Wedding Seating Chart: How Many Tables and What Size?
Round tables, rectangular tables, or long banquet style? Here is how to choose and calculate the right setup.
The most common wedding table is a 60-inch round seating 8 guests. It promotes conversation (everyone can see each other), fits standard linens, and allows comfortable elbow room with chair spacing. At 8 guests per table, a 120-guest wedding needs 15 tables plus a head table — about 16 total.
Space Requirements
Allow 22-25 square feet per guest for comfortable seating. A 120-guest seated dinner needs 2,600-3,000 square feet minimum for tables and chairs alone. Add 15-20% for the dance floor (typically 300-500 square feet), plus space for the bar, DJ, cake table, and circulation. Total room requirement: approximately 3,800-4,500 square feet for 120 guests. When touring venues, ask for the room dimensions and do this math before signing.
Head Table vs Sweetheart Table
A traditional head table seats the couple plus the entire bridal party (8-14 people) at a long rectangular table facing the guests. A sweetheart table seats only the couple — more intimate and lets the bridal party sit with their dates. Sweetheart tables are increasingly popular because they give the couple a brief moment of privacy during dinner to actually eat and enjoy the moment.