Video- Project Block 10 Lecture.mp4

This is another one of my favorite Project Blocks because it is another one we call a transitional Project. This one is about the “What Happens” and the “How it Looks” and it is the transition between your Cocktail Hour ending and your Reception or Dinner Hour beginning.

Building your Worksheet

You have officially entered your Cocktail Hour as Newlyweds, perhaps you were announced, perhaps you snuck in unnoticed. The point is, your arrival signals the end of “social” time and that dinner is coming soon. Sure, you can come in and snag some appetizers and a drink, but then you two have to open the food service. Passed pint-sized mushrooms were certainly delicious, but guests are hungry…

At the same time, what happens for your guests? Have they already found their table placing? Or have they been kept out of the dining area so you could see a reveal? Do they find their place setting first to grab their plate or do they need to get in the buffet line immediately?

Does your Coordination or Catering Team need to do anything? Does each table already have a filled water glass? Does a Liaison need to help guests find their reserved seats? Where are the reserved tables and does family know they’re at a reserved table?

WHAT HAPPENS between “Find a Seat!” and “Let’s Eat!”

Image:

Find some cute display picture of how you want to communicate your Reception Seating plan. This may be an elaborate Escort card system or a sign that indicate, sit anywhere. See our Project Block 10 Pinterest Board for inspirations.

Ingredients:

Here is where you should list all materials needed to build, craft or assemble the Seating System, including tags and signage. Table Numbers become a huge ingredient here as well as a Reception Seating Chart. You may also find yourself needing easels and an actual person to help guests locate their names.

On your Project Block 10 Spreadsheet you’ll want to add any ingredients {or supplies to make} for:

• Reserved Seating Signage: Family, Wedding Party, Bride & Groom
• Table Numbers: Will they be a part of your centerpieces or a table tent, frame, etc?
• For open-seating, you will need to make a sign that says, “Seating is OPEN” or something along those lines.
• Escort or Place Cards: What are you using for these? Card Stock, vintage keys, double up as your favor? Once you decide we’ll discuss production options. I do offer a Thousand Words Add-on Package which includes print production items!

Prior to Wedding:

Assigned seating arrangements are not at all required. You are not under any wedding rule/code to assign each guest a specific seat at the reception. However, you should consider making a few reserved tables for the wedding party and family. The family is usually last to get into the reception because they’re either taking pictures or helping with Transitions. So having a spot reserved for them ensure they get a seat closest to the couple. A few key decisions to make prior to the wedding are:

1. RECEPTION SEATING: How will you organize your reception seating?
   • Open, Transitions, Escort or Place Card?
   • Design a Seating Chart Plan
   • Create a Seating Display – Refer to the P10 Pinterest Board for Inspiration
   • Create a Spreadsheet of the seating chart for quick reference
2. RESERVED SEATING: Where will the Wedding Party and Family sit?
   • Identify how many seats to reserve {spouse & date count}
   • Create RESERVED table tents or signs
   • Communicate with reception venue which tables are reserved
     • Remember to have vases for the bridal and bridesmaids bouquets at their tables
3. TABLE TOURS
   • Identify your Table Tour Guide
   • Create a Signal System with your Guide

Staging Materials:

Your main staging pieces, such as the dinner table technically have their own Project, P21, which we’ll get to later. So for this Project, your real staging equipment depends on the system you decide on. If your display for the escort cards is big {at my wedding we used 2 ladders} or it you need Table Numbers that are each staged in a frame or bigger display.

*Pre-Stage: I highly recommend setting your P10 display up before the wedding and making sure all of your escort cards will fit. You can then take the cards off in alphabetical order so they’re faster to put back on, on the wedding day.

Wedding Day Set Up:

Make sure the escort cards are accessible for guests at the proper time in your timeline. You may also consider having your Person in Charge standing by the display with your guest list if guests can’t find their names. This happens a lot for guests who didn’t RSVP.

• Check off when the Project is Done, Packed and Ready to Go
• Check off when this Project is loaded into a Big Day vehicle
• Assign the Person who is setting HQ up for you {if different than the Person in Charge}
• Name your Person in Charge. He or she will then take over the Worksheet and check off the remaining Wedding Day Set Up boxes as they are completed.

Video- Project Block 1- Table Tours Lecture.mp4