U-shape seating chart
A U-shape puts the couple at the open end and everyone inside the curve, which is why it works for speeches and for rooms with a dance floor in the middle. It is also the layout that most often looks wrong on paper and right in the room, so a plan you can move is worth more here than anywhere else.
Start from two long sides of ten and add tables to close the curve. Keep the inside empty: that is the space for the first dance or the cake.
Open this layout in the editor
What this layout gives you
- Two long sides as a starting point, opened with a click.
- Head positions at the open end.
- Leaves the centre free for dancing or a buffet.
- Print the plan so the venue sees the opening direction.
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.