Dinner is an important and enjoyable part of the wedding. But it also requires good organization. You have to make a lot of choices to ensure that everyone has the best time possible. After all, you don’t want guests to not have a good time because they are sitting at a table where they don’t know anyone. What do you have to think about when organizing the dinner for your wedding and the table layout?
Dinner
You can organize a dinner in different ways. The best-known form is the dinner that is served. This is easy to do with a small group. However, the choice is limited, so you will have to choose food that as many people as possible like. Moreover, a served dinner is often expensive compared to a buffet. With a walking buffet, guests also have the opportunity to talk to each other while they serve their food. They can choose what they want to eat or not. A combination of these two different dinners is possible by arranging a served dinner with a dessert buffet.
American dinner
If you are going for a cheap wedding, it might be an idea to organize an American-style dinner. All guests then bring something they have made themselves. This way you get many different tasty dishes and everyone has something that they really like. Please note that you do not have twenty types of desserts and a very limited choice of starters. Therefore, divide the tasks well. It should not be the case that guests start cooking against their wishes, it is much more fun when the dishes are made with love.
Barbecue for dinner
You might not immediately think of it, but it is also possible to organize a barbecue as a bridal dinner. Getting married on a summer day can be very pleasant. In addition, guests have plenty of opportunity to catch up and afterwards you can throw a fantastic party in a tent in the garden or park.
Table layout
A well-organized dinner includes a table layout. This way, guests know where to sit as soon as they enter and there is no confusion about this. It is important to think carefully about the table layout. Finally, you don’t want people to be bored and not know what to discuss with their neighbor. On the other hand, it is sometimes nice if not everyone sits next to someone they know, so that the guests get to know each other a little better.
Table arrangement
If you want to keep the seating arrangement formal, you can use the following rules. The bride sits to the left of the groom and next to her sits the groom’s father with his wife next to him. To the groom’s right sits the bride’s mother with her husband next to her. Next come the witnesses and then the bridal children.
Of course, you don’t have to stick to this table arrangement. Arrange the guest and schedule the way you like. It is also possible to change places halfway through, so everyone gets to know even more people.
Name cards
To make it clear where the guests are located, you can use name cards. Easy, clear, but also a bit boring. Of course you can also approach it in a different way. How about a flower on every table with a name tag on it? It’s really nice if you have a (crazy) photo of all the guests that you can put in their place in a frame. When many strangers are sitting together at the table, it may be useful to mention the relationship to the bride or groom in addition to the name.
Decoration
Attention should also be paid to the decoration at dinner. Flowers always look good on the table and a few candles create a romantic atmosphere. If you opt for a served dinner, it is fun to create your own menus that you spread across the tables. Do you have a special color associated with your wedding? Then make sure that this color is reflected in the decoration as much as possible.