Do We Need Table Numbers, Assigned Seating at Wedding Rehearsal Dinner? — Wedding Rehearsal Dinner & Welcome Party Planning Ideas, Advice & Etiquette

Should you give guests assigned seats at your wedding rehearsal dinner? There’s lots of different schools of thoughts on doing assigned seats or at least assigned tables at the rehearsal dinner.

If you’re asking our opining it’s no secret what we think! When it coms to assigned tables or assigned seats, from us, it’s a ‘yes’! Guests typically like to be told where to go and where to sit so table numbers at a wedding rehearsal dinner are always a good idea. Especially if you’re in doubt and can’t decide. It eliminates confusion and allows them time to enjoy the pre-wedding festivities.

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Open seating simply stresses guests out. Without a seat assignment or assigned table guests end up wondering aimlessly looking for a seat, spending time not knowing where to sit, and sometimes even end up sitting in an inconvenient location that’s not located near anyone they know.

You want to enjoy your rehearsal dinner and you want your guests to enjoy your rehearsal dinner. So, we highly recommend you take the time to plan out those seat assignments.

Should We Use Place Cards?

If you have a few very long tables or a unique seating configuration at your wedding rehearsal dinner, then you may decide that place cards are the best option for you. Place cards are personalized with guests names and are placed at the place setting itself. You can provide a simple seating chart at the entrance to let guests know which table they are assigned to and when they reach that table they will search for the place card with their name. With this place card scenario, you’ll be assigning the specific seat for each guest.

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Should We Use Escort Cards?

Rehearsal dinner venues with multiple smaller tables are often a great opportunity to utilize escort cards. Again, you’ll need table numbers or names to designate the specific tables but escort cards can be placed at the entrance to the venue with the guests’ name and table number on them. Guests will pick up their escort card, find their assigned table and place their escort card at the place setting of their choice. With this escort card scenario, you’ll be assigning the table for each guests and they can choose their exact seat at the table.

What Are The Exceptions?

Generally speaking when it comes to wedding related events like welcome parties and wedding rehearsal dinners, guests like to be told where to sit, where to go, what to do, etc. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. If you’re hosting a very casual wedding rehearsal dinner like a pizza party with open picnic table seating or a casual cocktail hour with passed snacks and a variety of seating options, then you may not need the assigned seating!

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How To Know What We’ll Need

Bottom line, your wedding rehearsal dinner venue will help dictate whether or not you’ll need to utilize table numbers! Depending on the size and setup of your wedding rehearsal dinner location you’ll want to decide how to assign those tables to your guests with place cards or escort cards and what type of seating chart you’ll provide to guests. When in doubt, we recommend going ahead and using those table numbers at your wedding rehearsal dinner.

Where To Buy Rehearsal Dinner Table Numbers

Rehearsal dinner table numbers are easy to purchase online! Printable designs are available in our shop and unique table numbers ideas are available on Etsy.

Shop digital download templates to easily print at home or your local printer! DIY the table numbers by adding them to a frame or a stand.

Here are some of our favorite table numbers and stands that would be perfect for your wedding rehearsal dinner…