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Wedding Seating Chart Maker

Drag guests to tables, auto-arrange by family or friend group, flag pairs who shouldn't sit together, and share the whole layout with one URL. Free, no signup, works on any device.

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0 guests · 0 seated · 0 unassigned · 0 seats across 0 tables
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Don't-seat-together

Add pairs of guests who shouldn't sit together — we'll flag them in red when they end up at the same table.

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Tap a “+ Round” or “+ Rect” button above to add your first table.

How it works

Add your guest list

Type guests one by one or paste a whole list at once. Tag each by family, friend group, or wedding party.

Add tables, drag guests in

Round 8/10/12 or rectangular 6/8/10. Drag guests to tables, or use Auto-arrange to group by tag automatically.

Share, print, or save

Copy a share URL for your partner or planner, export the whole layout as a PDF, or print on the day for the venue.

How to plan your wedding seating chart (step by step)

Wait for the final RSVP count, decide on table shape, place the head or sweetheart table first, group guests by relationship rather than category, and assign tables before individual seats. Most modern receptions stop at table-level assignments — full place cards aren't required.

Wedding seating planning is one of those tasks that feels trivial until you actually start doing it. Five rules of thumb, in order:

  1. Wait for the final guest count. Don't start seating until RSVPs close (usually 2–3 weeks before the wedding). Starting earlier guarantees you'll rework it twice.
  2. Decide on table shape first. Round tables (8 or 10 seats) are the standard for most US receptions. Long rectangular tables (8–10 seats) create a family-style feel but require more floor space. Pick one shape and stick with it across the whole reception.
  3. Place the head table or sweetheart table first. Either you and your partner sit alone (sweetheart) or with the wedding party (head table). Decide before assigning anyone else — it changes how many guests need seats.
  4. Group by relationship, not by category. “Bride's college friends” isn't a table — it's usually three tables, because not all of them know each other. Group by “people who are actually friends with each other,” even if that crosses category lines.
  5. Place tables, then assign guests within them. Once each table's group is decided, the specific seat is less important. Most modern receptions don't do place-card-level assignments — table-only is enough.

Wedding seating etiquette rules

Family closest to the head table, divorced parents at separate tables, kids at one shared table with a sitter, elderly guests near the door, and plus-ones seated with their host — those are the five conventions planners default to. Break them for good reason; follow them when in doubt.

  • Family closest to the head table. Parents and grandparents go at the tables nearest yours — ideally facing the dance floor.
  • Divorced parents get separate tables. Both should still be near the head table; the right distance between them depends on the family. Ask both before deciding.
  • Mix singles strategically. Don't cluster all your single friends at one table — it reads as a setup. Mix them with couples they already know.
  • Kids at one table, not scattered. If you have several children under 12 coming, one kids'-only table with a sitter is easier on everyone (including the kids).
  • Elderly guests need easy access. Tables nearest the door, the restrooms, and the buffet line. Avoid the speakers.
  • Plus-ones sit with their host. A plus-one is the guest's responsibility — seat them together, not at a “plus-ones” table.

How to handle awkward seating situations

Every wedding has at least one. The four most common, and what usually works:

  • Divorced or estranged family. Separate tables, ideally not adjacent, ideally not in each other's sight lines. If you're close to both households, give each a table near yours and don't explain.
  • Exes invited by both partners. If the ex is a genuine friend and the relationship is fully in the past, treat them like any other friend. If there's still any awkwardness, seat them with their own crew, far from the head table.
  • Guests who don't know anyone. Avoid the “strangers table” trap. Seat each stranger with two or three friendly extroverts from your side — people who reliably bring others into a conversation.
  • Co-workers who don't get along. Use the “Don't-seat-together” flag in the tool above. The chart will warn you in red if they end up at the same table.

Round vs rectangular tables: which is better?

Round tables produce better conversation; rectangular tables produce better visual drama. Round (8–12 seats) lets everyone make eye contact across the table — the reason they're standard at most US weddings. Rectangular (6–10 seats) creates a more communal, family-style feel and photographs beautifully in long rows. Pick one shape and stick with it for visual consistency.

The fuller answer: it depends on what you're optimizing for.

Round tables (8–12 seats)

  • Better conversation — everyone can make eye contact
  • More flexible in irregularly-shaped venues
  • The default at most US wedding venues
  • Less expensive to rent in most markets
  • Easier to break into pairs of conversation

Best for: most modern weddings, ballrooms, hotel venues.

Rectangular tables (6–10 seats)

  • Family-style, intimate feeling
  • Beautiful in long rows for photography
  • Better for venues with central aisles
  • Easier to fit more decor in the center
  • Slightly worse conversation across the table

Best for: barn venues, garden tents, micro-weddings, rehearsal dinners.

Some couples mix shapes — long rectangular family tables nearest the head table, round tables for everyone else. The seating chart tool above supports both shapes side-by-side so you can model whichever layout fits your venue.

Frequently asked questions

Is the seating chart maker really free?
Yes — completely free, no signup, no email required. Your guest list and table layout stay in your browser via local storage, and you can share a snapshot with your partner or family by copying the share URL.
How does the share URL work?
We compress your entire chart (guests, tables, conflicts, assignments) into a short token and append it to the page URL as a fragment. Anyone who opens that URL gets an exact copy of the chart loaded into their browser — no account, no server, no syncing. It's snapshot-only: if you make changes later, share the new URL.
What's the difference between round and rectangular tables?
Round tables (8–12 seats) maximize conversation — everyone at the table can make eye contact with everyone else, which is why they're standard at most US weddings. Rectangular tables (6–10 seats) create a more communal, family-style feel and look beautiful in long rows down a dining hall. Round = better conversation; rectangular = better visual drama. Most couples use one shape throughout for consistency.
How does auto-arrange work?
It groups guests by their primary tag (the first one in their tag list), sorts the groups largest first, and fills tables in order so each tag's group ends up at adjacent tables. It's a useful starting point that gets you 80% of the way; expect to hand-tune the remaining 20% based on who actually knows whom.
How do conflict flags work?
Add a pair of guests who shouldn't sit together in the “Don't-seat-together” panel. If they end up assigned to the same table, both their pills get a red border and the conflict count badge appears at the top. The tool won't stop you — it just warns you so you can fix it before printing.
Can I print or export the chart?
Three options. Print uses your browser's native print view, with the toolbar hidden so the chart prints cleanly. Save as PDF generates a multi-page document listing every table and its guests, plus the unassigned pool. The share URL is the fastest way to send a digital snapshot to your partner or planner.
What's the difference between List view and Floor plan view?
List view shows each table as a card with its assigned guests as draggable pills — this is where you build and adjust the chart. Floor plan view renders the same data as geometric SVG (round tables as circles, rectangles as rectangles) with guest names positioned around each table's perimeter. Floor plan is read-only; it's designed for the visual layout your venue or wedding planner expects to see. Switch with the View toggle above the table grid.
How many guests can I add?
There's no hard limit, but the share URL gets longer the more guests you have. We've tested up to 300 guests and 30 tables comfortably; beyond that the URL may run into browser address-bar limits (varies by browser, but generally 2,000–8,000 characters is safe). Local storage and the PDF export work fine at any size.
Will my chart still be there if I close the tab?
Yes — everything saves to your browser's local storage automatically. As long as you return on the same browser and don't clear site data, you'll see your chart exactly as you left it. To use the chart on a different device, copy the share URL and open it on the other device.

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