U-shape seating chart
A U-shape puts the couple at the closed end and everyone else down the two sides, which is why it works for speeches and for rooms with a dance floor in the middle. It tends to look wrong on paper and right in the room, so expect to move things once you have seen the venue.
The layout opens with two long tables of ten, one for each side, with space between them. Add a head table for the couple at one end and keep the middle empty for the first dance or the cake.
Open this layout in the editor
What this layout gives you
- Two long tables of ten, already placed.
- Add a head table for the couple with one click.
- Leaves the centre free for dancing or a buffet.
- Move any table if the room turns out to be the other way round.
Questions
How many guests fit in a U-shape?
It depends on the length of the sides. Forty to sixty is typical; past that the arms get so long that the ends cannot see the speeches.
Which way should the U open?
Towards the dance floor or the main entrance, so the couple faces the room when they speak.
Is a U-shape good for a small wedding?
Yes, with two tables and no head table. It feels fuller than four rounds of six in the same room.