12 seating chart mistakes to avoid

The mistakes

1. Starting too early. Seating before RSVPs are in means redoing it. Draft the room early; seat people after the deadline.
2. Splitting couples and families. Link households first, then seat — the planner won’t let auto-seat split them.
3. Forgetting plus-ones. Every “+1” needs a chair, a meal and a card — even before you know their name.
4. Misspelled names. Proof the sign on Letter or A4 before printing the big board, and check accents (Zoë, José, Łukasz).
5. Seating older guests by the speakers. Keep them near exits and toilets, away from the band.
6. Ignoring access needs. Wheelchair users need an aisle seat with a chair removed and a clear route.
7. Overfilling tables. A 60″ round seats eight comfortably; ten is a squeeze at a plated dinner.
8. A table of strangers. Everyone should know at least one person at their table.
9. Forgetting vendors. Photographers, videographers and planners need somewhere to eat — ask whether they need a table or a vendor meal.
10. Not telling the caterer about allergies per seat. A total count isn’t enough for a severe allergy; servers need to know which seat.
11. Printing too early — or with no plan for changes. Print cards a day or two before, and keep blanks. Reprint only what changed.
12. Keeping the plan in your head. Write down who can’t sit with whom (keep-apart rules) so a tired 11pm reshuffle can’t undo it.

Let the checks catch them

Many of these are exactly what Tablewright’s checks panel looks for: split households, keep-apart conflicts, declined guests still seated, unseated guests, lone guests at a table and over-capacity. The caterer sheet lists allergies seat by seat.