How to use the wedding seating chart generator

Paste the guest list. Copy the name column from your RSVP spreadsheet, or type it. Put a couple or a family on one line (Linda & Paul Carter) and they will always share a table. You can also import a CSV: first column name, second column household, third column group.
Add groups. Type a heading such as # Groom's family or # Work friends above a block of names. The generator tries to put each group at as few tables as it can, so college friends end up together instead of scattered.
Set your tables. Pick round, long or head tables and the number of seats. "Fit" works out how many tables you need for your head count.
Add the tricky rules. In "Keep apart", write two names with a slash between them. In "Must sit at", pin a guest or a whole group to a table.
Adjust by hand and print. Tap a name, then tap another table to move that guest. The move is saved as a rule, so it stays put when you change anything else. Print the floor plan, an alphabetical find-your-seat list for the entrance, or one card per table.

How the auto-seating works

Every line of your list is treated as one unit that can't be split, unless it is bigger than your largest table. The generator first fills the head table and anyone you pinned, then places the biggest groups first. After that it tries tens of thousands of small moves and swaps and keeps any change that breaks fewer rules: keep-apart pairs at the same table count most, then guests left without a seat, then groups spread over more tables than needed, then tables left half empty. If a rule can't be met, for example because there are not enough tables to keep everyone apart, it tells you which one.

"Try another arrangement" makes the generator build a different layout that follows the same rules, which is useful when two tables are equally good and you just prefer the other mix of people.

What you can print

Seating chart: the room layout with names around each table plus a list per table. Hand it to your venue coordinator or wedding planner.
Find-your-seat list: every guest sorted by last name with their table, in columns. Print it large for an easel board at the wedding reception entrance.
Table cards: one page per table with the table name and who sits there.
CSV: name, group, table and seat number, ready for your caterer or for making escort cards with mail merge.

Wedding seating tips

Start the chart once most RSVPs are in, usually two to three weeks before the wedding, and leave one or two empty seats in total for late changes. Round tables of 8 or 10 are what most wedding venues stock: a 60-inch round seats 8 comfortably and 10 at a squeeze, a 72-inch round seats 10 to 12 (see the round table seating chart for every size). Put grandparents and anyone with limited mobility near the exits and restrooms, away from the speakers. Seat guests who only know the couple with people of a similar age rather than alone at a family table. And for divorced parents, give each their own table near the front instead of making them share one.

FAQ

Is it free? Do I need an account?

Yes, the seating chart generator is free, with no account and no guest or table limit. Printing and the CSV download are free too.

Where is my guest list stored?

Only in your own browser (local storage), so your work is still there when you come back on the same device. Nothing is uploaded. Use "Download CSV" if you want a copy elsewhere.

Can I import from Excel or Google Sheets?

Yes. Select the name column (and optionally a household column and a group column next to it), copy, and paste into the guest box. Or save the sheet as CSV and use "Import CSV". Rows with the same household value sit together.

Does it work for events other than weddings?

It does. It works the same for rehearsal dinners, banquets, galas, conferences and team dinners. Only the example list is a wedding guest list.

What if I have more guests than seats?

The extra guests are listed under "Not seated" and the status line tells you how many seats to add. Press "Fit" to add tables automatically.

Wedding Seating Chart Generator