The Journal

This is part twenty-nine of a series called One a Day in May, where we will review one wedding stationery term every day in May!

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One design element of modern weddings that has creatively evolved the most over the years is the seating chart. The requirements for a seating chart are simple enough, some sort of verbiage that tells the guests “this is where you can find what table you’re sitting at” and then all the names of your guests either listed alphabetically with table number assignments next to their names, or all the guests sorted and listed by table.

In the last 10 years or so wedding signage has become increasingly popular. It’s a great way to carry over your aesthetic or motif from your invitations to your day-of venue and it always looks gorgeous in photos. A seating chart is usually the largest sign anyone is going to have at their wedding so it can be an investment. Some couples choose not to use one, they certainly aren’t necessary, for example, if you’re having more of a casual, seat-yourself vibe, you don’t need a chart. Also if you’re not serving a sit-down dinner, maybe you’re just serving cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at your wedding, no need for a seating chart. 

Traditionally made of paper or card stock, brides and grooms have started coming up with some truly unique and alternative displays for seating their guests, especially since the creation of Pinterest and Instagram. Chalkboards had a MOMENT as the wedding-signage-media-of-choice, followed more recently by mirrors, glass and stained wood. Some of our favorite fresh ideas for seating charts include hanging linen or fabric, collections of large jars or wooden cutting boards with table lists written on, terracotta pots or glass terrariums that hold live plants and flowers, the sky is the limit! Really, you can find a way to make a unique seating chart out of just about anything, and it’s a great way to represent yourselves as a couple and the things you enjoy together and it adds a creative wow-factor that your guests can talk about for years to come.