Import a CSV or paste a list from Excel or Sheets

You don’t have to type your guest list twice. Go to Guests, click Import, and either paste a list of names or upload a CSV. Nothing is added until you’ve checked the preview and clicked the import button. Importing is free.

Paste a list of names

This is the quickest way if all you have is names.

1. 1

   Open Import

   Go to Guests and click Import. The Paste a list tab is open by default.
2. 2

   Paste your names

   Put one guest per line. Copying a single column of names from Excel or Google Sheets works well.
3. 3

   Check the preview and import

   Each guest appears as a row below. Untick anyone you don’t want, then click Import (it shows the count, like “Import 42 guests”).

A few shortcuts work in the paste box:

• Couples on one line: “Maria Jones, Robert Jones” becomes two guests.
• Plus-ones: “Emily Brown + Guest” adds Emily and a linked plus-one. A trailing “+1”, a plain “+” or “& Guest” works too. See plus-ones.
• Numbered or bulleted lists copied from a document are fine. The numbers and bullets are removed.

Upload a CSV

Use this when your list has more than names: emails, RSVPs, meals, groups or households.

1. 1

   Save your list as CSV

   In Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers, save or download your guest list as a CSV file. Keep the header row (Name, Email, RSVP, Meal, Party…) so we can match the columns.
2. 2

   Choose the file

   In Lovely Seating, click Import, switch to Upload CSV, and click Choose a CSV file.
3. 3

   Check the matched columns

   We match your columns automatically. Check each dropdown, and fix any that look off. Choose “—” to ignore a field.
4. 4

   Review the rows and import

   Untick anything you don’t want, then click Import.

Fields you can import

First name, Last name, Full name, Email, Phone, Group, Household, RSVP, Meal and Dietary.

• Names: separate first and last name columns work, or one full-name column. For a full name, the last word becomes the last name. A name ending in “+ Guest”, “+1”, “+” or “& Guest” (like “Emily Brown + Guest”) adds Emily plus a linked plus-one, just like the paste box.
• Group: each new group name is created for you. Names that match an existing group join it.
• Household: map a family or “Party” column here. Everyone in the same household is kept at one table by Auto-Seat. See households and couples.
• RSVP: we understand common answers, such as Yes, Accepted, Attending or Will attend (Attending); Maybe or Tentative (Maybe); No, Regrets, Declined or Will not attend (Declined); and Pending or No response (Awaiting).

Age, side, VIP and seating needs aren’t imported. Set them afterwards, many at once if you like, with bulk edit. Table columns aren’t used either: you seat guests after importing.

Reading the preview

• In list: someone with the same first and last name is already on your guest list. These rows are skipped, so importing the same file twice doesn’t double your list.
• Duplicate: the same name appears twice in your file. In a CSV, the repeat is unticked for you.
• Issues: for example “Missing first name”, “Invalid email” or “Unrecognized RSVP”. Rows with no name can’t be imported. Other rows still import, and you can tidy them afterwards.

After you import

You’ll see “Imported 42 guests 🎉” with two choices: Auto-seat guests or I’ll seat them myself.

Made a mistake? Press Undo right after importing to remove the whole import in one step. For more about why rows don’t come through, see my import didn’t work. Coming from a wedding website? There’s a guided version for lists from The Knot, Zola or Joy.