Making your guest list and seating arrangements is one of the most time-consuming aspects of Asian wedding planning. And these two are constantly changing, especially as the wedding day approaches.

Wedding seating plans ensure that all attendees have a good time and are as informed as possible as they move through your wedding celebration. A perfect seating plan can also be an essential wedding décor, making a unique statement that enhances your color palette and theme.

Is a seating chart required on the day of your wedding?

Of course, you want your closest family members to have front-row seats at your Asian wedding, but at what cost? We consider whether having a strict seating plan for your ceremony is the best option. Regarding seating plans, Prested takes pride in accommodating chairs for 200 guests. 

Understanding wedding seating arrangements

Some might say that arranging guests in priority order and trying to divide his and their family is a recipe for disaster! On the other hand, it’s a tradition that continues to this day because when you have dozens of guests gathered to witness you say “I do,” you need some organizational system.

So, what are the basic guidelines?

Without a doubt, parents and immediate family are the most important and likely to care the most. As a result, consider how you might seat them. Parents who are happily married are straightforward, but what about those who are divorced, separated, or widowed?

Parents are always seated in the front row, with the bride on the left and the groom on the right. A same-sex marriage allows the couple to choose their sides.

If one set of parents is divorced, consider whether they get along well enough to sit next to each other. It is not worth the trouble if you’re uncomfortable with them being so close. 

You might want to give widowed parents the option of having a partner or friend accompany them in the front row.

Let’s remember grandparents. Typically, elderly guests offered seats near the front, which provide better accessibility and are closer to the action, allowing them to hear what is happening!

Breaking with tradition

Don’t want to pick a side? Choosing a ‘no sides’ layout is perfectly acceptable, with family members interspersed on either side of the aisle.

Alternatively, keep it simple by welcoming guests to sit wherever they want. But, as we all know, Asian wedding planning is anything but simple!

While most guests respect the family hierarchy, reserve the first two rows for immediate family only, leaving all other seats available on a first-come, first conceptual works.

Seats can be labeled in a variety of ways.

So you’ve decided to make a seating plan for your ceremony, but how will you ensure that your guests follow it?

Poster

One option is having a seating layout poster as guests enter the ceremony room. Still, it will likely cause chaos, crowds, and confusion if your ushers aren’t proactive in getting people to their designated seats.

Personalized Name Cards

Printing everyone’s name on separate A4 sheets is simple, so you can make these match your theme by adding borders in your preferred colors. Laminating them is also an option, but it may be prohibitively expensive, not to mention time-consuming in the run-up to your Asian wedding.

Breaking with tradition

Polaroids

A lovely but more expensive option is to have a small square polaroid-style photo of each guest printed and placed neatly on their seat. You might prefer to do this if you only reserve the first few rows to save money on Asian wedding stationery.

One advantage of going this route is that doorkeepers will have a visual guide to VIPs, which may save awkwardness and embarrassment.

Favors for the wedding

If you still have money left over in your stationery budget, consider leaving gifts on your guests’ seats. You could have personalized keyrings to match your theme or laser-cut wooden names displayed. Both are exceptional touches that will make your wedding stand out.

Apart from lessening the stress of a wedding venue, Prested Hall’s staff can also reduce your burden by providing a list of vendors for wedding favors.