Wedding Planning: How to Create Your Floor-Plan

Reception, Wedding Planning

Wedding Planning: How to Create Your Floor-Plan

Creating your floor-plan is one of the most important parts of your wedding planning. It is the foundation of your wedding day design and will really help you stay organized throughout the entire planning process. As a wedding planner, we are not always hired on from the beginning of a couple’s wedding planning. We come into the process at many different points. When we are hired on, half way through or even closer to the wedding day, it is always surprising how many of our couples do not have floor-plans.

The reason these are so important is because you have to know, what shape and size tables you are using, how many guests can fit at each table, what size linens you need to order, how many centerpieces you will need and most of all, what the overall look and feel of your wedding is going to turn out to be. Having a floor-plan created before your wedding design begins is crucial to know what tables you will have: sign in, drink station, unity candle, gift table, cake table, etc…. You will want to know what you are going to put on each of these tables, which table needs flowers, candles, signage, linens, or other decorative items. You want to have an overall idea of where everything will be placed, the flow of traffic for your guests and wedding party, and how guests will walk from one area like ceremony or cocktail hour to the next like diner and dancing.

You may be reading this and understand the importance of it, but you might not have any idea where to begin to create this. Here are some steps to get your floor-plan created just like a pro:

1. Figure out how many guests you anticipate attending your wedding. This number will fluctuate, which is ok because it is much easier to edit your floor-plan than it is to create one at the end of your planning.

2. Decide what shape and size tables you would like to use. Will you use rectangle, square, or circle tables? If so, what size tables will you use and how many guests will fit at each table. Decide if you will have a sweetheart table or a head table, how many people need to fit here and what shape the table will be set up in. You will want to start placing these tables on your floor plan, whether it is a sketch or if you are using a computer program. The computer program can be something as simple as a drawing program or the shapes that are found in word. Be sure to leave room for important objects that are listed in the next step.

3. Besides tables, you will need to include a dance floor (research and figure out what size your dance floor will be based on the number of guests you are having), cake or dessert table, bar or bars, food stations, buffet tables, coffee station, photo booth, stage for entertainment or table for DJ, a podium for any speakers (if needed), and entry way and any other important tables or details that will be incorporated in your wedding reception. The more details you add the better.

4. You will also want to create a floor-plan for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and any other part of your wedding. Be sure to include every detail in these areas as well. For instance, if you are having a sign in table, what kind of table will it be, what kind of linen will be on it, what will guests sign in with, will there be any decorative items or signage on this table?

We want to share some examples of floor-plans from our passed brides or clients.