Table types, shapes and seat counts

Pick a shape when you add tables, and change it later if your venue changes its mind. Every shape starts with a typical number of seats, and you can set your own.

The shapes and their default seats

• Round: starts at 8 seats. Chairs all the way round.
• Oval: starts at 10 seats. Chairs all the way round a longer table.
• Square: starts at 4 seats. Chairs all the way round.
• Rectangle: starts at 8 seats. Chairs along the two long sides, or along one side if you choose.
• Banquet: starts at 12 seats. A long table with chairs along both long sides, or along one side if you choose.
• Sweetheart: starts at 2 seats. Two chairs side by side for the couple. Never more than 2.
• Head table: starts at 10 seats. A long table, marked as the head table automatically. New head tables seat everyone on one side, facing the room.
• Ceremony section: starts at 18 seats. A block of chairs in rows, for the ceremony.

The default is only a starting point. In Add tables, Seats per table fills in the default when you pick a shape, and you can type anything from 1 to 60.

Change a table’s shape or seats

1. 1

   Open the table

   On the Table list screen, click the table’s row. On the Floor plan screen, click the table and choose Seat guests in its toolbar.
2. 2

   Edit Table settings

   Pick a new Shape, or type a new Capacity (0 to 60).
3. 3

   Save

   Click Save. The chairs are redrawn for the new shape and count.

Seats on one side or both sides

Rectangle, banquet and head tables have a Seats on setting in Table settings:

• Both sides: chairs are split between the two long sides. This is how rectangle and banquet tables start.
• One side (facing guests): every chair sits in one row along the back edge, so everyone faces the room. This suits a UK top table or a US head table. New head tables start this way, and the table gets longer to fit its chairs.

The change shows on the floor plan straight away and you can undo it. Guests in a specific chair keep that same chair, which just moves to its new spot. Head tables made before this setting existed keep chairs on both sides until you switch them.

What happens to seated guests

• If you lower the capacity below the number of guests already there, you’re asked first. Click Keep seated and they stay at the table, which shows as over capacity until you move someone.
• If a guest had a specific chair that no longer exists, they stay at the table without a chair. A message tells you how many guests that affected.
• Nobody is ever removed from your guest list by a table change.

Resizing on the canvas

With the layout unlocked, select a table and drag its handles to make it bigger or smaller. That changes how much space it takes up and spreads the chairs out. It doesn’t change the number of seats. Use Capacity, or the − and + chair buttons in the table’s toolbar, for that.

How many tables do you need?

Try the numbers here. It uses the same defaults as the app.

For more help with the maths, see the wedding table calculator. Ceremony chairs work differently: they’re set up as rows.