowers, bows or appliqués will be appropriate at any wedding.
To make a pointer with your own hands you will need:
- paper or cardboard;
- regular scissors;
- glue;
- Double-sided tape;
- curly scissors;
- decorative ornaments;
- hole puncher.
Select a template
When choosing a template, pay attention to the stylistic and color design of the ceremony. Signs can be made in the form of birds, animals, favorite TV characters of the bride and groom, or have any other shape
The choice of the appropriate option depends on the imagination, needlework skills and sense of taste of the newlyweds
Signs can be made in the form of birds, animals, favorite TV characters of the bride and groom, or have any other shape. The choice of the appropriate option depends on the imagination, needlework skills and sense of taste of the newlyweds.
Download ready-made templates
You can view seating cards online. The selected option is printed on a printer. Ready-made layouts for printing usually do not require additional decoration, however, if desired, you can decorate them yourself.
If you have a limited budget, give preference to ready-made layouts that are presented on the Internet. Designer signs will cost much more.
Design
When developing a design, several important points are taken into account:
- Banquet cards should be combined with other wedding accessories;
- If the wedding is decorated in a certain color style, it is also used when decorating cards;
- Guests' names are written legibly. If the text is printed on a computer, you must use a large font;
- The size of the indicators should be in harmony with the overall design of the table;
- On the table, cards should not get in the way and limit access to treats.
Advice! Cards are secured using double-sided tape, glue, decorative clothespins or stickers.
Typical table layout
Usually in our country they use a long row of tables, like in good old fairy tales. This option is designed for 25 people.
The guests are located opposite each other, according to the boy-girl pattern. It looks old-fashioned and boring. Perhaps dilute this option a little:
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- place the “young ones” not in the center of the table, but in the middle of the row. To place parents opposite them, and witnesses and friends on the sides.
- tables can be arranged differently.
Appetizing wedding menu for 30 people in a cafe, outdoors or at home
The wedding banquet is an important part of the wedding day.
The newlyweds look for a venue for the holiday, a toastmaster, decorations for the hall and think through the menu in advance. For 30 people, it’s easy to put together for a cafe, or for a celebration at home or outdoors. At a wedding, as a rule, there are many guests of different ages. It is important that everyone is happy and full. The list of dishes should include treats for every taste in sufficient quantities. The table should include cold appetizers, hot dishes, soft and alcoholic drinks and, of course, a wedding cake. After all, the heroes of the occasion want the holiday to leave only pleasant impressions.
Arrangement of tables in the shape of the letter U
This is perhaps the most famous option. He also has two methods of arrangement: with and without intervals between tables. Suitable for an impressive number of guests in a medium-sized room.
In the center are the newlyweds, on either side are the witnesses, and behind them are the parents. Then the remaining guests, arranged by age, interests, tastes, etc.
Try to place guests so that no one is looking at the other's back. If this doesn't work, consider a different arrangement so that there is 1.5 m between chairs.
Is the hall area large enough? Wonderful. This means that everyone will be able to see what is happening on the entertainment platform.
5.6.2 Methods of seating at the “presidium” table
Let's look at ways to place honorary participants of a wedding banquet at the “presidium” table. In this case, we will assume that the observer is located on the front side of the table, that is, he looks at the faces sitting at the table.
In the figures below, the following symbols are used:
N – bride F – groom M.N. – mother of the bride O.N. – father of the bride M.Zh. – mother of the groom O.Zh. – father of the groom Mach.N. – stepmother of the bride Otch.N. – stepfather of the bride Mach.Zh. – stepmother of the groom Father Zh – stepfather of the groom Sv.N. – witness Sv.Zh. - witness
Typically the method shown in Figure 5.18 is used.
O.Zh. | M.Zh. | St.J. | AND | N | St.N. | M.N. | HE. |
Figure 5.18 – Traditional way of placing the “presidium” at the table
That is, the groom is located on the right hand of the bride. The witness sits on the right side of the groom. On the right hand of the witness are the groom's parents - first the mother, then the father.
Likewise, on the left side of the bride is the witness. On the left hand of the witness are the mother of the bride, and behind her the father of the bride.
Other options for arrangement at the “presidium” table are also possible, shown in Figure 5.19.
St.N. | O.Zh. | M.N. | AND | N | HE. | M.Zh. | St.J. |
St.J. | O.Zh. | M.N. | AND | N | HE. | M.Zh. | St.N. |
St.J. | HE. | M.N. | AND | N | O.Zh. | M.Zh. | St.N. |
M.Zh. | HE. | AND | N | M.N. | O.Zh. | St.N. | St.J. |
M.Zh. | HE. | St.N. | AND | N | St.J. | M.N. | O.Zh. |
Figure 5.19 - Alternative ways of seating the “presidium” at the table
There are also specific options presented in Figures 5.20, 5.21, 5.22.
Report N. | St.N. | O.Zh. | M.N. | AND | N | HE. | M.Zh. | St.J. | Mach.N. |
Figure 5.20 - Seating at the wedding table if the bride’s parents are divorced and remarried.
St.J. | Mach.J. | O.Zh. | M.N. | AND | N | HE. | M.Zh. | Report.J. | St.N. |
Figure 5.21 Seating at the wedding table if the groom’s parents are divorced and remarried.
Mach.J. | Report N. | St.N. | O.Zh. | M.N. | N | HE. | M.Zh. | St.J. | Mach.N. | Report.J. |
Figure 5.22 - Seating at the wedding table if the parents of the bride and groom are divorced and remarried.
So you can choose the option that suits you best.
Arrangement of tables in the shape of the letter W
For a pompous wedding with more than 50 guests. The area of the room should be large so as not to restrict the movement of guests.
But in this option it is difficult to arrange guests by age, interests, facing each other, etc.
Name cards for guests
Cards for guests have long been a tradition: they facilitate the process of finding a “place in the sun.” You can place them on a napkin, a chair, or even tie them to the stem of a glass and a bonbonniere. The design of the cards depends on the style of your wedding.
Here are some interesting ideas
As you can see, even from the place cards you can at least roughly guess the theme of the wedding. Entrust the layout to the organizer or one of your relatives who knows most of the guests well. The size and type of font should be readable; order a few blank cards in reserve (as they say, just in case). It is very convenient to attach copies of the cards to the invitation (but this is if you know exactly where and how your guests will sit).
European table arrangement
In the tradition of the Old Lady of Europe, a small banquet. In our country, individual round tables are considered a newfangled introduction.
In Italy, they prefer to seat young people at a separate table on the podium. Square shaped tables for 4 people.
In England, they usually have a rectangular table and several small round ones for 6 people each.
Cook
Valery Nikitin
To avoid getting into an awkward situation when guests demand to “continue the banquet” and there are no strong drinks left, it is better to have a few extra bottles in reserve. For a wedding banquet for 30 people, an average of 30 bottles of vodka, 20 bottles of wine and 15 bottles of champagne are needed.
Dessert
If you have a limited budget, you can limit yourself to just a wedding cake.
He must be present at the wedding table. However, everyone loves sweets. They will not be superfluous, especially if there are many children among the guests. When calculating the weight of a wedding cake needed to ensure there is enough for everyone present, you should consider how light it is. Desserts with buttercream are very filling. And fruit cake with yoghurt filling is a light treat. You will need much more of it. The menu for a wedding for 30 people usually includes a cake weighing 5-6 kilograms. Sweets, ice cream and fruit are also served for dessert.
Organize a separate small table with a variety of desserts. When it's time for tea, you won't have to waste time handing out sweet treats.