Few wedding planning tasks strike fear into a bride or groom’s heart like the dreaded seating plan. Unless you’re an organisational fanatic, it’s highly likely you’re not looking forward to completing your seating chart - after all, it’s a game of juggling, editing and revising. Add into the mix a difficult family or friends that have since become foes and things get testing. Vogue quizzed Sydney-based wedding event planner, Philip Carr, on the dos and don’ts when it comes to seating plans, so you can tick this off your to-do list with ease.

How far out from the wedding should a bride approach the seating plan?

“Initially one would do a floor plan with the estimated maximum guests based on the invited list and expected attendees up to six months out once the venue is decided,” Carr says. “Look at it again a few weeks before when all the replies are in. From there, there is continual updating as some guests cancel last minute and seating arrangements get moved around.”

Where should one start? Do you have an app or program you recommend that people at home can copy?

“We get the room CADD [computer-aided designed] with our seating design. We then supply the client with a page which has a copy of the individual tables and a numerical list which positions each person at the table. It also has a column for dietary requirements.”

How should one approach seating family or friends who don't get along?

“The perk of fashionable long tables [is] seating guests a few seats away from each other on the same side of the table reduces the chance of making contact with one another. If the room has round tables, it’s a matter of positioning them in such a way that they should not have eye contact.

Often, we have had parents that have had multiple marriages when new partners are involved that don’t get along. We can seat people facing different directions. It is amazing how they can avoid eye contact with each other at an event.”

What about singles?

“Singles do not want to be treated as social pariahs. I recommend seating people in groups that will be good for the party. Sometimes it’s quite good to mix people up a bit to create a bit of social interest. I think old people in the family should be set in a place that is respectful (possibly nearer main table) but also away from the speakers.”Read more at:http://www.sheindressau.com/backless-wedding-dresses-au | http://www.sheindressau.com/mermaid-wedding-dresses-au