Even if you’ve been the world’s most organized couple, there is one thing that you just can’t do too far in advance of your wedding: manage your RSVPs and assign tables to your guests. Here is some advice to keep you sane when it come down to the final count.
1. Divide and conquer on the missing RSVPs. Some people will not send them in on time. You can start calling and texting invited guests several days after the RSVP date that you listed on your response cards. Mom gets a list, your fiancé gets a list and the maid of honor gets a list.
2. Check with your catering sales director to find out what the maximum and minimum of guests per each table is.
3. Get digital. Both WeddingWire.com and TheKnot.com offer great table assignment tools. You simply load up your list, design your floor plan, and drag and drop guest names to the different tables.
4. Don’t like digital – go analog. Try a piece of poster board, some paper plates for your tables and Post-Its with your guests’ names on them.
5. Start with the VIPs. Make sure you place your parents and most important guests first.
And, don’t stress too much about making each table perfect. Your wedding is a chance for people from you and your fiancé’s lives to get to know one another. If you seat people who have never met before at the same table, they already have a shared interest and topic of conversation – you! And if they don’t hit it off, dinner is only 45 minutes long and most guests will spend the rest of the evening dancing and mingling anyway!