Guest Books & Seating Assignments
Guest Books:
When guests arrive to your wedding it is tradition to have a book or something for them to sign to "witness" your special day. A long time ago, a guest book was used to keep track of who attended your wedding, so that you could send them a thank you card after the wedding. Today, couples use a guest book as a keep sake for their special day. Guests can sign a guest book, coffee table book, photo, sketch, wooden board, bench, chair, wine bottle, tapestry, jersey, etc
Helpful tips:
Include 2 to 4 pens for guests to sign with incase a pen gets lost or pocketed etc
Assign a friend of family member to be an attendant at the guest book table to encourage guests to sign (especially if you are going a polaroid guest book)
Include signage for your guest book table
Modern Guest Books:
Interactive Guest Books - photo booths or instax cameras (make sure to include extra film and batteries)
Audio Guest Books - Guests can record messages to the wedding couple (most couple also include a book for signing as well)
What will you have your guests sign or record at your wedding?
Here are some links to guest books:
When guests arrive to your wedding it is tradition to have a book or something for them to sign to "witness" your special day. A long time ago, a guest book was used to keep track of who attended your wedding, so that you could send them a thank you card after the wedding. Today, couples use a guest book as a keep sake for their special day. Guests can sign a guest book, coffee table book, photo, sketch, wooden board, bench, chair, wine bottle, tapestry, jersey, etc
Helpful tips:
Include 2 to 4 pens for guests to sign with incase a pen gets lost or pocketed etc
Assign a friend of family member to be an attendant at the guest book table to encourage guests to sign (especially if you are going a polaroid guest book)
Include signage for your guest book table
Modern Guest Books:
Interactive Guest Books - photo booths or instax cameras (make sure to include extra film and batteries)
Audio Guest Books - Guests can record messages to the wedding couple (most couple also include a book for signing as well)
What will you have your guests sign or record at your wedding?
Here are some links to guest books:
Seating Assignments:
The vast majority of weddings include seating assignments. When guests attend a wedding it is best to assign them to tables for dinner, unless you have enough space to do over flow seating (you provide more than enough seats/tables for guests and don't assign them to a table) or you do soft seating (you do not provide enough seating for everyone to sit during dinner). Assigning guests to tables ensures that your family and wedding party get good tables/seats at your wedding reception. If you choose not to do assigned seating make sure to have (3-4) reserved signs and reserve some tables for VIP guests at your wedding. If you are doing a plated dinner you will have to assign guests to both a table and chair for dinner, this is for catering to ensure a fast dinner service. Couples display their seating assignments by doing an escort card table or seating chart setup on a stand or easel with either a chart (poster size) or table cards.
Escort Cards:
Escort Cards are an easy DIY project that you can make and print from home. You will want to put them in alphabetical order after printing, cutting and folding for fast and easy setup (very important).
The vast majority of weddings include seating assignments. When guests attend a wedding it is best to assign them to tables for dinner, unless you have enough space to do over flow seating (you provide more than enough seats/tables for guests and don't assign them to a table) or you do soft seating (you do not provide enough seating for everyone to sit during dinner). Assigning guests to tables ensures that your family and wedding party get good tables/seats at your wedding reception. If you choose not to do assigned seating make sure to have (3-4) reserved signs and reserve some tables for VIP guests at your wedding. If you are doing a plated dinner you will have to assign guests to both a table and chair for dinner, this is for catering to ensure a fast dinner service. Couples display their seating assignments by doing an escort card table or seating chart setup on a stand or easel with either a chart (poster size) or table cards.
Escort Cards:
Escort Cards are an easy DIY project that you can make and print from home. You will want to put them in alphabetical order after printing, cutting and folding for fast and easy setup (very important).
Table Cards/Frames:
Table Cards/Frames are also an easy DIY project that you can make and print from home. You will group your guests per table and print a 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10 card/frame for each table. You can display the cards on a standing display, mirror, board, frame etc or you can put the cards in frames and display them on a table.
Table Cards/Frames are also an easy DIY project that you can make and print from home. You will group your guests per table and print a 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10 card/frame for each table. You can display the cards on a standing display, mirror, board, frame etc or you can put the cards in frames and display them on a table.
Seating Chart:
A seating chart is the most popular choice for displaying seating assignments. You can download a template, add your guests and then send it to print. Make sure to print your seating chart off in poster size and most couple choose to print on foam board. You can also choose to printed it off and have it framed. You will need a sturdy easel to display your seating chart. If your venue is big and guests will be spreading out during cocktail hour, you can have two seating charts displayed during the cocktail hour and then have one sign moved to the entrance of the reception as guests enter into dinner.
A seating chart is the most popular choice for displaying seating assignments. You can download a template, add your guests and then send it to print. Make sure to print your seating chart off in poster size and most couple choose to print on foam board. You can also choose to printed it off and have it framed. You will need a sturdy easel to display your seating chart. If your venue is big and guests will be spreading out during cocktail hour, you can have two seating charts displayed during the cocktail hour and then have one sign moved to the entrance of the reception as guests enter into dinner.